He nodded and jogged around the front.
I followed him, though a bit more slowly.
He swung the door open, then he immediately shut it and looked at me. He crouched down and put his hand on the door, then he bowed his head. “Is that what I think it is?”
“I didn’t scratch it in this time, but this seemed a good way to tell you.” I stood behind him so I could see the magnet I’d had made to put on the truck. LITTLE KING in my handwriting to match.
Rising, he turned and dragged me into a hug, his hand cupping the back of my head. “A boy?” He set me back, then he covered my bump with his hand. “Little Bean is a Mister Bean?”
I laughed. “Sure is.”
He crouched down. “Be a good boy, and you keep cooking in there. I’ve got something to show your mom.”
I pushed his hair out of his eyes. “You have a surprise too?”
“I sure do.” He stood up and held out his hand for me.
“What are you up to?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Considering I’d made him come all the way outside for his, I guessed it was only right I had to follow him blindly.
He led me inside and up the stairs to the second floor, down the hall, past the tower room and our bedroom. When he went to the door of the small bedroom, my heart stalled.
“You haven’t let me in here for weeks.”
“Because you’re a nosy pain in my butt.” He pulled me beside him and waved a purple bandana. “Now turn around.”
“I can just close my eyes.”
“I don’t trust you, now turn around.”
“I only peeked that one time.”
“All it takes is once, Hellcat.” He twirled his finger.
I growled and turned around so he could put it on.
He lowered his mouth to my ear. “Might have to remember this for future use.”
A shiver skated down my spine. We’d been enjoying a whole lot of second trimester alone time. First trimester, I kept falling asleep on a dime, which had ended up giving him plenty of time in his new workshop.
But he always slid into bed and curled around me and our Little Bean before midnight. Even if this girl didn’t make it past eight o’clock those first few months.
“Can you see what I’m holding up?”
“Knowing you, it’s your middle finger.”
He laughed and kissed my neck. “Middle finger was one of them. I’ll show you the other one later if you’re lucky.”
I elbowed him.
I heard the door unlatch and he slowly eased me forward. Even without my sight, I felt the sun on my face, and a sense of space. I reached behind me for him and tangled my fingers with his. “I love it.”
“You haven’t seen it.”
“I know I’m going to love it because you did it for our baby boy.”
“Ahh, Hellcat. You destroy me every damn day.” He brushed a kiss over my temple. “And put me back together every damn morning.”
My eyes stung under the blindfold. “Now don’t get me all mushy, Mr. Devereaux.”
“No promises, Mrs. Devereaux.” The knot loosened and the blindfold fell away.
He’d put me in the middle of the room, directly in front of a massive stained glass circular window that echoed Harriette’s library. This one held the bassinet with the little heart, as well as trailing vines.
The design was a little different from Harriette’s with swirls of green and purple that echoed our wedding rings. I found myself walking right to it, trailing my fingers around the copper joins for the glass.
A metal tree took up the entire wall with swirling branches that created the foundation for circular bookcases full of children’s books. They reminded me of Hobbit houses with the smooth wood.
“Did you do all this?”
“With the help of Charlie. But I did this window—mistakes and all.” He came up behind me and touched the join that was imperfectly perfect around the cradle. “I’m getting better at the beadwork, but I’m still struggling with cusps.”
“Whatever it is, you are mistaken, sir. This is pure craftsmanship.” I turned in his arms. “For our baby.”
“Yeah?” He grinned. “I wanted it perfect for you.”
