Page 5 of His Treasured Mate

I took his hand and dragged him down the hall to the living room. We sat down on the couch, and I projected the call to the big television so we could all watch together.

Cammie found us there just in time and handed me my treat. I opened it and popped some of the buttered, salty goodness into my mouth.

Audrey walked in and started to ask what was going on, but I shushed her.

“Aunt Elise is pregnant,” Cammie whispered to her.

My girls were just as shocked as the rest of us. Soon Willa and Lilah joined us as they each climbed up on the couch and snuggled into my sides.

I adored my little family.

“Turn it up,” Thomas said.

I laughed.

“Come again?” we heard Patrick say.

“I said, I'm pregnant.”

“What? But how? When?”

“Paris,” she whispered.

“Baby, that was months ago. You've kept this to yourself the whole time?”

She nodded as the tears started to fall.

“He better fecking accept this,” Thomas growled under his breath.

“How far along?” Patrick asked her.

“Thirteen weeks.”

He froze and then beamed back at her.

“That's second trimester.”

She nodded as he grabbed her and swung her around.

“A baby? We're having a baby?”

“That's the right response right there,” Thomas said to no one in particular.

Our whole family was invested in this moment now.

“Yes,” my sister managed to confirm.

“And this one’s a keeper. I mean thirteen weeks, that's good, right?”

She sobbed in his arms and nodded.

A tear ran down my face. Thomas reached over and swiped it away.

“We're going to be okay, love. You're going to be okay. And this miracle of a baby is going to be okay. I have to believe that. We won't lose this one.”

I sat up as dawning hit me, and I unmuted the call.

“What the hell does that mean? This one? As in there have been others?”