Page 67 of Surrender

“Close your eyes,” he said.

“What are you up to?” I asked skeptically.

“Come on, baby. It’s a surprise.”

“How did you go to get food and come back with a surprise?—”

“Girl, if you don’t close your eyes!” Jessa yelled.

I laughed as I reluctantly closed my eyes. I heard their footsteps approaching and it made me giddy with excitement.

“Hold out your hands,” Jacob instructed.

I held out my hands and when the soft, furry weight was placed into them, my eyes flew open. I screamed as I looked down at the most adorable pug puppies.

“Baby! Oh my God!”

When I saw the tags that read “Barkly” and “Pawly”, I broke into tears.

“Hi, babies! You’re so adorable!”

They were crawling all over me, with tails wagging happily. It was like they knew I was their mom. My mother and Mrs. Lewis came running downstairs.

“What is going on!” my mother exclaimed.

“Look at them, Ma. Aren’t they cute!”

She shook her head. “Chile, I thought something happened.”

I looked up at my husband with a tear-stained face and a smile.

“Thank you, baby.”

“You’re welcome, my love. I know how bad you wanted them, and I thought now was the perfect time to start our little family.”

I stood with the puppies in my arms and went to kiss him.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“These dogs are about to be spoiled,” Jessa said, scratching behind their ears. “Sis, you better not put clothes on them either.”

I laughed. “Not even for holidays and pictures?”

She rolled her eyes. “Girl, if you don’t let these dogs be dogs!”

“They are my children until your brother gives me my own.”

She slapped his arm and pointed at me. “You better get on that.”

I smirked as Jacob’s eyes passed over to me. We’d definitely been working on that. Maybe not baby-making, but the process was still the same. That thought threw my brain into a frenzy. When was my last period? In all the excitement and newness of things, I’d completely forgotten to track it. I did, however, know that it was overdue.

“What’s that look?” my mother asked.

I relaxed my face. “What look?”

She raised an eyebrow as she looked at me. “Nothing.”