Page 53 of Conor
“Mama said to ask you if I can open presents now!”
“Aye.” I tap him on the nose with a smile. “That sounds about right.”
He disappears just as soon as he arrived to tackle the mountain of presents that’s accumulated in the middle of the parlor. One thing about birthday parties in this family is that there is no such thing as telling the lads they can’t spoil your kids. It’s going to happen no matter what, so you might as well just accept it.
Ivy comes to stand beside me while Crow takes the lead and distributes each present, announcing who it’s from and letting Archer tear into it. Over the next twenty minutes, we watch him unwrap a battery powered BMW, a hand-controlled drone, Wheelies, a Nerf Go Kart, and enough Legos to ensure I’ll never walk across the floor without cursing again. Ivy’s eyes widen with each gift that’s unwrapped, but when it comes to the tiny motorcycle, I can’t help laughing at the panic on her face.
“We’ll save that one for a little later,” I whisper to her. She gives me an exhausted smile before I pull her into my lap and kiss the side of her temple.
The party goes on well into the evening, and by the time the last of our guests leaves, my wife can barely keep her eyes open. Archer already passed out from the excitement of the day when I carry her back to our bedroom and lay her down.
“You okay?” I brush the hair away from her face.
“Yes,” she answers. “Are the parties always that intense?”
“Aye.” I smirk. “Family is important. It means a lot to the lads to give the kids a smile when they can.”
“It’s the best birthday he’s ever had,” she mumbles sleepily. “Thank you.”
I lean down and kiss her, and then I try to get up with the intentions of cleaning up the kitchen. I don’t want it to fall on Ivy’s shoulders when I have to go back to work in the morning and she’s not feeling well.
“Conor.” She grabs my arm and rolls onto her side, propping herself up with her elbow. “We’ll have another birthday to celebrate soon.”
I think she might be delirious, but I count off the months in my head to both of our birthdays, which are still a good six months away. “Whose?”
She offers me a nervous smile as she pats her tummy. “This little nugget right here.”
For a minute, I can’t even breathe. I want to make sure I heard her right, but there are a thousand thoughts crashing through my mind at the same time. “Ye’re pregnant?”
She bites her lip. “Is that… good?”
I kneel down beside the bed and cup her face, smashing my lips against hers in answer. I kiss her with the passion of a man who’s just won the lottery. I kiss her until neither of us can breathe, and then I leave her panting in a heap on her pillow as I worship her throat with my mouth.
My hand slides across her belly, cupping the small bump there. I’d noticed it, but I just thought she was finally putting on the weight she’d lost. “How long do we have?”
“Six more months.” Her fingers thread through my hair as she massages my scalp. “That’s good, right?”
“Baby, you have no idea. That’s it. I’m done now. You’ve given me everything I wanted.”
She laughs and shakes her head as I climb up onto the bed beside her.
“So, that’s why I’ve been moody. It’s hormones.”
“You can be as moody as you want,” I assure her. “You just focus on growing this wee baby of ours, and I’ll take care of everything else.”
I mean it, and I can’t wait to show Ivy just how much I mean it when she curls into me and rests her head on my beating heart.
“I’m going to take care of you,” I murmur. “Always, my love.”
“What do ye mean her doctor won’t be able to make it?” I glare.
The bloke standing at my wife’s feet barely acknowledges me because his eyes are laser focused on her treasure chest and I’m about ready to loaf him in the head.
“She’s out of town,” the doctor says. “I’m on call, and this baby is coming now. So, if you’ll excuse me, I need to help your wife.”
“Conor,” Ivy hisses between labored breaths. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” I insist. “He keeps staring at you.”
