“Babe, you good?” Wes asks, knocking on the door, and I toss the test in a drawer quickly.

“Yeah, sorry, I spaced out,” I say. I mouth, I spaced out? in the mirror to myself, shaking my head, then splash some water on my face to conceal my tears and open the door.

“James is sleeping. Why don’t you lay down for a bit?” he asks, and I nod absently as he kisses my hair then tilts my head back to get my eyes. “You sure you’re good?” he questions, making that panic from a few minutes ago disappear.

“I’m sure,” I tell him, and he kisses me briefly then takes off down the hall. I head to the bedroom then pick up my phone and call my doctor, setting up an appointment for later in the afternoon.

“I’ve got to head out,” I tell Wes, walking into the living room, where he and James are sitting and watching TV.

“Where are you going?” he asks, looking concerned.

“I need to meet Kayan,” I say the first lie that comes to mind.

“Come kiss me,” he demands, and I go to him, kissing him then James, trying to avoid the look in his eyes as I make it out of the house.

When I get to my Jeep, I start it up and head into town. We sold our house in town a couple years ago, and Wes bought a piece of property from my dad and built a house on it. I love our house, but I loved it more, knowing Wes and my family had built it.

“You’re pregnant,” Dr. Marks says, then I turn my head when there is a pounding on the door of the exam room.

“Are you sure this isn’t a fluke?” I whisper in shock. Dr. Marks has been with us since the beginning. He knows how much we have struggled with getting pregnant.

“I’m sure,” he says, and the pounding gets louder.

“July,” Wes says from the other side, and I feel my eyes grow wide in shock then look at Dr. Marks as he opens the door.

“Congratulations, Wes,” he says as Wes steps into the room.

“You lied,” he says to me, then looks at Dr. Marks and growls, “Congratulations on what?”

“You’re going to be a dad, and actually, we can do an ultrasound today if you like, since you’re both here.”

“What?” Wes says, looking at me then stumbling over to one of the chairs sitting down. “Pregnant?” he asks then shakes his head. “How is that possible?”

“Sometimes, it just happens,” Dr. Marks says, looking proud, like it was his doing. “I’m going to give you guys a few minutes and go get the ultrasound set up.”

“Where’s James?” I ask, seeing our son isn’t with him.

“He’s with your mom. When did you find out?”

“This morning. I took a test, one of the leftovers that had been collecting dust. I didn’t think it would be positive, and when it said I was pregnant, I wanted to know for sure before telling you,” I say, hoping he understands. I hated seeing the disappointment in his eyes every time I took a test. I hated that no matter what I did we weren’t getting pregnant, and no doctor could answer why. Why couldn’t we have a baby?

“You know how I feel about that kind of shit,” he says, and I do know how he feels about me keeping things from him, but if it’s tell him and have him hurt, or save him that, I would do it all over again.

“Sorry.” I get down from the table, curling myself around him on his lap.

“I can’t believe you’re pregnant.” His hand lies gently over my stomach, and tears form in my eyes and a sob climbs up my throat. I have wanted this moment forever, and to finally have it makes it that much more memorable.

“You guys ready?” Dr. Marks asks, coming back into the room.

“Sure.” I nod and do as he instructs, getting back up on the table. He squirts the liquid on my belly then moves it around with the wand in his hand. Before I even know it, the sound of a heartbeat fills the room, and my eyes fill with more tears.

“Jesus,” Wes whispers.

“You’re about nine weeks along,” the doctor says, and I absently find Wes’ hand with mine and hold on tight. James is going to be a big brother. I can’t believe it.

“I’ll print you guys some pictures to show off to everyone, and when you go out front, just tell them you need to make your next appointment. I’ll leave a prescription up front for prenatal vitamins,” he says, wiping off my belly before leaving the room. I sit up, stunned, and look at Wes, who’s looking down at the pictures in his hand. When his eyes come to me, the love I see there tells me everything I need to know.

*

Wes

One year later

I walk into our bedroom and my eyes fall on July, who has both our boys tucked close to her waist. Her eyes open slowly, and the smile that lights her face makes me feel like I’m the king of the world.

“We fell asleep.” She smiles, and I smile back then kiss her neck before running my hand over James and Dean’s heads.

“Your mom and dad are coming to pick up the boys,” I tell her, waiting for her reaction. I love my boys, but I miss being inside my wife without interruption, and I plan on fixing that tonight.

“Why are they picking up the boys?”

“Because I’m tired of being cock-blocked by my kids,” I tell her, and she giggles. Shit, just this morning I was going down on her, and she came hard and loud, but before I could lift up and enter her, the boys woke up, leaving me to take care of myself in the shower.

“I’ve never been away from them for more than a few hours,” she says, and my face goes soft then I remind myself of my mission, and my dick throbs, reminding me what it’s missing, so I steel myself against saying, ‘We can do it another time,’ and tell her instead, “I know, baby, me either, but we need this. My dick needs this.”