Page 169 of Here With Me

By our dates, Magnolia’s two weeks ahead of me, which means we’ll still go through a lot of our milestones together.

“I’m excited to go through my first pregnancy with you. Even if the circumstances aren’t what you’d hoped for, you’re gonna be a mom, and that’s somethin’ to celebrate,” I tell her when she stares at her phone.

When she looks up, I notice the wetness in the corner of her eyes. “You’re right.”

“We’ll plan a dinner and sleepover at my house this weekend. What do ya say? I’m sure Mallory and Serena would love to come for a dance party.”

“Can you still have slumber parties when you’re married?” she teases, wiping her cheeks when the tears fall.

“Um, duh. Fisher knows who he married. If he wasn’t prepared for Taylor Swift sing-alongs and pajama nights, he shouldn’t have proposed.”

“You’re so lucky to have each other. You won the husband lottery.”

“And you will find someone equally as lucky to have you. I promise.”

Before leaving, I give her one last hug, then promise to call her later after work. I haven’t even told Fisher I took a pregnancy test, so I need to figure out how to announce it.

At least he’s prepared for the possibility, considering we went unprotected, but I’d like to do something special like he did when he proposed.

Since he’s already working in the barn, I sneak over to my parents’ house and dig through the scrapbooking supplies. We’ve been working on a second-year-together album, and I plan to do a separate one for the wedding photos, but for now, I’ll add a new page for finding out we’re pregnant.

“What’re you doin’, sweetie?” Gramma Grace walks into the dining room with a mug in her hand.

“Just makin’ somethin’ to show Fisher later.” I smile, closing the book before she can see the page.

There’s a vintage frame in the center surrounded by little wheat clippings. On top I wrote,Our First Ultrasound.Once we have a picture, I’ll add it inside.

She walks around the table and pats my shoulder. “You’re gonna make a great mom, Noah.”

“H-how?” My mouth drops open. “How do you always know stuff before anyone else?”

Gramma Grace’s dimples deepen as she sits down next to me. “I’m a good observer.”

“But I literally just found out, so what could you have noticed?”

Her eyes lower to my chest as she smirks. “Your breasts are swollen. That’s one of the first symptoms. I saw you walkin’ into the house earlier, and your hand was on your stomach. We’re instinctively protective when we know we’re pregnant. And finally, you’re glowin’.”

“I’ll give you the first two, but I think you’re confusin’ my glow for sweat. I walked to the retreat and back.”

When I went to visit Magnolia, I didn’t bother driving since it’s only a mile, but I didn’t think about how I’d have to walk back to get to the ranch.

She raises her brow and smirks. “Thatisthe pregnancy glow.”

“Great.” I chuckle.

She stands with her coffee and pats my cheek. “Just wait till you find out what tradition you get at your baby shower.”

I furrow my brows, wondering what she could be talking about.

“Well, now I’m scared to know.”

“You’ll find out soon enough...” Gramma hums as she walks away, leaving me to my thoughts.

Bonus Epilogue

Fisher

“Ranger, buddy. You’re snarky today.” I pat his back as I move down his leg and hoist it between my thighs. “One inch to the right and you woulda nailed me in the balls. Not sure that’s good for my little men.”