Page 64 of Elijah

I dragged her into my arms and kissed her, cutting off any words or thoughts of an apology from her.

“Oh fuck,” I cried, gasping from our kiss and my excitement. “Seriously, I’m going to be a dad?”

She gave me a hesitant nod, all the while her eyes were searching my face. She needn’t have worried, because I was happier than I’d ever been. My stomach was a knot of excitement, thinking about what was happening inside her, the life that we’d created. I felt ten feet tall. A bigger and better man than I’d ever thought possible.

“You’re okay about it?”

“Okay. Fuck Amy, this is amazing. I can’t believe it.” I kissed her again. “I know we hadn’t planned it, but shit, who cares. How long, how many weeks, or whatever it is?”

Moving from my arms, she reached across to her bedside table and pulled open the drawer, pulling out a pregnancy test kit and handed it to me. I stared down at it, looking at the little window I read, Pregnant 2-3.

“Does that mean you’re having two or three?” I asked, feeling the colour drain from my face.

Amy giggled. “It says weeks, you idiot.”

I looked again. “Shit, yeah, so you’re either two or three weeks?” My hand shook as I looked down at the white stick again.

Amy nodded. “I took the test yesterday, when you were at work. I realised the other day that I hadn’t had a period, so I bought it a few days ago, but was too scared to take it.”

“Why?” I asked softly, cupping her cheek.

“I thought you might be mad. I’ve only just started my job, we’re still living in this apartment, and we’ve only been married for two months; lots of reasons.”

“Amy,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. “I’m bloody ecstatic. This is the best news ever, I swear. I love you more than anything in the world and you having my baby only makes me love you more – if that’s possible.”

“You promise?” she asked, her voice cracking as her slim hands gripped my t-shirt.

“I promise.”

“Oh god, Eli, we’re having a baby.”

Tears were in Amy’s eyes as she gazed at me and I didn’t think I’d ever seen her look more beautiful.

“I love you,” I whispered against her lips. “I’ll always love you, for the rest of my life, don’t ever forget that.”

“I might remind you of that when we’ve not had any sleep for weeks on end and we’re screaming at each other.” She giggled and wiped at her nose with a tissue.

“All the sleepless nights will be worth it, especially if it’s a little mini you that’s causing all the trouble.”

This time when I kissed her, it was deeper and longer, leaving us both breathless.

“By the way?” I asked, finally pulling away. “Did your tampons dry out okay?”

Amy laughed and hit me with a pillow, both of us falling back onto the bed and wondering with excitement how our life was going to change in a few months’ time.