Chapter 144
“Babe, I know how you are with pain.” Alexis arched her brow when she leaned down, kissing Lynn’s cheek. “Have you even looked at these pictures?”
“I’m not crazy, Lex. I know it’s going to hurt like hell.” Lynn cringed when she looked at the photo Alexis pointed to, depicting a woman in a birthing tub at the point of delivery. “I don’t want to worry about the paparazzi sneaking in to take pictures or about being forced into a C-section. I’ve done my research. I know it’s unconventional, but this is what I want.”
Alexis held up one hand. “Okay. Calm down. I just want you to be sure. Where on earth are we going to put a birthing tank?”
“Oh! About that,” Lynn said as she sat up and looked at Alexis. “Dad said he was going to talk to some realtor friend of his and help us locate a decent house.”
“Dad,” Alexis grinned. “So now you’re calling him dad instead of William?”
Lynn blushed. “Well I…” she sighed. “I believe he genuinely regrets what he did when I was a teenager. Something Morgan said earlier made me think. When I was a child, he was such an amazing dad. He kept the monsters out from under the bed and he always listened. When I came out, that’s what hurt me the most. The fact he turned his back on me and didn’t even listen. Yet at the same time, up until that point I couldn’t have asked for a better father.” She released a slow breath. “I mean it was a shock to him and…I’m not making excuses, but I didn’t even try to go back home. I could have at least tried to talk to him again after the initial shock wore off. As you well know, I have a horrible habit of running away and hiding.” Lynn smiled a little.
Alexis laid the book beside her on the bed. She laced her fingertips together with Lynn’s and scooted closer. “You’ve changed.”
“Is that a good thing or…a bad one?”
“It’s a good one. I’m so proud of you.”
“Does that earn me a belly rub?” Lynn murmured between kisses.
Alexis laughed. “And here I thought Starlight was the only one who liked belly rubs.” Alexis reached down, pulling up the hem of Lynn’s gown to gain access to her stomach. “Hey babies,” Alexis whispered as she leaned down to kiss Lynn’s navel. “I love you.”
Lynn giggled when Alexis showered her stomach with wet kisses. “They said to tell you that they love you too.” A content sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of Alexis’s silky lips. “I’m convinced that one of them is a boy. He’s already training to be a soccer player in my belly.”
Alexis laughed. “Maybe he’s training to be a kick boxer, aren’t you little one?” She leaned down, kissing the bulge in Lynn’s side. “I took a sneak peek at the ultrasound. I know I shouldn’t have but…” she smiled sheepishly. “I only saw the sex of one of the babies and…do you want to know?”
“Lex,” Lynn shrieked. “You weren’t supposed to look.” Early on in the pregnancy, she and Alexis both decided that they did not want to know the sex of the babies until birth. Now that Alexis knew the gender of one child, Lynn knew she could not resist knowing it too. “One of the babies is a boy, isn’t it?”
“Yes, one of these little miracles is a baby boy.” Alexis rubbed her palm over Lynn’s stomach while she spoke. “Are you disappointed?”
“Disappointed? No way! I rather suspected one of them was a boy. One is always more active than the other.” Lynn moved her hand, bringing it to rest just above Alexis’s when she felt another flutter. “I bet he is the one that keeps me up at night.”
“Typical male,” Alexis said with another kiss to Lynn’s stomach. “What do you think of the name Kurt?”
Lynn crinkled her name. “Kurt? It makes me think of curtains. I kind of like the name Dominique.”
“Are you planning on him becoming a dominatrix?”
Lynn rolled her eyes. “Why do I get the feeling we’re going to have such a hard time agreeing on a name?” She laughed when Alexis kissed her stomach one last time before cuddling against her.
“Probably because we will.” 26
“Go on inside. I’ll just sit here and watch.” Lynn held her stomach, plopping onto one of the wooden benches with an exhausted sigh.
“I’ll stay with her.” William squeezed Alexis’s arm before walking over to join Lynn on the bench. “Mind if I keep you company?”
Lynn smiled, leaning over so that her head pressed against William’s shoulder. “Of course I don’t mind the company.” Lynn watched as Alexis paid the woman at the gate for two bottles of milk. Calista had begged to feed the baby goats a bottle, as did Morgan. Lynn laughed when Calista bounded across the enclosure as one of the baby goats bounced into air, and then chased after her. She turned and looked up at William. “I’m glad you came with us today.”
“I’m glad you invited me.” William’s arm came to rest across Lynn’s shoulders. He laughed when Morgan stood in the center of the enclosure while a silver goat with floppy white ears nibbled her hair. “I can see why you love those girls so much.”
“My family means everything to me.” Lynn instinctively rubbed her stomach. “Alexis took a peek at the ultrasound on our last visit. Last night she told me that one of our babies is a boy.”
William laughed, “Poor little guy. One boy in a house full of girls, he is going to be in some serious trouble.”
“No kidding. It’s going to seem kind of strange having a guy around the house.” She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of the sun. “I can’t wait to meet you, little one. You’re going to be one spoiled little man.”
“Your grandpa is going to spoil you too.” William leaned over, placing one hand on Lynn’s stomach. “That is, if your mom will let me,” he added.