Branna(21)
I sighed, released him, and stood upright.
“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling awful. “I feel weird.”
“A bad weird?” he asked, worried.
“Just weird,” I said with a shrug. “Really tired all of a sudden.”
“Then a nap is back on the table.” My husband winked as he tucked himself back inside his boxers and buttoned up his jeans. “You rest, and I’ll make us dinner... once I figure out how to use the oven in the kitchen. Did you see how many dials were on that thing?”
I didn’t know why, but I started to cry again, and Ryder’s face lost its colour.
“Baby…” He frowned, and hugged me to him.
“I’m the worst wife,” I blubbered. “I can’t even give you a blow job.”
“Bran.” Ryder pulled back on a chuckle. “You’re the best wife you can possibly be, and you’re perfect at it in my book. I’m not stupid enough to think you can do things you used to before you were pregnant.”
“But you didn’t get to come and—”
“I’m not going to die,” he cut me off. “We can fool around later in bed, but for now, let me feed my wife.”
I cried harder.
“I can’t stop,” I sniffled.
He smiled softly. “It’s your hormones.”
“I hate them.”
My husband guided me back into the sitting room where I sank back down onto the sofa. I calmed down enough to pick up my phone from the coffee table and check it for messages. There were none, so I held it in my hand while I stared at the flames dancing in the fireplace and let it pull me into a trance. I wasn’t sure how long I stared before Ryder came and sat down next to me, gaining my attention.
“Branna.” He sighed. “Why do you look like a puppy just died?”
“I just have a bad feelin’ about something’,” I said, feeling confused. “I don’t know why, though. It’s annoyin’ me.”
“Have you considered your sister?”
I frowned. “What about ‘er?”
“Just yesterday, she was a mess over Georgie not breastfeeding anymore.” Ryder winced. “She also drank herself into oblivion with Alannah.”
I perked up.
“I bet you’re right,” I said excitedly. “I bet I’m just worried about Bronagh.”
My husband raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason you sound excited about that?”
I managed a laugh. “I’m not excited about Bronagh bein’ upset or possibly dyin’ of a hangover. I’m excited that nothin’ else is worryin’ me.”
Ryder brushed a few strands of hair from my face. “What else would be bothering you?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “And that’s what bothers me. I have nothin’ else to worry over, yet I still worry. Not all the time. Just sometimes. When things are feelin’ too good to be true.”
Ryder’s features tensed a little.
“Branna,” he began. “I can’t convince you, given my past, but nothing else is going to happen to us. Not only have we suffered more than enough for one lifetime, but everyone who had a grudge against us is dead.”
And thank God for that.
“I know that, I do. I just can’t help but expect somethin’ bad to happen.”
Ryder frowned.
“You can’t be blamed,” he said softly. “It’s not like bad things haven’t happened one after the other since we met.”
I hadn’t meant to make him feel guilty, so I took his hands in mine and placed them on my stomach.
“Somethin’ incredible has happened since we met too.”
Ryder’s expression changed to one of joy.
“You’re precious to me, Sweetness,” he said, lifting his hands to my face. “You and our baby—you both mean life itself to me. I love you.”
I placed my hands on his. “I love you, too.”
He grinned. “Call your sister.”
Ryder went into the kitchen and started on our dinner, while I dialled my sister’s number into my phone.
“Hello?” Dominic answered on the third ring.
“Brother-in-law,” I mused. “Is me sister alive?”
“Define alive?”
I grinned. “Is she breathin’?”
“Let me check... yep, she’s breathing,” he confirmed. “Sweating and drooling, too.”
“Nice.” I snorted.
“Will you stop shoutin’, Dominic?” my sister’s voice pleaded through the receiver of my phone. “Me head is goin’ to explode.”
“I’ve been whispering all morning.”
“Lies,” Bronagh rasped. “I heard you bangin’ pots and pans for no other reason than to cause me pain.”