Chapter 111 Little Popcorn Returns
BELLA
The house was quiet, too quiet.
It had been a week since everything unfolded a week since Janet showed a side of herself I’d never imagined existed. I thought David had the monopoly on cold, calculating intensity, but no. It seemed to run deep in the Copperfield bloodline. Janet’s icy demeanor and unrelenting drive had sent chills down my spine.
As I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands instinctively rested on my growing belly. My thoughts wandered as I absently traced small circles over the bump. Would our baby inherit that cold fire? That unflinching resolve?
“No,” I whispered to the empty room, shaking my head firmly. “I won’t let that happen.”
But as I glanced in the mirror, my reflection didn’t look so certain. My hand lingered on my stomach, my mind replaying moments of David’s intense glares, Janet’s sharp words, and even Grandpa’s commanding presence. Would this little life growing inside me carry those traits?
The sudden creak of the bedroom door snapped me out of my spiral. My eyes darted to the mirror just as David appeared behind me, his tall frame filling the doorway.
“What’s on your mind, babe?” he asked, his voice low and warm as he crossed the room.
Before I could answer, his hands found their way to my shoulders, kneading away the tension I hadn’t even realized was there. Then, slowly, one hand slid down to my belly, cradling it gently.
“Thinking about our little one?” he guessed, his lips brushing the side of my neck.
I nodded, leaning into him. “Mm-hmm.”
David’s eyes caught mine in the mirror. “Is my baby boy kicking?”
My lips curved into a small smile, but I couldn’t let him have this one. “It’s a girl,” I said firmly, turning my head to look at him.
He chuckled, that deep, rich sound that always seemed to settle something in me. “And what makes you so sure?”
“Because I said so,” I quipped, raising a brow.
He laughed again, but his hands stayed on my belly, rubbing in soothing circles. “If it’s a boy, he’ll be just like me. Handsome, smart, and charming.”
My smile faltered, and he noticed.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone shifting to concern.
I hesitated, then sighed. “What if it is a boy? What if he’s… like you?”
David pulled back slightly, turning me around to face him. His expression was unreadable, but his hands stayed firm on my waist. “And what’s so bad about being like me?”
“I mean… naughty,” I stammered. “He might be hard to handle.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “So, you think I’m naughty?”
Before I could backtrack, David leaned in, his face inches from mine, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. “Maybe I should remind you just how naughty I can be.”
“David,” I warned, inching back, but he was relentless.
“Hmm?” he hummed, his lips brushing against mine.
“David!” I yelped, laughing as he scooped me up effortlessly, carrying me to the bed.
Just as he leaned down to kiss me, he froze, his eyes widening. “Whoa!”
“What?” I asked, alarmed.
He stared at my belly, his hand still resting on it. “She kicked me!”
I burst out laughing, watching his expression shift from shock to awe. “Looks like she doesn’t like you teasing her mom.”
David crouched down so he was eye level with my bump, his hand gently pressing against it. “Hey, little one. You don’t want Daddy to touch Mommy? That’s not fair.”
I covered my mouth to stifle my laugh as he continued his one-sided conversation with our baby.
“Maybe she’s saying you already had your turn yesterday,” I teased, “so no need to ‘bite the apple’ today.”
David glanced up at me, smirking. “Is that so?”
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the moment. He grabbed it, his expression shifting as he read the message. “Mrs. Williams is coming to dinner tonight at Grandpa’s house.”
“Will your mom bring Jasper?” I asked, perking up at the thought of seeing the little boy.
David nodded. “She said he’ll be there.”
“Maybe he can come home with us afterward. I miss having him around,” I said, my tone softening.
David gave me a playful look. “That’s up to Jasper. He’s got his own mind, you know.”
I smiled, already plotting. “Oh, I’ll convince him. This house feels so empty without my little popcorn.”
David chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable.”
I rested my hand on my belly, my thoughts shifting back to our baby. “Tonight,” I whispered to myself, “my little popcorn will choose to come home.”