Page 131 of Pinch

I still have all of my old pictures, and the things I achieved as a young woman. I treasure my memories of the good times, and what I have now, our little family, more than makes up for the few things I lost. I don’t want them now anyway.

“I can’t wait for you all to see the house,” I continue. “It’s so pretty. Gavin really outdid himself.”

My big guy leans down to wrap his arms around me from behind, smiling at the screen filled with happy faces.

They continue talking and laughing, and he kisses the side of my cheek. “Are you ready for this family?”

His deep voice warms my insides, and I turn my face to kiss him right back. “I love your family. Are you ready for mine?”

Our eyes meet, and he nods, adding. “Now we’re starting a new branch.”

36

Gavin

“Ihaven’t been up here since I helped you move in all that equipment.” I follow Haddy across campus to the science lab.

Since I’m still on the bench, I’ve got plenty of time (and energy) to help her pack up her things, and we’ve been moving into our new house.

The semester is over, and yesterday she defended her thesis to the committee. I would’ve liked to sit in on that and listen to her being gorgeous and smart. It always makes me smile.

She said now all that’s left is for them to decide if she passed. How could they not?

“Some master’s degrees require an experiment, and then you just write up the results.” she explains as we enter the building. “Since mine is mostly theoretical, backed by the data Daniel and I collected and the information provided by the institute, I basically argued in support of the strongcorrelation between wind currents and the seasonal outbreaks of the disease.”

“Have I told you how hot it is when you talk science?”

Her cheeks turn pink and she shakes her head. “You’re so crazy.”

“It’s true.”

“I’m going to miss Daniel, even if we did have to use translation apps to communicate.” She’s back to being Science Haddy. “He invited me to visit the institute again, but when he saw how pregnant I am, he politely nodded and wished me good luck.”

“He sounds like a good guy.”

Her hand is on the door to the lab, and she sighs. “If only we could go for a few days…”

It hit me hard, and I pulled her to me. “We’re going to go. Once Lucy gets here, we’ll start making plans, figuring out what we need to do. Dr. Barry can help us with the timing.”

“I never thanked you for paying back the IPW.” Her chin dips, and I know it’s an adjustment for my independent girl to let me take care of her.

Ever since my injury, she’s come a long way with letting me spoil her. I think her dad had something to do with it.

Still, she has her moments. “You didn’t have to do that.”

I catch her chin in my fingertips, causing her to meet my eyes. “You had to give up your scholarship to have my baby.”

Her pretty blue eyes twinkle. “Ourbaby.”

“It was the right thing to do, Hads. I had the power to help you, and I wanted to.”

She reaches up to slide her thumb down my lips. “Because we’re a family now, and I’d do the same for you if the tables were turned.”

“Wrapping up, Haddy?” Timothy’s voice interrupts our moment.

He opens the door to the lab, and I do my best not to show my annoyance with his presence. Haddy gives me a little “be good” pinch.

“Yep,” she answers brightly. “Defended my thesis yesterday. Now I’m just waiting for the final word.”