Page 80 of Blissful Devotion

I can only hope that’s true, but even if it isn’t, we will be here to help her.

She couldn’t get rid of us if she tried, not anymore.

“Speaking of what he will need, we need to decide which room will be the nursery and start on renovations. We only have a few months left.” Nathan stands, offering his arms to Addison, who doesn’t hesitate to jump into his arms. “So let's get these presents open so we can get started.”

“Who would have thought we would have to convince her to open them?”

I remember last year she tore through them so fast I could barely see what she had.

“We need to pick a name as well,” Kat says, rubbing a loving hand over her stomach with a smile and a look so happy I know this won’t be our last one.

She looks up as if she can hear my thoughts, and I can’t look away; instead, I move toward her until I can lean in and press a kiss to her head. Wrapping my arm around her back, I lead us to the tree where the others are gathered, passing out and unwrapping gifts, dropping down to sit. I pull her into my lap, making her giggle before she leans into my chest, and I gently press a hand to her stomach, the same way she had.

I have less than zero experience with pregnant women, but this isn’t so bad. A flutter of movement under my fingers makes me pause, unsure whether I really felt that or imagined it. Kat cranes her neck back to meet my gaze, and the smile on her face says it was very real.

Yeah, I’m here for the long run, maybe even forever.

May

Three months sounds like a long time, and when it comes to dealing with not being able to see my feet and them hovering, it kind of was. But then I remember I’ll have to push a baby out of me soon, and suddenly it doesn’t feel like long enough.

So instead, I try to focus on literally anything else. Which, thankfully, is very easy with so much going on and so many people in the house.

After debating for days, we decided the nursery would go in the room next to the library, with a bassinet in my room, since he would probably spend most of his nights there.

I’d wanted the nursery next to my room, but Nathan had insisted that the kids would need rooms they could grow into later, so the nursery wouldn’t be permanent. Apparently, we would use the same room, changing it as needed for every child we had.

Silly me for thinking otherwise.

Rich people.

Speaking of rich people, why is everything so expensive, and how are there so many things for babies who need to be held most of the time in their first few months?

I’d thought the price for the car seat was a joke, that maybe the guys were being name-brand snobs, and while they had been a little bit, the regular brands weren’t too far off.

Despite the sheer cost of everything, I can’t deny the room is… everything.

We’d taken a while to decide on a theme, but in the end, we went with moon and stars, and honestly I shouldn’t be surprised that they went way overboard, but here I am, sitting in a room I never could have imagined myself.

Every wall is covered in stars and constellations, and not just the simple peel-and-stick ones. No, they had them painted on with glow-in-the-dark paint, with his name painted right behind the strange, round crib.

I’ve never seen a crib like it before, but it’s cute and apparently super expensive because why wouldn’t it be?

Oh, and don't forget the literal moon that hangs from the ceiling above it as a mobile.

One half of the room is baby stuff: the crib, changing table, rocking chair, and dresser, with access to the almost equally ‌large walk-in closet.

The other half is perfect for everything else, with toys and a large floor bed for us to curl up with him if needed.

And the rug…

I wasn’t aware anything could be so soft.

No expense was spared, no detail missed, and while I couldn’t argue because I only want what’s best for our children, I’m already positive I’ll be begging them to keep it exactly as it is, should we have another little one.

I love this room and all the love and work that went into it.

Photos from ultrasounds, Christmas, and maternity pictures are framed on the wall out in the hall, and something about it all just makes me cry every single time.