The Revenge Bride Bonus Scene

Lucy

Today has been an emotional wringer. I’ve cried so much I don’t think I have any tears to cry ever again.

Last night, we moved the last piece of Aggie’s stuff into the assisted living home she’ll share with Rhett’s grandfather, Lloyd. She no longer recognizes any of us.

Rhett has kept himself busy all day handling things for his grandparents. I know he’s hurting. He feels like he’s lost his grandmother.

Lloyd had insisted on deeding over their beautiful farmhouse to me and Rhett, asking us in a trembling voice to raise the next generation there. To live, love, laugh, and to always put family first.

I wipe my eyes as I survey the boxes of things in the living room still waiting to be loaded into the moving truck.

Part of me will be sorry to leave behind this house where Rhett and I have lived for the last five years. My stomach churns from stress and the tough emotional upheaval.

I reach for another roll of box tape and gag. Oh no. I think that burger we grabbed on the go last night is disagreeing with me. Hoping it wasn’t bad, I stand and barely make it to the bathroom before I’m emptying my stomach.

Queasy, I ease myself down onto the side of the tub and press a hand against my abdomen. Why on moving day did I have to get sick?

I lean forward to open the bathroom cabinet to search for anti-nausea medicine when I spy a box of my monthly products. Wait a minute…

I sit up straight. No…

“Honey?” The front door slams in Rhett’s wake. “Key is coming over to help load the washing machine.” His footsteps sound down the hall as he comes to find me.

Alarm widens his eyes. “You’re crying.” He kneels in front of me and wipes the tears with the tips of his fingers. “Today is hard on you, too.”

“I need a pregnancy test,” I say.

Rhett’s face pales. “Why?”

“Because I want to use them as coffee stirs? Why else?”

“Yeah. Right.” He stands. Rakes a hand through his hair.

We’d talked about having kids in the past and I’d gone off the pill last year. Since then, life had gotten busier and more hectic, and I hadn’t been paying attention.

“I’ll go find one. Where are they?”

“The pharmacy.”

“Yeah. Right.” He rakes his hand through his hair again.

“Do you need me to go?”

“No. You relax. I’ve got this.” He spins around and rushes from the room.

I wash my face, brush my teeth, and go back to packing up the last of my clothes from the closet. With it being a couple of weeks before Christmas, I won’t need my summer wear. And if it’s true I’m pregnant, I won’t be needing it for a while anyway.

I touch my abdomen again, wondering if it’s possible.

By the time Rhett gets back, I’ve packed the rest of our bedroom.

He thrusts a bag out. “Pee in this. I mean on the box. Stick. Whatever.”

I laugh and take it from him. He’s nervous but so am I.

We go into the bathroom, and I open the bag. “What’s this?” I take out a soft baby rattle with a duck at the top.

“I wanted to be the first to buy the little bean a gift.”

“We don’t even know if I’m pregnant for sure or not,” I chide but my heart is hopeful.

I take the test and time goes by slowly until we both take a peek at the results.

“It’s positive,” I whisper.

“It’s positive,” Rhett says.

We look at each other.

Then I’m sobbing and Rhett is pulling me against his chest. “I swear I’ll be a great father to our kid. I won’t pass down the legacy I was left. I’ll never leave our kid behind.”

I raise my head and laugh through my tears as I lean up and kiss my husband. “Of course you won’t. Because you’re a good man, Rhett.”

“I am, but only because I have a good woman in my life.”

“We make a great team,” I say.

“That’s right. Me and you.” He kisses me. “Forever, my love.”

***

If you loved Rhett and Lucy’s story, you’ll enjoy reading Key and Echo’s story in The Cowboy’s Curvy Trouble. Preorder the book now!