The nursery smelled faintly of fresh paint and soft linen. I stood in the center of the room, slowly turning in a circle, taking in every detail Daddy had carefully chosen. The crib, the rocking chair, the shelves lined with tiny neutral colored clothes. Everything was perfect. Everything was waiting.
I placed both hands on my belly and felt a strong kick in response. A small smile tugged at my lips despite the heaviness in my chest.
Daddy appeared in the doorway, watching me quietly for a moment before stepping inside. He had been giving me more space lately not freedom, but the illusion of it. He crossed the room and wrapped his arms around me from behind, his large hands covering mine over our child.
“You look peaceful here,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. “Lik
