Page 64 of Everything After (Everything Trilogy)

LILY

Just as Alfie promised, he flew us to Key West, where he’d rented a quaint little place called Passover Cottage. The blue-washed wooden cladding and whitewashed windows made the place appear cozy, discreet and inviting.

“What do you think?” Alfie said once he’d parked our rental car and gestured at the place outside the windshield.

My heart squeezed when I saw the nervous look on his face that said he wanted to please me. “It’s perfect, low-key and intimate, just what I think we need.”

“Me too. It looked pretty when I saw it online.” Alfie got out of the car, came around and opened the door for me. “I figured we’d best take advantage of some time on our own like this… Do you know how late you can fly when you’re pregnant?”

“I don’t think there’s a time limit on a helicopter and with planes it has something to do with the air pressure. I think I read somewhere it’s risky after twenty-eight weeks.”

The inside of the house was as inviting as the outside with its cool, light and airy feel, lemon soft furnishings, and its quaint wooden kitchen. The master bed wasn’t the biggest, but the sloping roof either side made it feel like the attic in a fairy tale.

“What do you think?” Alfie cuddled me from behind and splayed his hand over my growing belly.

“I love it. We need to do this more often.”

“We do. And now that I’m going to be at home all the time, I can plan to whisk you away at every opportunity that presents itself. I mean, it’s nice to be home, but there’s always someone demanding something of us.”

“Or visiting because they know we’re at home.”

“Exactly. Getting time just for us will become even more important once our son gets here.”

“Or daughter,” I said, smiling.

“Are we going to find out what it is?”

“No, that’s like opening our Christmas gifts early,” I scolded.

Alfie turned me in his arms and clasped his hands behind my back. “Can I tell you something?”

“I hope you feel you can tell me anything,” I replied, pouting.

“I know you’re apprehensive about what will happen once our baby is here, but my heart lifts every time I hear you say something like you just did.”

“Like I just did?”

“Yeah, the comment about wanting a surprise when the baby is born. There have been a few things that you’ve said that make me believe that as time goes on, you’re becoming excited about the prospect of being a mom.”

“There are times when I am. Like, I feel excited when I think about you holding our baby in your arms, you know, and being able to give you the child you’ve wanted for so long. Then there are times when the thought of bringing a child into the crazy world we live in scares me to death.”

“You mean with the world as it is today, or as in what we do for a living?”

“Both,” I said without hesitation.

“Baby, we have an advantage most other people don’t have.”

“I know… financial security and such, but I’m concerned about bringing up a child in the spotlight. We chose the lives we live. This little one has no say in the matter.”

“Does any child have a say? Better they live our life than one in poverty and neglect.”

“See that’s the other thing, neglect. I worry that our child will feel neglected by me doing my job and not staying home with them.”

“And I’d say you worry too much. There are plenty of stay-at-home fathers out there. I know you, Lily. You get inside your head too much.”

“You make me sound neurotic,” I said, frowning.

“Not neurotic, baby, just afraid to get things wrong. You’re a perfectionist and that means giving one hundred percent to anything you do.

I think the reason why you’re so concerned about parenthood is because it’ll split your loyalties between wanting to care for your child and continue to do what you do to the best of your ability. ”

I considered his comment, and he’d nailed it. “Yeah.”

Alfie dipped his head and pressed a slow kiss to my lips. “You are going to rock motherhood just the same as you do with anything else.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I mumbled, smiling.

“Now that we’ve gotten acquainted with our digs for the next two nights, how about we head out to the restaurant that I’ve booked, then we can come back and have a movie night?”

“Restaurant bookings as well, damn, Alfie, anyone would think you’re trying to impress me.”

“Baby, I do that every time I take down my pants in your presence.”

A laugh burst out of my chest and the worries I’d spoken of that had tightened my chest instantly dissipated.

“And there he is again, that cocksure guy who crept up on me back in college and swept me off my feet.”

“Well, you know what they say… if you’ve got it, flaunt it.”

“Flaunting your cock in public, won’t only get the attention you’re so hellbent on bringing to what’s in your trousers. That sucker will get you arrested.”

“Ah, talking about suckers…”

I smacked his chest and tried to break away, but Alfie tightened his grip and pressed me closer. He swayed his hips and rubbed his bulge against me. “You’re incorrigible. Stop with the dick talk, or we’ll never make it to dinner.”

“Aw, you’re no fun when you’re hangry,” he muttered, unclasping his hands but planting them firmly on my butt. “Alright, Mrs. Black, let’s get some sustenance in you, then I might get to do the same.”

“You… get inside me?” I asked. The thought of that made my heart race.

“Well… if you’re offering…” he trailed off and flashed me his most beguiling smile. It would have been all too easy to give in at that point and drag him into bed, but I reminded myself that neither of us had eaten and we still had the whole weekend to indulge in our bedroom fantasies.

“That’s it. Let’s get going before I end up on my back and we miss that dinner reservation.” Letting me go, he chuckled and shook his head.