10. Epilogue: Juliet

10

EPILOGUE – JULIET

TWO MONTHS LATER

W e're supposed to be on the road by now, but I'm still in the bathroom, packing my things.

Or, well, not packing my things.

Because right now all I can do is stare at the positive pregnancy test in my hands.

I wasn't planning on taking it quite so soon. Definitely not today. But when I was packing my bag, the test kept staring back at me from the drawer it was sitting in, and I kept wondering, What if …?

Before I could stop myself, I was ripping the box open, even though by doing so I was making us later than we already were.

Shaw and I are about to go on a two-week road trip, a vacation we've been planning for weeks. We're going to drive up the coast, making lots of stops along the way. Mostly we're going to stop in small towns and beaches and other scenic spots, but we'll also be making a stop in Seattle to visit Shaw's brother, Jake. We have plans to go out to some fancy Japanese restaurant with him.

Guess I'll have to pass on the sushi now.

I continue to stare at the pregnancy test in my hands, my heart racing as I stare at the two little pink lines. They're faint, but they're definitely both there.

I'm pregnant. A happy laugh bubbles out of me. It's really happening. Less than a year from now, Shaw and I will be a mom and dad.

"Hey, hon?" Shaw's deep voice calls from the other room. "Want me to make you a sandwich for the road?"

I walk out of the bathroom, feeling like I'm floating. When I reach the kitchen, Shaw takes one look at me and frowns with protective concern.

"What's wrong?" he says, rushing toward me.

I press the pregnancy test into his hands. "Look."

"Is this…oh my God." His eyes flash up to mine. "Is this for real?"

I can hardly contain my smile as I nod.

He pulls me into his big, solid arms, pressing joyful kisses all over my face, making me laugh. When his lips finally land on mine, I savor that kiss the most. Afterward, he tilts his forehead against mine and exhales a happy sigh.

"I'm so excited to do this with you, sweetheart," he says.

My eyes water up a little. "Me, too."

"Are you still up for our road trip? We could cancel it and start working on getting a nursery ready instead."

"No, let's still go. Someday I want to tell our little one all about the adventure we went on."

"I like that plan." He smooths a broad hand over my belly, his touch as sweet as ever. "You ready?"

I smile and nod. "I'm ready."