Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“By the way, make sure you get Lilibeth a gift.”
“A gift?”
“Not the push present, this is just because she’s pregnant.”
Confused, I shook my head. “A push present?”
He waved that off. “That’s after she gives birth to the baby. But remember that too. When we discovered she was pregnant, I got Emeline a little basket full of her favorite things. Rhett’s giving it to her tonight, once we get back home.”
“I guess I probably should get Lilibeth something.”
“It’s not required, but my mother suggested I get Emeline something.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “And the second Lilibeth finds out you got Emeline something, she’ll think I’m a jerk.”
He hit me on the side of the arm. “She won’t if you buy her something.”
“Thanks,” I said, before he turned and jogged out of the barn.
Turning to look at my desk and the pile of work I still had to get through, I sighed. “A gift. I’m going to need help for this one.”
Week 11
I carried the last box in and set it on the bedroom floor. “Lili, are you sure you don’t want to be in my bedroom? I don’t need all that space.”
She looked up from the dresser, where she was putting away clothes.
“I’m not kicking you out of your room. This room is perfect. It’s plenty big to fit everything we’ll need for the baby before they go to their own room.”
I exhaled and glanced around. Lilibeth had brought almost nothing with her except for clothes and some basic necessities. I walked over to the side of the bed and picked up a book. There was a bookmark in it, and I opened it and read out loud.
“Your baby is eleven weeks old and is over two-and-a-half inches long. Their head makes up almost half their entire length. Both fingers and toes have separated, and the external genitalia has almost completely formed. It will be several more weeks before you can tell the sex of your baby.” I glanced up and smiled. “I think I need this book too.”
She grinned. “I actually bought you a copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.”
Lilibeth crossed the room and pulled out the drawer on the bedside table, taking out a book and handing it to me.
“Really? For me?”
She nodded. “I thought you’d like to know what was happening during all of this,” she said, circling her stomach with her hands.
I thumbed through the book. “Thank you.” Glancing around, I asked, “Is there anything I can help with?”
“Nope, I’m almost finished unpacking. Is that the last box?” she asked, as she pointed to the one I’d just brought in.
“That’s the last one. Also, your mother called my cell and asked me to have you call her.”
Lilibeth’s eyes went wide…before a look of anger crossed her face. “She did what?”
I’d never really seen Lilibeth angry before, so this was a new experience. Usually she was cheerful as fuck.
“How in the world did she even get your phone number?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. I figured you gave it to her.”
She turned and started to pace. “I cannot believe she called your cell! She’s been texting me all morning, and I told her three hours ago that I’d call her when I was settled. Why is she being so…overprotective?”
“I’m sure she’s just worried about you, that’s all.”
“She’s worried I’m going to lose my—” Her words cut off.
“Lose your what?”
Waving it off, she said, “Nothing. I’m so sorry. I’ll call her now and tell her not to bother you like that again.”
“It wasn’t a bother.”
She looked at me. “When she starts calling you five, six times a day to ask about me, will it be a bother then?”
I screwed up my face. “Yeah, that might get old really fast.”
Lilibeth chuckled. “I know they mean well, and they’re upset with me for moving in with you. They still don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Because we’re not a couple?”
“That’s about right. Anyway, I’ll take care of it.”
“I’ve got some chili heating up on the stove that my grandmother gave me earlier. You hungry?”
She nodded. “I am. Let me get this last bit taken care of, and I’ll come down and help.”
“Take your time. Chili isn’t going anywhere.”
I headed toward the door to leave when Lilibeth called out my name.
“Caden?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for the help today in getting my stuff moved.”
I smiled. “It was nothing. Get settled in and come down whenever you’re ready.”
She looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead, she pressed her lips together tightly and nodded.
Stepping out of the room, I softly shut the door and stood there a moment as reality slowly settled in.
Lilibeth was living in my house. Under the same roof as me. I closed my eyes and ran my hand down my face before I headed for the steps.
“Lord, I have a feeling I’m gonna be asking for your help a lot these next few months.”