My sweet girl.
My wife.
“Ridge,” she moans, and I thrust harder as we chase our release together as husband and wife for the first time. I feel her squeezing me, and I let go inside her.
Rolling over, I crush her to my chest, just holding her.
“That was . . . intense,” she says when I finally release my death grip on her.
“Yeah,” I agree. No other words are needed. Our connection that was already solid as steel somehow seemed to mold into something you could only ever experience with your true soul mate. She’s mine.
We lie there for I don’t know how long, her head on my chest, my hands running through her hair. It’s not until I look over and see the envelope that I realize I forgot to give her, my wedding present.
I had to enlist my new father-in-law’s help, and he was all too willing. “Hey, you ready for your wedding present?” I ask.
She lifts her head and smiles. “I thought we said no gifts?”
“We did, but mine isn’t something I bought.”
“Ridge. You promised.”
“I know, but this is more of something we can all use.”
She gives me the stink eye, but then her lips tip with a smile. “Fine, gimme,” she sits up in bed, holding the sheet to her bare breasts.
I jump out of bed, grab the envelope, and hand it to her. Her face scrunches up in confusion. Climbing in the bed beside her, I pull her to me. “Open it.”
Slowly, she opens the envelope and pulls the papers out. I can’t see her face, and it’s killing me not knowing what she’s thinking.
“Kendall?”
“Adoption papers,” she breathes.
“I had your dad draw them up. I know you’re not ready, that you’re still struggling with everything, but I wanted you to have them. I want you to know that in my eyes, you are his mother. Melissa gave him life, but you’re raising him and I want nothing more than you to legally become his mom. Your dad hasn’t filed anything yet. Instead, he gave me these. It’s drawn up and all you have to do is sign it to start the process. You take as long as you need. Just know that I love you, and even if you never sign them, in my eyes you are his mom.”
Her shoulders shake with silent sobs, and I kick myself in the ass for ruining our wedding night. “I’m sorry, baby. I don’t want to upset you or ruin this night, but I need you to know.”
“Ridge, this is the greatest gift. You are giving me the rights to your son. That precious little man.” She covers her mouth. “I love him. I couldn’t love him more if he were mine.”
“I know that.”
“I just—”
“Shhh.” I hug her tight. “Take all the time you need to process it. When you’re ready, sign them and give them to your dad. He’ll take care of the rest.”
She nods.
I slide the papers back into the envelope and place them on the nightstand. Kendall surprises me by climbing on my lap and straddling my hips. Her hands cradle my cheeks. “You are the most amazing man. I don’t know if it was Melissa or just luck, but whatever brought you to me, I will be eternally grateful. I love you.” She kisses me and it soon grows heated. The next thing I know, she’s sliding home and I make love to my wife for the second time.
After our wedding night, I decided to see a counselor. I wanted to be Knox’s mom—in my heart, I felt like I was—but I just couldn’t get past the guilt. Survivor’s guilt is what my therapist’s calls it. For the last several months, I’ve gotten better. I’ve come to realize that what happened to my sister was tragic, but I needed to keep living. That little boy who lights up my world every single day needs a mother, and I’m the lucky one. I have the adoption papers in my top dresser drawer. Ridge and my dad neither one has mentioned them. My husband is truly the most amazing man on the planet.
I’ve been thinking more about signing them and making our little family official. It wasn’t until last week that I finally did. When Knox called me Mom, my heart soared and I knew in that moment that he needs what I had. I had two people who wanted a child and made me their own. They never treated me like I wasn’t a part of them, and that’s how I treat Knox.
So I signed the papers. I dropped them off to my dad at his office and he simply smiled and nodded. Here I am a week later, stopping by to pick up the copy of the official adoption petition to give to Ridge. It’s little man’s first birthday, so it’s kind of a gift for both of them. Well, that and my other news. I’ve been feeling off the last couple of weeks, so I made a doctor’s appointment this morning, and low and behold, I’m pregnant. I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since the second the doctor told me.
Luckily for me, Dad chalked it up to being happy about the papers, so he didn’t question me. He wouldn’t have been wrong, but to know I’m carrying a part of Ridge is surreal. And Knox . . . well, my little man is going to be a big brother. I need to tell Ridge first.
I think back to the way he proposed and I hop online to place my order. Overnight shipping is outrageous, but I’ll be lucky to wait until tomorrow to tell him.
He’s not going to be home until late tonight; he and the guys have started back up with card night. Reagan and Dawn are coming over and helping me decorate for Knox’s birthday party tomorrow.
“What has you smiling like you won the lottery?” Dawn asks.
Shit. I can’t tell them I’m pregnant, but I can give them a little something. “Did you know that Ridge gave me adoption papers for Knox as a wedding gift.”