Page 35 of Vow To The Devil

Whatever comes, this new life is a gift. A chance for me to build something lasting and true. To forge the family I've always yearned for.

My doubts begin to fade, replaced by a fierce surge of determination. I will be enough. For my child, for Dare, for the life we're creating together each and every day. The past can no longer haunt me if I choose to leave it behind.

ChapterSeventeen

TALIA

Aweek later, I sneak into the loft apartment that I share with Dare. Well, sneak is maybe the wrong word. It’s hard for a seven and a half month pregnant woman to sneak anywhere, especially with arms full of shopping bags.

I do my best to move quietly through the penthouse, but Aunt Minnie ruins my discreet entrance. She pops her head around the corner from the back hallway, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Oh my lord,” she exclaims. She sees me lugging the bags inside and hurries over to help. “What have you brought home?”

My cheeks flush. “I may have blacked out and bought too much. I blame it on Dare’s limitless credit card. I’ve never in my life had a piece of plastic that let me take home literally anything in the store.”

“Ah. Come sit down and put your feet up. I was just about to have a cup of peach tranquility tea. I’ll pour you one as well.”

“Thank you,” I manage. “I shopped for too long. Now I’m exhausted and starving.”

“I’ll bring you a couple of fig cookies to bring your blood sugar back up.” She bustles around, putting a tea cup down in front of me and adding a pair of tawny fig bars. I stuff one into my mouth, grateful that she knows me so well. As she pours me a cup of tea, Aunt Minnie’s eyes track the bags. “What have you bought?”

“I’m embarrassed to say that I bought everything that caught my eye at the children's clothing store.” I pull out a box of tiny socks with colorful, goofy dinosaur patterns on them. “I cried over how small and adorable these were, so I figured I should at least buy them.”

“I think Dare will like those.” Aunt Minnie’s grinwidens. “He’ll be so excited to see what you got. And I’m sure he’ll love to see you.”

“I hope so.” I swallow my doubt.

My husband has been out of sorts lately. Not that he's been giving me a play by play exactly, but I can tell that he is extremely stressed when he comes out of his office. This week especially, Dare has rushed off to meetings with Morgan Drilling investors and come back with a hard, antagonized expression on his face.

Aunt Minnie sighs wistfully as she looks over the collection of children's clothing I have set out. “I still miss my bookstore,” she says.

I drape an arm around her shoulder and give her a gentle squeeze. “I know you do. How is it doing, in your absence?”

She waves away my concern. “Oh, they're managing just fine without me. Olive is running things until further notice. But I still worry about how it's all going to turn out in the end.”

I nod in understanding. Taking care of a business can be stressful, especially if it was passed down through generations like Minnie's store was for many years. “Well, my little girl is due in less than two months. Maybe after the baby gets here and we're settled into a routine, you could go back to working at the bookstore part-time? Or maybe even just on the weekends? That way you can ease back into running the store.”

Minnie smiles softly at me, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement and affection. "That's so thoughtful of you, sweetie. I might just take you up on that."

* * *

"Hello, darling girl,"a deep voice murmurs, rolling over me. I open my eyes and find my husband looking down at me, his irises sparkling in the shafts of early afternoon sunlight that filter down from the high windows and into our bedroom. I blink and stir, my cheeks warming when I realize that I napped for several hours.

"Oh my god. I could've slept for days. This late in my pregnancy it feels like my body just wants to sleep."

He leans down and gives me a soft, sweet kiss. "How are you feeling today?"

I stretch and groan as I make myself sit up.

"My back hurts and my ankles are swollen. And I am exhausted. But other than that, I'm fine, I think."

Dare's eyebrows rise. "You think?"

I flush and push my hair out of my face.

"I guess I'm not really sure what being pregnant is supposed to feel like, but I'm not complaining. I'm just glad that you're here with me. I can't imagine doing this alone."

"I saw that we no longer have a kitchen island. It's been replaced by a station where shopping bags are deposited."