“How do you mean?” I turned around in his arms.
“I wasn’t there for Monica’s pregnancy. She lived over an hour away and I barely saw her. I was there right after Lily was born, though. I didn’t help her through the birth because when she called me and by the time I got to the hospital in the middle of rush hour traffic, she had just had her. So, I’m excited to go on this journey with you and watch our baby grow every day. I really wish we could find out the sex today at the ultrasound.”
“We’ll find out tomorrow at the gender reveal party Julia and Sam are throwing for us at the restaurant.”
“Can’t we just find out and not tell anyone we know?” His lips formed a smirk.
“No.” I laughed. “It’ll be fun. You can wait one more day to find out if it’s a boy or a girl.”
“Well, if it’s a boy, I’ll be able to tell right away.”
“How?”
“Because us Kind men are very blessed in the manhood department, as you know.” The corners of his mouth curved upward.
“That you are.” I kissed his lips.
“We have a little bit of time before we have to leave. How about I show you how blessed I really am.”
“Where’s Lily?”
“She and Simon are down at the beach kicking the soccer ball around. I’ll text him and tell him to keep her a while longer.”
“I’m ready if you are.” I grinned.
The ultrasound went well. The baby was growing right on schedule, and everything looked perfect. Lily was enthralled by the experience and Stefan was disappointed he couldn’t tell the sex.
We headed to the restaurant where we met our family in the banquet room for the party. Pink and blue streamers and balloons filled the room as did a big black drop bag that said “Boy or Girl” in gold letters across it hung from the ceiling.
“Okay everyone, it’s time!” Julia announced. “Stefan and Alex, come up here and stand on each side of the drop bag. When we all count to three, cut the end of the ties off and whatever color balloons are inside, is what you’re having.” She grinned.
Stefan and I walked over hand in hand and our lips met before taking our place across from each other.
“ONE. TWO. THREE!” Everyone in the room shouted.
Together, Stefan and I cut the ends of the ties and a massive number of blue balloons fell out.
“It’s a boy!” Stefan threw his arms up with a wide grin as tears sprung to my eyes.
He walked over to me and took me in his arms.
“We’re having a boy.” He smiled before kissing my lips.
“A beautiful little boy. I’m so happy.”
“Me too. I love you so much, Alex.”
“I love you too.”
“Yay! I’m going to have a brother.” Lily jumped up and down with excitement.
Everyone walked over and congratulated us with hugs and kisses.
“Good job, son.” Stefan’s father patted his back. “Congratulations, sweetheart.” He hugged me.
“I’m so excited to have a grandson,” his mother spoke as she hugged me tight.
Later that night after we put Lily to bed, Stefan and I climbed under the covers, and I snuggled my body against his.
“We need to start thinking about names,” he said.
“I think we have time for that.” My lips pressed against his bare muscular chest.
“I like the name Liam.”
“That would be a great middle name,” I said.
“Middle name? What are you thinking for a first name?”
I lifted my head as the corners of my mouth curved upward.
“Henry. Henry Liam Kind.”
“You want to name our son after my father?”
“Why not? I’ve always liked the name Henry.”
“I’ll get back to you on that one.” He smiled.
“Okay. I was thinking about the colors for Henry’s nursery.”
He let out sigh. “We’re naming him Henry?”
“We’re naming him Henry.” I grinned as I reached up and kissed his lips.
“Henry Liam Kind it is.”
“I love you.”
“I love you more, baby.”
I laid my head back on his chest and closed my eyes.
Chapter 42
One Month Later
Stefan
I grabbed my phone from my desk and slipped it into my pocket as I headed out of my office to meet Sam at a job. Pushing the button to the elevator, I waited for it to come up. The ding was sweet music to my ears as I was already running late, but when the doors opened, I stared at the woman staring back at me.
“Hello, Stefan.”
“Monica?”
“I was hoping you were here. Can we talk?”
I was in shock to say the least. The last time I’d seen her was six years ago after she dropped Lily off at my house.
“No. We can’t. I’m running late for a meeting. What the hell are you doing here?” I asked as I stepped into the elevator.
“I want to see our daughter.”
“Well, that isn’t happening. You were stripped of your parental rights. Who the hell do you think you are coming back here after all these years?”
When the doors opened to the parking garage, I stepped out and headed to my car.
“I just want to see her. Please, Stefan. I’m begging you.” She followed behind.
I stopped, turned around and pointed my finger at her in anger.
“You lost your right to see her when you dropped her off with me and never came back,” I spoke through gritted teeth.
“Everyone makes mistakes. Please, Stefan. Let’s just talk. I need to know how she is.”
I reached my car and placed my hand on the handle of the door. Taking in a deep breath, I turned and looked at her as her eyes filled with tears.
“She’s amazing, Monica. Absolutely amazing. She’s happy and that’s how she’s going to stay.”
“Please,” she whispered. “Can we please just talk?”
It was against my better judgement, but I hesitantly agreed.
“Fine. Meet me at Four Kinds tonight at seven p.m. We can talk there.”
“Thank you, Stefan. Thank you.”
I shook my head, climbed in my car and took off to meet Sam.
“You’re fucking late, bro.” Sam stood there with his hands tucked in his pants pockets. “I have other work to do.”
“Don’t.” I put my hand up.
“What’s wrong?”
“The reason I’m late is because I had a little visitor as I was leaving the office.”
“Who?” His brows furrowed.
“Monica.”
“What? What the hell does she want?”
“She wants to talk to me, and she wants to see Lily.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I told her I’d meet her tonight at Four Kinds to talk.”
“You’re seriously not going to let her see Lily, are you?”
“I don’t have any intentions of letting that happen, and I’m telling her tonight. Alex is working tonight, so can you and Julia watch Lily while I do this?”