Page 74 of The Surrogate Nanny
I guess it’s a good thing he didn’t leave after all.
I finished my business and capped the test, laying it flat on the vanity. I washed my hands and did my best to ignore it. Five minutes had passed in a blink of an eye.
“You can do it. It’s either positive or negative. It’s most likely positive because you’ve been letting Anthony come in you without remorse since—”
“I love it when you have personal monologues.”
I snatched the door open and narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re still waiting for an answer to your question. I’d try to be less annoying if I were you.”
“Less annoying?” he questioned, cocking his head to the side. “My dear, I don’t think there’s such a thing.” I snorted and snatched up the test. “What does it say?” he asked eagerly, holding Nori in his arms.
“Give me a second, James.”
“Nori, she used my middle name. That’s a definite no to my proposal.”
“It’s not a no; it’s a ‘let me focus on one major life change at a time.’ Are you ready?”
“I want to say duh sooooo bad, but I won’t.”
“Smart man,” I mumbled, staring at the results. My eyes squinted as my stomach roiled with anxiety and excitement.
That’s a line.
“Is that a line?”
That’s a line.
“Fuck, Simone. We’re pregnant!”
“Language!I’mpregnant! We’re having a baby. Nori, you’re gonna be a big sister,” I exclaimed, exchanging the test for her. I hugged my daughter close and gave her a million cheek kisses. She grinned, oblivious to the situation but not our happiness.
“That didn’t take long at all,” Anthony mumbled as he examined the applicator for himself.
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“If the test was negative, you—”
“I would’ve still said yes. I just needed a moment to process.”
“How does a December wedding sound to you?”
“December works for me.”
***
I fluffed my pillow, looking forward to my head hitting it. I’d come down from my earlier high and needed to recharge. I climbed into bed with a loud sigh and tucked my arms beneath my pillow. I slipped my left hand from underneath it and stared at my engagement ring. I couldn’t help it. Besides Nori, it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. It was a 10-carat oval brilliant diamond nestled in 18k white gold with smaller diamonds wrapped around the band. Initially, I had an aversion to the pricey engagement ring, but it felt right once Anthony slipped it on my finger.
“She went down easy. I think all the excitement tired her out,” Anthony said softly, closing the door behind him. “Now, we can really get this celebration started,” he commented, grinning as he lost his shirt.
“I’m kinda tired,” I announced. The salacious grin slid off his face, and his shoulders drooped. He looked like a child who was just told he couldn’t keep a puppy he found.
It might be the same pout Nori gives me, but it won’t work on me.
“You need your rest,” he agreed, diving into bed. I shook my head and laughed at his antics. “Can I get my good night kiss?”