Chapter 298

Hannah

My hands shook a little as I straightened the delicate flower crown over Melody’s soft hair, adjusting it so the petals framed her tiny face just right. She blinked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, slapping her hands contentedly on the top of her high chair.

I smiled as I ran my fingers through her fine baby curls, watching the golden strands catch the light.

“You’re gonna have a little brother or sister, you know that?” I whispered, pinching her chubby little cheek.

Melody, for her part, just let out a happy gurgle and blew a spit bubble at me. I laughed as I wiped my thumb across her chin. “I hope your little sibling is as sweet as you,” I said. “But even if they aren’t, I know you’ll teach them.”

She giggled in response and slammed her hand into the nearby bowl of Cheerios, sending them scattering across the carpet, as if to say, “Not so sure about that one, Mommy.”

Shaking my head amusedly, I bent down and picked up the scattered pieces, tossing them in the nearby trash can and brushing my hands together.

As I turned back toward the dining room, I glanced around to take in my hard work. The table was set, candles flickering softly. Roasted meat glistened on a serving platter at the center of the table, fragrant vegetables and sides piled high around it.

I’d even baked a small cake for dessert. One with extra icing and a sweet vanilla interior. Decadent, but we had something to celebrate tonight.

And then there was the gift, hidden in a drawer in the kitchen, simple and unassuming, waiting for him to open it.

My heart thudded in my chest at the thought of what was inside. The pocket watch, but something else, too: a letter. I had agonized over every word, wanting to make sure that it was absolutely perfect. I couldn’t wait for the look on his face when he read it.

The sound of Noah’s car rolling up the driveway made me jump. I took another breath, pressing a hand to my stomach. Melody squirmed as I picked her up, giggling at the excitement in the air, as if she could sense that something big was happening.

The door opened, and there he was, shaking off his coat and glancing around. His eyes lit up the second he saw us. He took us both in, the sight of me in a dress and Melody in her tiny flower crown bringing a smile to his face.

“Well, what’s all this about?” He stepped forward, reaching out to touch one of the delicate flowers on Melody’s crown. “You girls are looking especially fancy tonight. Did I miss an occasion or something?”

I shrugged, trying to play it off for now. “No occasion. I just wanted to do something nice for you on my day off.”

He studied me for a second with a knowing look in his eyes, but if he sensed the way my hands were trembling, he didn’t press any further. Instead, he just smiled and leaned down, brushing a soft kiss to my forehead.

“Well, I’m not complaining. This is incredible, Hannah.” He gestured to the table. “You went all out, didn’t you? On your day off, no less?”

“Maybe a little,” I admitted, trying to keep the smile from turning into nervous laughter. “But Melody and I had lots of fun today. Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold.”

I didn’t need to tell Noah twice. He helped Melody back into her high chair, brushing her nose with a finger and making her giggle, then settled into his seat across from me. The delicious scent of meat filled the air, but I found myself more focused on Noah’s reactions, watching him as he picked up his fork and took a bite.

“Mm, you really outdid yourself, love.” He shot me a smile, raising a brow as he took another bite. “You didn’t need to do all this. It’s only Thursday.”

I laughed, hoping it sounded more natural than I felt. “Hey, I can spoil you once in a while if I want. Just because it’s a Thursday doesn’t mean I can’t surprise you.”

We chatted about our day as we ate, filling each other in on all the usual things. But every so often, his eyes would flicker to my hands as they trembled, only slightly, whenever I lifted my fork or my glass.

I could tell he noticed—of course, he noticed. Noah knew me better than anyone.

“You okay?” he asked at one point. “Are you… nervous?”

I laughed it off, brushing it away with a wave of my hand. “It’s nothing. Just had maybe one too many coffees today, that’s all.”

He didn’t seem fully convinced but nodded anyway, turning back to his plate as if he knew I’d tell him when I was ready. But I could still see the curiosity in his eyes, glancing at me over his fork, waiting for whatever I was holding back.

When dinner ended, I quickly cleared the dishes and brought out the cake with the gift hidden in my pocket. Noah’s eyebrows shot up, his gaze darting from the cake to me.

“Cake?” He looked from the cake to me, a small smile forming. “Is this…are you sure we’re not celebrating something?”

I swallowed, wiping my hands on a dish towel as I took a deep breath. I could feel my heart pounding as I reached into my pocket and withdrew the small box.

“Here,” I said softly.

I reached over and slid the box in front of him, watching as he glanced down at it, confused.

He picked up the box, glancing at me for a second before carefully opening it.

“Oh, Hannah…” His eyes turned to saucers as he pulled the pocket watch out. “You didn’t have to… Why did you do this?”

“Open it,” was all I said, nodding to the watch.

With a confused frown, Noah pressed the button to pop open the watch. A small, folded up piece of paper fell out, which he caught in one hand. He shot me another confused look, but I remained silent as he unfolded it and began to read.

I could see the moment the words hit him, his eyes widening as he read, his mouth parting slightly. When he was finished, he looked back up at me in disbelief.

“Hannah…”

I nodded, feeling my eyes grow damp as I bit my lip, waiting for him to process it all. “It’s true,” I said softly. “We’re having another baby.”

For a moment, Noah just stared up at me like he was trying to make sure he hadn’t misunderstood me. I smiled down at him, hardly able to contain my grin.

Then, in one quick motion, he was up and sweeping me into his arms, twirling me around as laughter burst from his lips.

“Oh my Goddess—Hannah, I can’t believe it!” His voice was filled with a joy so pure it made me laugh, even as tears slipped down my cheeks. When he finished twirling me, he set me down gently and held me close, one arm wrapped tightly around my waist while his free hand reached up to cup my face, his thumb brushing away a stray tear.

“I love you,” he whispered, pressing kisses to my forehead, my cheeks, my lips. “I love you so, so much.”

Behind us, Melody let out a delighted squeal at the sight of our display, clapping her hands together and giggling. Noah turned, his face lighting up as he swept her up into his arms, lifting her high above his head as she squealed with laughter.

“We’re having another baby!” he cried out, twirling her around. “You’re gonna have a little sibling, Melody!”