He chuckled. “I’m sure we can arrange that.”
Nolan fake gagged. Caeden and I turned to look at him. “When the mushiness starts that’s my cue to leave.”
“What was mushy about that?” Caeden asked.
“You’re talking about a baby, before I know it you’ll both be talking in high pitched baby voices. Give me one of those so I can light this damn jack o’ lantern,” Nolan pointed at the bag of tea lights.
Caeden tossed him the bag and he grabbed the pumpkin, heading for the front door.
“I guess we better finish this one,” I pointed at the small pumpkin meant for the baby.
“You better do it,” he spun his pumpkin around. “I’ll just butcher it.”
“Whatever, Negative Nancy.” I reached for the knife and set about carving an antique baby rattle. It seemed simple enough, but it ended up looking like a weird balloon with a handle. “Eh, good enough,” I shrugged. “We can’t all be artists like Nolan. After all, it’s the effort and thought that counts.”
Caeden grabbed our pumpkins and I carried the baby one out to the front porch. Nolan was still outside, admiring his pumpkin. Weirdo.
Caeden lit the little candles in the jack o’ lanterns and we stood back to admire our handy work—or in this case not so handy work.
Nolan snorted at our pathetic attempt at a jack o’ lantern. “Be thankful you don’t have to be an artist to be Alpha,” Nolan clapped Caeden on the shoulder as he shook his head.
Caeden shrugged off Nolan’s hand. “Luckily I’m very skilled at more useful things.”
Nolan chuckled, glancing from Caeden to me. “Oh, I’m sure you are, Cay-berry. I’m sure you are.”
With that he sauntered forward and into the house.
Caeden shook his head at Nolan’s words. With a sigh he reached for my hand and pulled me against his side. I let his warmth envelope me and tried to enjoy this moment of peace, they were few and far between.
Eight.
Caeden
I knew Sophie needed to feel normal, even if that meant carving the ugliest pumpkins on the planet. I knew the pregnancy was hard on her and she hated feeling useless, but I’d never forgive myself if I let her over exert herself and it ended up hurting her or the baby.
I let her enjoy the fresh air for a few minutes before coaxing her inside.
I honestly couldn’t believe that it was already Halloween. Time was passing by way faster than I wanted it to. I felt so unprepared—not only with Travis and his mutants but with the baby as well. My dad had been a great role model, but that didn’t prepare me for the profoundness of having a kid. I was going to have a little human-being dependent on me to keep her alive. How crazy was that? Especially when I couldn’t seem to keep my pack alive. I rubbed my jaw, and turned to Sophie, hoping I could get my mind on other things.
“How about we finish that movie?”
“But…you weren’t watching it. You’ll be confused,” her nose crinkled with the cold air.
I laughed heartily at that. “Babe, I’ve seen that movie so many times I have it memorized.”
That got her to smile. God, I loved that smile, and these days seeing it was a rarity.
“I’d like that.” She wrapped her arms around her torso as she shivered from the cool night air.
I held the door open for her and followed her into the family room.
My eyes scanned her body—but not for the reason you’d think. She looked…thinner. But how was that possible? Weren’t you supposed to gain weight when you’re pregnant?
I shook my head, sure I was just imagining things. Surely she wasn’t losing weight. I mean, she had a baby bump and she was eating regularly. Now, I was just inventing stuff to worry about.
Sophie grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around herself before plopping dramatically onto the couch. “You coming?” She asked when she looked up and saw me standing in the archway.
I nodded and strode forward. I sat down beside her and pulled her into my arms. She came eagerly. I loved being close to her like this. I really missed these moments. We rarely had them anymore. Everything was always so serious now.
“You starting the movie back up?” Nolan asked a moment before he appeared.
I nodded.
“Sweet,” he jumped onto the couch and bounced a few times. He grabbed a pillow and adjusted it behind his head.
I knew there were a million other things I should have been doing, especially since I’d lost so much time hunting down and carving pumpkins, but right now I needed this. I kissed the top of Sophie’s head and wiggled around until I found a comfortable spot. I needed times like these to remind me what I was fighting so hard for.