Knocked Up(61)

“I can be well behaved.”

“And what else?”

“I can tell them I love them,” Michael said, somewhat shamefaced, then he looked up at Tawny and her heart melted a little. He came closer and pressed his head to her still softly rounded belly.

“I love you, baby.” He looked up. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart.”

“Good,” Luke said. “Now put the cushions back where they belong. Your friends will be here soon.”

Again, Michael did as he was asked and Tawny turned to her husband, unsure whether it was the new pregnancy hormones or just the fullness of her love that made her want to cry.

“My boys had a little talk?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

Luke shrugged. “Older brothers have responsibilities.”

“You would know.” She nodded.

“I would. Besides, you need all the help you can get. I’m telling you, close the daycare for a few months. We can easily survive on just the bike shop. It’s been an amazing year and it looks like it’s only getting better. You need some rest. Stress isn’t good for you or the baby.”

“I’m not stressed,” she said, and it was true.

She knew, of course, that they didn’t need to run the daycare—that they could survive without it. But, well, Luke had his dreams and she had hers. And spending her days surrounded by children, never having to miss a moment of her son’s—and soon, her daughter’s—upbringing? That was worth everything to her.

Everything.

“I think you’re more stressed than I am.” She took another step toward him and lowered her voice, “So tonight I am going to ease some of that tension.”

“You promise?” he asked.

She dropped a gentle kiss on his lips and nodded. “Absolutely. In fact…” She glanced at the clock. “We’ve got twenty minutes before the kids start pouring in.”

He glanced over her shoulder at Michael, who had now found his toy box and was happily distracting himself, then grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the bathroom like a bomb was about to detonate behind them.

Who would’ve thought that Practical Tawny…Careful Tawny…Chicken Tawny, would’ve stepped out of the box one time only to find out it was the best decision she’d ever made.

She let out a peal of laughter and slid into her husband’s arms for a kiss, knowing that this was her happily ever after…