Chapter 18

Shepherd

"Shep, what has gotten into you honey?" my mother asks me as she sets the table.

"I just want to make sure everything is perfect," I reply, adding another chair on the end of the table. "Felicity is important to me, and I want to make sure everything goes smooth."

My mother smiles at me with soft eyes. "Shep, everything will be fine. Now go mingle with your brothers."

"Fine," I walk out of the dining room, and into the living room where Callum and my father watch the baseball game on TV. "Who's winning?" I ask, but don't really care about the answer.

When I invited Felicity to Sunday dinner, I didn't really think it all the way through. I need to tell my parents that they're going to be grandparents, but I don't know how to act around Felicity. She's made it abundantly clear that we're not a couple. No matter how badly I want us to be.

I barely hear Callum tell me the Beavers are winning as I make my way out back where Paxton and Brock are hanging around.

"What happened to you?" Brock asks me as I join them around the outdoor patio table.

I shrug. "Things with Felicity are fucked up."

"Why?" Paxton asks me.

"Well, we're having sex, but she's made it clear that she doesn't want to be with me. That we'll co-parent and nothing will ever happen between us." Saying it out loud I can see how miserable the situation really is.

"What do you want?" Brock asks me.

"I want her. I want the relationship. I want it all."

"So, what are you going to do?" Paxton asks me, leaning back in his chair.

"I honestly don't know. Help me. What should I do?"

"Well, keep having sex with her," Brock says with a smile.

I nod. "I plan on it."

"Dude," Paxton says, excitement racing through him as he shifts closer in his chair. "Set her house on fire."

"What?" Both Brock and I say simultaneously.

Paxton holds out his hand to explain. "When I was trying to get with Hartford, her house caught on fire, remember?"

Brock and I both nod.

"And she had to move in with me. I mean, that kind of helped speed things along." Paxton smiles a victorious smile, and leans back. "Easy."

I shake my head. "I'm not setting her house on fire. My luck, somebody would get hurt. That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

"Yeah, it's not very smart," Brock agrees.

"But having her stay with you might work," Paxton says.

I run a hand over my chin. "I mean, maybe? I'm not really sure. She's coming today. We're going to tell Mom and Dad about the baby."

"They're going to freak out," Paxton says with a smile. "In a good way. She keeps telling Hartford that we need to hurry up and get married so we can give her grandbabies."

"When is the big day?"

Paxton blows out a breath. "Not for a while. Hartford wants to have a destination wedding in Vegas. She wants Elvis to marry us."

Brock and I laugh.

"Really?" Brock asks. "I love that idea. I'm in."

"I guess I'm in. I'll have a baby to think about. I don't even know if I can make it." I shake my head, realizing my whole life is about to change.

I've never had to think about picking up and taking off for a couple of weeks, or months. I never thought twice when Ellis asked me to come down to Florida to help with their brewery. Now there's a whole other human that I'll be responsible for. It's mind-blowing to think about. Not only will I be thinking about the baby, but I'm thinking about Felicity. I want her with me.

Not just because she's soon-to-be the mother of my child, but because I generally like her. She's funny. Cute. And so hot. I love being inside her.

I think back to yesterday afternoon in my house when she came over with her cute little notepad. How she wanted to treat our lovemaking like some sort of business arrangement. It was cute, and it pissed me off at the same time.

But I get it.

She's not into me the same way I'm into her. I guess I'll have to change all of that.

"Yeah, we'll plan everything to be sure you can go. I need my big brother standing next to me when I get married," Paxton says.

I nod. "Of course I'll be there. I may just have a little baby with me."

Paxton smiles wide, slapping his hand down on my shoulder. "And of course I want my little niece or nephew there too."

"I can't believe you're having a baby," Brock says, shaking his head.

"Me neither."

Tripp steps out onto the patio. "Hey Shep, Felicity just got here."

I stand, making my way back inside to meet Felicity at the front door. She stands there, looking stunning in a pink sundress with her baby bump protruding.

"You didn't have this yesterday," I say, pulling her closer, and setting my hand on her belly.

Felicity's brown eyes widen. "I popped."

"You what?"

"I popped overnight. This baby bump just protruded when I woke up. Crazy, right? I Googled and it says it's normal."

I smile wider, this whole thing becoming more and more real to me. "Let me introduce you to everyone."

"I'm nervous," she says, taking my hand. "Stay by me the entire time."

