Chapter 38

Hannah I’m warming my cold hands on my coffee cup. It’s a nice morning, but I’m one of those who freeze even when it’s warm.

A growl from the carpet makes me smile. The puppy is fighting a toy on the floor, and Tobias is shaving inside the bathroom. But I don’t hear his machine going anymore, so maybe he is done.

“What do you think?”

I look up at Tobias when he walks into the kitchen. He is wearing all casual clothing: a black hoodie and a pair of jeans. Everything sits tight on his tall body. It looks good, and he smiles on top of the cherry while his fingers touch his smooth, shaven jaw.

“It looks good,” his eyes lit up at the compliment. Butterflies bite me at that, and I tap the seat beside me, already nervous about what I’m about to tell him. “Come here. I have something I need to tell you.”

Curiosity glimmers in his eyes. It makes my heart pound even faster. I’m slightly afraid to give the news, but I know I’m being silly. I have nothing to fear. Announcing my pregnancy will make my husband happy.

Tobias will be thrilled. Because this is what he wants… right?

I hope?

He sits beside me, his palms resting on his muscular thighs while he looks at me all expectantly. “Yes?”

“So, I’m…” I trail off, and Tobias seems to be holding back a laugh. His eyes are amused as if he finds it.

entertaining that I’m speechless. And he looks so beautiful it’s dizzying thinking he will be my child’s daddy.

“Are you nervous about something?” Tobias asks and reaches out his hand, placing it over my colder one.

“Yeah…”

“Well, don’t be. Whatever it is, you can tell me,” Tobias wrinkles his nose then. “And gosh, you’re so cold!” Before I can object, he rises from his chair, and I’m scooped up from mine. A giggle slips out of my lips, but not because I’m shocked to be carried. It’s just that Tobias looks so grumpy. His lips have formed a pout, and there is an angry furrow on his forehead.

“You should have told me you were cold.”

I smile. “It’s not that bad…”

“Your fingers are like ice… I bet your toes are the same. We need to buy you warmer clothes for the cold months.”

“There isn’t even snow outside,” I point out. “And you can still swim in the ocean… it’s just me that is sensitive.”

His arms wrap tighter around me. “You’re lucky to have a husband who is a walking furnace. I will warm you.”

The concern in his voice pleases me.

He is such a thoughtful man.

“I really like you,” I murmur. “Love you even.”

“I love you too,” Tobias pokes me with his nose. “My little ice cube.”

I giggle at the nickname, and a smiling Tobias sits on the couch. He keeps me in his lap as he reaches for a blanket.

My heart swells.

I’m being cared for, and I like that. I hug Tobias’s neck like a koala while my legs wrap around his waist.

He smells like Christmas spices, and his skin is perfectly warm.

“I’m so happy to be home,” Tobias speaks into my neck and runs his hands over my back under the blanket. “I was so afraid when Sarah visited me…”

“Of her?” I don’t blame him. I find Sarah scary too.

“No. Of losing you,” Tobias rasps. “Sarah makes me anxious. And when she visited me, I dreamt nightmares about these unlikely scenarios of her somehow managing to break us apart. It would tear me apart.”

I melt like butter, and I bend back to meet his eyes. My good feelings grow when I see the stark terror in his eyes. He is speaking the truth and parts his lips again.

“I couldn’t stand to lose you,” he whispers, and his hands travel to my cheek, cupping it while he gazes into my eyes. “I want to rip the marriage contract apart, Hannah. I want to become your real husband. My only fear is that I’m older than you. I don’t want you to one day look back at me and loathe me for stealing your future away.”

My chest is warm, and I whisper. “That won’t happen.”

Tobias is the one that I want. I don’t care that he comes with baggage and that he has lived a life before.

me. It also doesn’t matter that I wasn’t his first love because I intend to be his last.

That’s all that matters.

“I only want you,” I say in a determined tone. “You won’t be stealing my future away from me; you will give my life meaning. You already have. I’m blessed and happy to be with you.”

Tobias doesn’t look convinced and continues. “I’m still worried. You’re young with your entire life ahead of you, and you probably find it frightening that I want to have-”

“I’m pregnant.”

Shock paints Tobias’s face pale. My words stole away his next breath; now he is gaping at me like a goldfish. I smile at that because I knew he was going to mention wanting to have a family. And I can give that to him. In fact, I will. We will have two children soon.

Has Tobias processed the information yet?

Hard to tell.

I laugh and repeat myself. “I’m pregnant, Tobias. You and I will become parents, and I couldn’t be happier.”

Tobias is still quiet.

I use his stupefaction to grab his warm hand and place it over my stomach. He seems almost afraid to touch me as if he doesn’t dare to believe me to speak the truth, so I guide him to stroke my belly.

I’m not THAT big yet, but there is the slightest bump under my clothes. It makes me happy to look at it.

Pregnancies are so beautiful. I’m filled with nothing but wonder and delight.

And I want to share that with the love of my life.

“Twins,” I tell Tobias and peer into his emerald green eyes, smiling before adding, “We will have twins.”

Tobias doesn’t speak, but I can hear his thudding heart. His eyes glisten with warm emotions, and I laugh in delight when he looks at me, all amazed and happy as he strokes me.

Even though Tobias doesn’t speak, the moment feels intimate. So heartfelt that I don’t mind him staying quiet. Words aren’t needed. I can see the massive storm of affection happening within Tobias. He wants this, and so do I.

It feels like I’ve woken up in a dream.