The doctor handed us the sonogram pictures and we headed on our way. We were both quiet in the car, lost in our thoughts.
Just as Caeden pulled into the garage, he turned to me. “When are we going to tell our parents?”
“I don’t know,” I picked at a worn thread on my jeans. “Maybe we should tell them on Christmas, so they all find out together.”
Christmas was only two weeks away, and while that seemed like forever to wait, I knew it would be fun to surprise them.
Caeden thought over what I said and nodded. “That’s a good idea. They’ll like that.”
“Maybe we can get three pairs of little blue socks and wrap them.”
He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Whatever you want,” his fingers skimmed lightly over cheek and down my chin. I knew he was trying to appease me since I’d lost so much freedom the last five months, but instead of getting mad, I smiled in appreciation. I was really lucky to have him. He understood me and knew when he’d pushed me too far. He’d done really well about not being nearly as overprotective and he’d been spending more time doing other things. I was happy that he was getting out and not exiling himself along with me.
* * *
Bryce, Nolan, Gram, my mom and dad, Amy, and Caeden gathered in the family room. Christmas music played and the tree was all lit up and overflowing with decorations. I’d baked chocolate chip cookies this morning for everyone. Bryce looked like he’d already scarfed down about ten.
“Cold?” Gram asked me.
“Huh?”
“You have on this huge sweater. You must be cold,” she commented.
“Oh, uh, yeah,” I nodded. “I’m cold.” I was cold almost all the time now, but that wasn’t the reason for the sweater. I’d chosen the large clunky sweater to hide how small my frame had become. I’d had to use makeup to hide the dark circles under my eyes and the gauntness of my cheekbones.
Gram eyed me for a moment, not believing it, and then moved further into the room to sit on the couch.
I let out a sigh of relief that I’d dodged that bullet.
I sat beside Caeden on the floor by the tree and he draped a blanket over my shoulders. A fire roared in the fireplace and everything was just so…perfect. It was everything I could ever hope to ask for, but there was so much going on behind the scenes that none of them knew about.
“When are we going to open presents?” Bryce whined. I swear, you’d think he was seven, not seventeen.
“Right now, doucheknozzle,” Caeden grabbed a package and threw it at his brother.
Bryce caught it and checked the nametag. “This is for Sophie,” he tossed it back. “If you’re going to throw a present at my head, make sure it’s one for me first.”
Caeden rolled his eyes, grabbed another present, which he checked the label on, and threw it with more force at Bryce. The box blurred as it flew threw the air and smacked Bryce on the forehead. Luckily, his curls seemed to have softened the blow.
“That. Was. Not. Nice.” Bryce glared. “But since this one’s actually for me, I won’t complain…too much.”
He promptly began ripping the wrapping paper off, throwing it everywhere, some even landed in his hair.
“Look’s like this one’s for you,” Caeden handed me the small box he’d previously tossed at Bryce. It was wrapped carefully in shiny green paper with a small red bow. The box was small and shaking it only produced a quiet rustling sound, which was unhelpful in identifying what the item was. “Open it,” he coaxed with a small boyish smile.
I slowly unfurled the paper, and a small white box sat in the palm of my hand. I lifted the lid off and was greeted by the sight of a bracelet. I picked it up, looking it over. The band was made of some kind of rubbery mint green material and it connected to an infinity symbol.
“I know you already have this one,” he flicked the bracelet he’d made me last year for Christmas that never left my wrist. “But I felt like making another.”
“You made this one too?” I questioned, gazing at him with wide eyes as I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist.
He nodded. “Yes,” he whispered huskily in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine, “because you and me, we’re for infinity.”
God, I loved the sound of that. Caeden had always had an unfair way with words. I was never able to express my feelings as beautifully as he could. “Thank you,” I said simply, rubbing my finger over the infinity symbol.
He kissed the top of my head, his lips lingering against my skin longer than necessary. “You’re welcome.”
More presents were unwrapped and we finally handed Gram, Amy, and my parents their separate boxes. My heart thundered in my chest with nerves. I knew none of them cared if the baby was a boy or girl, but it was exciting telling them. I really hoped my dad didn’t cry again. Growing up, I had never seen the man cry, but apparently a grandchild made the man all weepy.