Page 53 of Julian

She looked up to find concerned gazes on her.

“Are you okay?” Angie asked, reaching out to cover Kiara’s hand where it rested on her belly.

“I’m fine,” she assured her. “Sometimes I just get lost in wondering what life might be like with this little one.”

Angie smiled. “Well, I can tell you one thing that’s in your son’s future, and that is love. Lots and lots of love.”

That made Kiara smile. “Yes. Lots of love.”

Kiara knew that she had Angie to thank for knowing what love was. Until she’d met Angie, there had been no love in her life. And if it hadn’t been for Angie, there wouldn’t have been any even after Kiara had been taken from her family by Jim and Sandra.

Once the meal was over, Kiara decided to take a walk. She needed some fresh air and some time to gather her thoughts about the days ahead. Though she was usually glad for Angie’s company on some of her walks, Kiara was glad that on that day, her sister had other things demanding her attention.

The day was warm, and the sun was shining brightly. They were officially well past the snowy days of winter and even the cool ones of early spring. She no longer needed to wear a jacket when she went for her walks.

As usual, she came to a stop near the house. It had an interesting design with two wings, joined by a combined living space with Angie’s dream kitchen. It would have been perfect for them.

She’d assumed that Angie’s suite would sit empty. But now, it sounded like Duncan wanted Julian to take over those rooms.

Did she want to share space with him like that?

She and Angie had been excited about once again having a place of their own. Of being able to cook meals together. Of being able to do their own chores.

If someone even a year ago had said that she’d look forward to doing her own laundry, cleaning the house, or cooking her own meals, she would have told them they were crazy.

But did she want to do those things in a space that Julian also occupied?

She’d been trying not to think of Julian ashusband.He wasfather of her babyorAngie’s brother.Never herhusband.

She certainly didn’t think of herself as his wife, and she really doubted that Julian viewed her as such. Their marriage was a means to an end, nothing more.

Tipping her head back, Kiara stared up at the clear blue expanse of sky. She rested her hands on her stomach as she drank in the beauty.

It was the same sky she’d looked up at in Briar Hollow, wondering about the world beyond the small town. Now she had experienced it, and it was more than she had ever imagined it would be.

“Mrs. Burke?”

Lowering her head, Kiara saw the foreman standing a few feet away from her. She gave him a smile as she greeted him.

“Would you like to come inside?” he asked. “We’ve gotten quite a bit more done since the last time you checked it out.”

“Sure.” Falling into step beside him, Kiara walked across the bare earth that she’d been assured would one day be covered with a beautiful landscape.

When she stepped into the house this time, she viewed it in a different light. Instead of imagining her and Angie living there, she tried to see herself living there with Julian. And one day, their son.

It still amazed her how quickly the work on the house had progressed. Duncan had certainly lit a fire under them, fueled, no doubt, by copious amounts of money.

For the first time, it was more than just bare bones. There were painted walls, the stone fireplace, and cabinets and counters had been installed in the kitchen. All things chosen by her and Angie. It was looking more and more like a home.

“We’ll be done with the painting and flooring by the end of the week. The decorators will be in after that.”

“You guys have worked so hard on this,” Kiara said. “It’s amazing.”

“Having our budget expanded made it possible to hire more workers and to work longer hours.”

“Well, thank you for all your hard work.”

After she’d finished speaking to the man, Kiara left and finished her walk. She had a couple of days to prepare for Julian’s arrival, and then it was the wedding.