Page 176 of Haze of Obedience

27

Dirk

I'm going to be a father.

The sun is about to rise, and I can't help but smile and stare at Zoe, who's asleep. It's been over a month since we found out she's pregnant.

Silvia went to the store and bought prenatal vitamins and folic acid. I want Zoe to see a doctor, but she's still insisting that we do it in Bermuda and not take the risk in Mexico. Silvia claims that as long as Zoe isn't having any issues, then she should be okay. According to Silvia, all they do at this stage is 'pump you full of vitamins.'

Zoe still has morning sickness, and every time she gets sick, I freak. Silvia, David, and Zoe all tell me to stop. They say it's normal. But I don't like it.

Besides her quick bout of nausea daily, she gets tired quickly and has been sleeping a lot. But every night, she wakes me up in the middle of the night and can't get enough of me.

I have no complaints.

We've fallen into a routine at Silvia and David's. Zoe helps with the children. Mostly it's Gloria who's obsession with Zoe only grows. Gloria follows Zoe around almost all day and likes to put her ear on Zoe's belly and see if she can hear the baby.

Zoe adores Gloria. Silvia is always telling Gloria to stop bothering Zoe, but Zoe loves her little sidekick.

She's going to be a great mother...of my child.

I didn't think kids were in the cards for me, but I've always loved them, and I'm stoked to be a father. I'm also a little nervous. During the day, I help David on the farm, and when he found out Zoe was pregnant, he took me to the barn, handed me a beer and said, "Enjoy your last few months of freedom."

And I knew he was serious but also kidding. David loves his big family, and I know if Silvia hadn't had issues delivering Gloria, they would probably have had more.

He's also a great father, so I've been asking him all kinds of questions.

While I'm anxious to get to Bermuda, the past month Zoe and I have gotten to relax a little and have some sort of normal life. I love spending time with my family. And any notion of what I thought it would be like proved to be wrong. Living with Zoe is a hundred times better than I ever imagined. My love only grows for her each day.

But I know it's crucial we get to Bermuda. I take the burner phone Clayton gave me before I left and call Tinker.

"Are we good to go yet?"

"Not yet. He thinks it's going to be at least another week."

"All right. I'll touch base then."

"Take care."

I hang up and lean on the fence. The horses are in the pasture, and it's another beautiful day. I'm trying not to get stressed over the lack of precise information.

Zoe sneaks up behind me and puts her arms around my waist.

I spin. "Hey, my Little Diva."

Her face is glowing, and she looks more beautiful than ever. "I knew you'd be sex in a cowboy hat, but you're really teasing my loins right now."

I'm pretty sure I'm grinning like a schoolboy because all I feel is happy around her. I brush her hair off her face. "I'm glad I didn't disappoint your expectations." I lean down and kiss her.

She traces the top of my V through my T-shirt.

"You didn't get enough of my V last night when you paid special attention to it?"

"Are you complaining?"

"Nope."

"Did Tinker have any news?"