Page 104 of Carte

I tried to talk to her, but she was beating herself up because she didn’t see how nuch I was struggling. It was only after the doctor told her it was not safe to fly on a plane while pregnant that stopped her.

I still had to call her daily, just so she would know I wasn’t retreating.

But the thing was it was a daily battle.

One I won day after day thanks to Harley.

“Mommy, let’s play,” Amelia whined, and I bent down so Rory could take my niece in her arms.

“Okay, baby,” she smiled at her daughter as she set her on her feet. “Go get Daddy and we’ll play.”

I walked in the other direction and finally claimed my wife.

“How are you feeling?” I murmured into her ear, my palm going to her belly.

“You need to stop, or you’ll spill our secret before it’s time.”

Just then, Max roared, “We’re going to have a baby.”

“Damn him,” I grunted. “There he goes stealing our thunder.”

Harley laughed in my arms, “We weren’t even going to tell them.”

“I swear, they do this just to mess with me.” I grumbled.

“SO, you’re telling me that both Jason and Max got their wives pregnant just to mess with you and steal your thunder.”

“Rory’s pregnant, too?” I gasped, looking down at her. “Oh, they’re gonna pay.”

“Oh my God, you need to stop.”

I kissed her temple, “Don’t worry, Dynamo, you can be a part of it too.”

Over the years she jumped on the wagon of messing with my siblings.

But, she had to stop once all the girls sat the night in jail cell, Max, Cache and I laughing our asses off, and Jason having a meltdown because he was home alone with a hungry Amelia.

“Thank you,” Harley breathed against my neck and kissed my jaw.

“For what?” I looked down at her.

“For giving me this. For giving me family. For making me belong.”

"You'll always belong to me, Dynamo.”

“I love you, Warden.” She sighed and leaned against me.

“And I’ll love you until the end of days, Dynamo.”

And that right there, chased the fear away.

My wife, and our unborn child safely tucked in my arms, I stood in the middle of a backyard, right in the sunlight. With no shadows in sight.