"You already know Hartford, right?"

She nods. "Sort of. I know of everyone, just don't know everyone."

"That's about to change." I lead Felicity further into the house.

My father and Callum are still watching the baseball game in the living room, only now Griffin has joined them. I do quick introductions with everyone, and my father's eyebrow rises when he notices Felicity's baby bump.

Shit.

Next, I lead Felicity into the kitchen. My mother busily prepares dinner, chopping vegetables to put into a nice-sized salad.

"Mom, I want you to meet Felicity."

My mother smiles, stepping closer, wiping her hands on her apron before holding her hand out to Felicity. "Nice to meet you, dear," she says, warmly.

"You have a beautiful home." Felicity's so pretty, and I wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side.

"Thank you." My mother glances down, taking in Felicity's baby bump, and then her eyes widen. "Why don't you sit down in your condition."

Felicity waves away my mother's concern with a wave of her hand. "I'm fine." She rests her other hand over her protruding baby.

"How far along are you?"

Hartford and Anya walk into the kitchen, and before Felicity can answer, I'm introducing her to them.

"You know my sister, Anya. And this is Hartford."

They each say their hellos to each other, and Anya makes it very obvious that the child Felicity is carrying is mine.

Anya hugs Felicity, smiling wide with tears in her eyes. "I can't wait to be an aunt."

"An aunt?" my mother says, her eyes shooting to connect with mine.

"Does Mom not know?" Anya says, stepping back from the embrace she's in with Felicity.

"She does now," I say. "Thanks for that. Mom," I say, turning my attention to my mother who now has tears in her eyes. "Felicity and I are having a baby."

My mother breaks down into tears, and grabs me into a bear hug. "I have so many questions," my mother says, crying into my shoulder.

"And I'll answer all of them."

"Welcome to the family," Hartford says to Felicity, wrapping her into a hug.

"Oh, I'm not really a part of the family." Felicity steps out of Hartford's arms, her cheeks tinged pink.

My mother lets go of me, moving closer to Felicity to wrap her into a warm embrace. "You're carrying an Atwood in your belly. You're part of our family now." My mother cries more. "If you ever need anything, Felicity, you let me know." She steps back. "Are you two a couple?"

Felicity is quick to answer with a, "No." and it kind of pisses me off, but I act like it doesn't affect me.

"Mom, Felicity will always be important to me."

My mother nods, reaching out to put her hand on Felicity's arm. "You're still family. Whether you're with my son or not. You're about to become the mother of my first grandchild." My mother glances over her shoulder. "Don, get in here. Now."

Now everyone's in the kitchen. My entire family, including Griffin and Hartford. Who I guess will become family one day. Paxton already asked Hartford to marry him, and I know Griffin and my sister will stay together. They're perfect for one another.

"Shepherd and Felicity are having a baby," my mother announces to everyone in the kitchen.

My father's eyes fill with tears, and I don't think I've ever seen my father this happy. He brushes past everyone, making his way over to me. He wraps me into a hug, tightening his hold on me. "I never thought you'd be the first to give me my first grandchild. Hell, I'm so happy."

I'm nearly in tears as I hug him back. I can't believe how real this all feels. Felicity is busy being hugged and welcomed into my family.

A weird sensation rushes through my system at the sight. Like I'm fucking proud. I'm happy to have this woman standing by with me. Like I feel possessive over her. Like she's mine.

It's a crazy feeling, and makes me want to hold onto this woman forever.

I can picture it all with her. Everything.

Now I just need to make her see it too.

After everyone's congratulated us, we make our way into the dining room, sitting around the table. My mother, Hartford, and Anya bring in the food, setting each dish on the table.

My father says grace, and then we all dig in.

"That went better than expected," Felicity says, leaning closer to me for only me to hear.

I study her. "How did you expect it to go?"

"I just thought because we're not married, or heck, even together that they would…I don't know."

I rest my hand on her knee under the table. "My family's great, and they're not ever going to not accept you. You don't ever have to worry about things with me. You're one of us now, whether you want to be, or not."

"You have a great family. I've always heard things about the almighty Atwood's. How everyone in this town loves you all. Now I see why. My father left town when I was a baby. I guess I'm just scared."

I squeeze her knee. "I'm not ever going anywhere."

And looking into Felicity's soft brown eyes, I know I'm not lying. I'll never leave her or my child. Ever.

She's stuck with me.