I watch in fascination as he just plays with her hair. I don’t blame him; I love the feel of those silky strands sliding through my fingers. It doesn’t seem to faze her that he called her Mom. I take a deep breath, wanting that for them, for her to give in and let herself believe that she’s that person for him. She is already, but she fights it.
Hearing a car outside, her attention is drawn out the window. She sees the mailman and grins. “I got you and Daddy a present for your birthday.” She looks up at me. “Can you call your mom and see if she can stop and pick up a bag of ice?”
“Sure, babe.” I hold my hands out for Knox. “You want to come with Daddy?”
He leans toward me, but Kendall holds him close. “I kind of need him for the surprise I got the two of you.” She smiles.
I chuckle. “Okay, then. I’ll go call Mom.”
She nods then rushes out to the mailbox. Her excitement is evident. I guess that’s why she’s been acting a little off today; she was probably just nervous that whatever it is she ordered wouldn’t be here in time. I rack my brain for something that she could’ve bought that would be for both me and our son. I’ve got nothing.
The call with my mom takes longer than what it should have, as she rattles on about all the gifts she bought him. I assume my wife was banking on this, which is why she had me call.
I’m sitting in the living room when Knox comes tumbling in as fast as his little legs will carry him. “Dada!” He hugs my legs and climbs up on my lap. Kendall is laughing when she sits down beside me. Knox is playing with my beard when a small white envelope appears in my line of vision. Kendall and I haven’t had the best of luck with little white envelopes, so I hesitate.
“Open it,” she says, grinning.
I take that as a good sign, so I tear open the envelope. Inside is a single piece of paper from the state of Illinois.
‘Official Petition for Adoption.’
I whip my head toward her. “You signed?”
Tears in her eyes, she grins. “I did. Counseling has helped, and last week he called me Mom. Something just clicked. I knew his situation is much like my own, and I want to be that person for him.”
Wrapping my hand around the back of her neck, I pull her into a kiss.
“No,” Knox protests, trying to pry us apart.
“He loves his momma,” I say to Kendall.
She laughs as tears stream down her face. I lift Knox in the air. “Its official, bud.” I throw him up and catch him, and his laughter fills the room. He grabs onto my shirt when I settle him into my lap, and that’s when I notice Kendall changed him. I’ve never seen this one before; maybe that’s what came in the mail. Moving his arms so I can read it, I freeze.
‘I’m the big brother.’
I stare at it and read it two more times before turning to look at my wife.
“Surprise,” she says.
“Are we . . . ?”
She nods.
I’m too overwhelmed to say anything, emotion clogging my throat, so I kiss her, long and hard. Then I grab them both in my arms and hold them tight.
Life has thrown me some curve balls, and there have been times when the unexpected changes have literally knocked me on my ass. I had to learn to live one breath, one second, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. I’ve learned that the best things in life are truly the unexpected.
I’ve embraced it and learned to live in my unexpected reality.
Thank you
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to read Unexpected Reality.
Want more from the Beckett Construction Crew? Unexpected Fight is book two in the Unexpected Arrivals Series. This is Tyler and Reagan’s story.
http://getbook.at/unexpectedfight
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Southern Pleasure
Copyright © 2015 Kaylee Ryan
All Rights Reserved.
This book may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Kaylee Ryan, except for the use of brief quotations in articles and or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, locations, businesses and plot are products of the author’s imagination and meant to be used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events throughout the story are purely coincidental. The author acknowledges trademark owners and trademarked status of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, sponsored or associated by or with the trademark owners.
The following story contains sexual situations and strong language. It is intended for adult readers.
Cover Design: Perfect Pear Creative Covers
Cover Photography: Golden Czermak, FuriousFotog
Cover Model: Mac Robinson
Editing: Hot Tree Editing
Proofreading: Kim Ginsberg, and Proof This, Jennifer Singh
Formatting: Integrity Formatting
Chapter 1
Evan
My heart pounds against my chest as I watch the tears running down her face and struggle to process what she just said.
I hate tears.
I hate my girlfriend, Misty, for what she just said, the words still ringing in my ears.
“Evan, I just don’t want kids. I don’t want to be a parent. My own parents sure as hell weren’t role models, and it’s just not something I want. I’m getting out of here,” she says through her tears.
“Don’t I have a say in this? That’s my flesh and blood.” I point to her belly. “This is my baby, too.” My voice is pleading. She’s just dropped a bomb on me.
Fuck that!
“Evan, I just…I don’t want this.”
“This is not just about you!” I roar. “This baby is a part of me, dammit. Please don’t do this,” I beg her. I’m not above pleading to save my unborn child.
“Evan,” she sobs.
“How did this even happen? I wrap it every damn time. You’re on the pill?” I say it like a question, even though she has always assured me she is, indeed, on birth control.
“Nothing is 100 percent. I don’t know what happened. I take my pill religiously. All I know is I’m pregnant and I don’t want to be!” she screams.
I’m twenty-four years old. Old enough to be a father, although this is not how I’d planned it. I always thought I would be married to the love of my life when I started a family, but the fact of the matter is I’m not. Misty and I have been together for almost a year. I knew she wasn’t the love of my life, but I didn’t care---until now. I always figured we were having fun together and I had time. Time to find that one girl who consumes me and make her mine. Build a life together. I even thought, with time, Misty could be that girl.
Life has other plans, or maybe I should blame this on my swimmers and the damn condom company, or even the pharmaceutical company, but I know she’s right. Nothing is 100 percent.