Glancing over my shoulder, I stare at Noah as I try out the name, “Haley West.” A wide smile spreads over my face. “Haleybug. I love it.”
“Yeah?” Noah grins at me.
I nod as he leans in to press a kiss to my mouth.
Chapter 28
NOAH
“Carla, where do you want the dresser?” I call out.
She comes into the room, glances around, then points at the wall near the window. “There, please.”
Kao and I lift it and carry it to the spot she wants it, then we step back.
“Perfect,” she grins at us. “Thanks, guys.”
Carla darts back out to finish up in the guest room with Fallon.
All our friends are here today to help us move in, which I’m grateful for, otherwise, I don’t know when we’d get it all done.
“So…” Kao begins. “Why didn’t you hire a moving company?”
I let out a chuckle as he reminds me of the question I asked him when he and Fallon moved into their home. “Carla wanted to do it this way. If it were up to me, I would’ve hired a company to help us.”
Kao lets out a burst of laughter. “She has you wrapped around her little finger.”
I shake my head but then admit, “Yeah, she does.”
We walk out of the room and head down the stairs to see what else there is to do.
Forest and Aria are busy in the kitchen, unpacking the sets of plates and cups Carla got.
“Noah?” I hear Carla call.
I move to the entrance, then glance up the stairs. “Yeah?”
“Have you seen the bedside table for the guest room?”
“I’ll check down here.” Searching, I find it in the dining room and quickly take it to Carla. After setting it down next to the bed, I move to Carla’s side. “When are you taking a break?”
“Now,” she replies while rubbing her side.
Moving her hand out of the way, I begin to rub her lower back. “You should lie down for a bit. I’ll finish up.”
“Yeah, Noah’s right,” Fallon says. “You’ve been on your feet all day. Go take a nap.”
Carla shakes her head. “I’m fine, guys. Besides, we’re almost done.”
“When are you decorating the nursery?” Fallon asks.
“Aria’s going to paint a wall for me. She said it would take her two weeks. I’ll wait until then,” Carla answers. She lifts a hand to the back of my neck and pulls me down for a kiss before she says, “Let’s get back to work. The sooner we’re done, the sooner we can relax.”
Leaving the women, I go look for Kao. Finding him out front where he’s busy placing empty boxes in the U-Haul we hired, I begin to help him.
“Only fourteen weeks to go, right?” Kao asks.
“Yeah.”
“Do you have a due date yet?”
“Dr. Wells says Haley should come around May 12th,” I answer Kao. “It’s just an estimation, though.”
After passing my degree with flying colors, my days are filled with working at Indie Ink while my nights are spent with Carla. It feels like we’re settling into a routine, and I don’t feel so restless anymore.
I glance back at the house we’ll call home from now on, a smile curving my lips up.
Things are falling nicely into place.
My gaze moves up to the second floor, and my smile widens when I see Carla staring down at me from the window.
She blows me a kiss before she turns back to whatever she’s busy with.
Three years back, something similar happened where I caught Carla watching me from her bedroom window. Then it filled me with apprehension, but now… it fills me with happiness.
It’s funny how life throws curveballs that at first seem like the worst possible thing, only to turn out to be the greatest blessing.
Once we settled into our new place, Carla decided it’s time to get our parents together for dinner.
So here we are, the kitchen going up in flames and the fire alarm going off because Carla just had to try cooking.
“I’ve got it,” I say as I extinguish the fire.
“My roast,” Carla whimpers.
I open the windows and back door so the smoke can get out, and then I turn off the alarm.
Walking to a distraught Carla, I wrap my arms around her and say, “Don’t worry. I’ll order in. We still have time.”
Carla’s chin quivers as she glances up at me. “But I wanted to prepare the meal.”
“I know.” I press a kiss to her mouth. “There’s always next time. Okay?” I turn her around and push her out of the smokey kitchen. “Let’s draw you a bubble bath, then you can soak and relax while I get everything ready.”
Carla nods as I usher her up the stairs to the bathroom. I make sure the water’s temperature is right before I press a kiss to Carla’s forehead. “Relax. Okay? By the time you’re done, I’ll have everything ready.”
Carla tilts her head, a look of wonder washing over her face. “You’re perfect.”
The corner of my mouth lift. “Only to you.”
She shakes her head. “Nope. You’re the closest thing to an angel if I’ve ever seen one.”
I pull her into my arms and press a tender kiss to her mouth. Since the shooting, I find it hard to let her out of my sight. It sent my protective side into overdrive.
It also made me realize Carla is irreplaceable in my life. She fills every heartbeat with happiness and love.
“You’re the angel for carrying our child,” I murmur. I nudge her toward the tub. “Take your time.”
The instant I pull the door shut behind me, I make a run for the kitchen while pulling my phone out of my pocket.
I place an order with a nearby restaurant, and then I begin to clean up the mess. I light scented candles to help clear the smell of smoke from the kitchen.
By the time I’m done in the kitchen, the restaurant delivers our order.
I’m busy opening the containers and transferring the food over to glass bowls when Carla comes back into the kitchen.
“Oh my gosh, Noah. How did you manage to get this done so fast?” Her eyes widen at me. “Do you have superpowers I don’t know about?”
I let out a chuckle as I place the food in the oven to keep it warm. “Do you feel better?”
“Yeah. All thanks to you.” Carla comes to take my hand, and then she pulls me out of the kitchen. “Your turn to get cleaned up. I’ll set the table.”
I let out a breath of relief as I head to our bedroom.
As long as Carla’s happy, I’m happy.
CARLA
We finished decorating the nursery today and glancing around the room, I’m so happy I could burst.
The ladybug and raspberry theme gives color to everything.
Noah picks up a nursery rhymes book and goes to sit on the rocking chair. Patting his lap, he grins at me.
I carefully position myself on his lap, then wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head on his shoulder.
Noah opens the book to the first rhyme and begins to read. “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. I still don’t get why an egg would sit on a wall, but okay.” He continues to read the rhyme, and it has me letting out a burst of laughter.