Taryn’s shirt is pushed up enough to expose her stomach and the slight bump there warms my heart. Sprawling out my hand over the space I feel a slight movement that makes me smile. Our child.
“I can’t wait to meet you little one.” Looking up at the woman that is giving me such an amazing gift I know what I need to do. I was ready to make her mine, and that means I have to bring her parents here and I have to make them see how much I adore their daughter. She is mine, I know this, as does she, but I also know that the one thing holding her back whether she chooses to admit it or not is the blessing of her parents.
I want them to be a part of our lives, a part of our child’s.
Now to convince her it is time too.
Taryn
Merick wraps his arm around my waist as we make our way into the airport. My parents' plane should be landing anytime now. The voices bombard me, and I close my eyes for a second to clear the thoughts that flood my mind. Crowded places like this, with so many people causes the thoughts I hear to sound all garbled.
“You okay?” he whispers against my ear, causing me to do a full body shiver. This man has become my addiction. The love I feel for him is so strong it scares me. My hand goes to my belly and our baby gives a little kick.
I nod, “I’m good. Excited to see my parents.”
He leads me over to baggage claim and we take our seats. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I casually look around, looking for anyone out of place. I close my eyes and try to see if I can hear any threatening thoughts, but again it’s all garbled. There are too many people around.
Merick wraps his arm around my shoulder and hugs me into his side. He places his lips against my temple and I smile up at him.
When they announce my parents' flight has landed I jump up from my seat. My body is vibrating with happiness. Merick stands behind me with his hands resting on my shoulders as people start walking down the hallway toward us.
As soon as my mom comes into view she squeals. “My baby.” She comes running toward me and I run to her. We hug as we hop up and down. I’m barely aware of my dad and Merick greeting each other.
Mom puts her hands on my shoulders. “Montana looks good on you my baby girl. You’re glowing.” She looks down and sees my little bump and her eyes turn bright. “Oh my goodness.” Mom places her hand on my little belly. Tears begin to run down her cheeks. “My baby is having a baby.” She pulls me into another tight hug.
“Karen, can I hug our daughter too?” My dad says from beside me. He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight. “I’ve got the most beautiful daughter in the world.” Dad kisses me on the forehead.
“Hi Daddy.” With my arm around him I reach out and grab Mom’s hand. “This is Merick.”
Mom grabs his face, pulling him down and kisses both cheeks. “It’s so nice to meet you. I see you’re taking good care of my girl.”
“I am and she’s taking care of me.”
Once we get their luggage we head over to the rental kiosk. Dad and Merick take Merick’s truck and mom and I follow behind in their rental. We head to the cabin where my parents are staying. I’m dying to know what the guys are talking about.
Mom grabs my hand. “Merick is so nice and the way he looks at you? Totally swoon-worthy.”
“Swoon-worthy? How do you know that phrase?” I laugh.
“Romance novels, of course. In all seriousness, he treats you well?”
“He does, I swear. Mom, I’ve never felt a love like this before. He’s so excited about being a daddy.” Merick and I decided to fabricate a story for my parents' benefit due to the fact that my pregnancy is moving along rapidly. “Mom, I need to be honest with you about something.”
“What baby?”
I hate lying, but I can’t really tell her that I hear people's thoughts and our baby--her grandbaby is going to be half shifter. “Merick and I actually met while he was in Chicago for business. We really hit it off and imagine my surprise when he told me where he was from. Anyway, we were um...intimate and I got pregnant. That’s why I came here, to tell him and see if we could have a future together. So, I’m a little further along then I said.”
She’s quiet for a minute. “Honey you’re old enough that I don’t need to tell you about being careful. I’m glad that it’s someone who is obviously in love with you.”
Merick’s fingers glide up and down my back as I lay snuggled up to him in our bed. My parents were over for dinner earlier and Mom “oohed” and “ahhed” over our home. She insisted that they wanted to order and pay for the baby’s furniture. While Merick and Dad stood out in the cold in front of the grill Mom and I looked online and picked out the most beautiful gray distressed wood crib and dresser.
She and I talked baby names and if I had any thoughts on if the baby was a boy or a girl. Honestly, sometimes I feel it’s a boy, but in my dreams I always see a little girl. They want to be here when he or she is born, but since that could be a lot sooner then they’d expect me to deliver, not to mention dangerous because there is still a possible threat to me and my baby,
