Ashton ca to the ranch whenever he could, but honestly, he was becoming more childish by the day.
Every evening, after carrying upstairs to the bedroom, he would sit down beside and start giving our unborn babies a very serious lecture.
I’d be half-lying there while Ashton leaned over slightly, one hand braced on the mattress by my waist, his whole face filled with concentration as he talked to my belly.
He spoke as if they could actually understand him. It was ridiculous, but I had to admit it was also a little heart-warming.
Watching him like that, in the quiet of the night, softened . I reached out and gently stroked my stomach, thinking, ‘Your dad really does love you two. He’s going to be a good father.’
Just then, I felt a faint movent in my belly, and Ashton stopped mid-sentence.
I looked down and saw a small bump rise and fall under the thin white fabric of my nightdress.
It wasn’t the first ti I’d felt them move, but every ti it happened, it still felt like magic.
‘My babies are smart. They can understand what their dad’s saying,’ Ashton said, his voice full of pride.
He reached out and gently touched my stomach.
His palm rested right where the bump had just been. It had flattened again, but the mont his hand landed there, the sa spot lifted slightly once more, as if in response, pressing softly against his palm.
‘See? The baby’s saying hello to .’
I couldn’t help bursting out laughing.
Ashton gave a puzzled look.
‘You really have no idea, do you?’ I teased. ‘That’s not the baby’s hand, it’s their bum. They’re just stretching. I’ve actually looked this up.’
Ashton wasn’t annoyed in the least. In fact, he seed completely fascinated. He kept his hand there, lightly stroking my stomach, like he was playing so endlessly interesting ga.
At first, my belly still gave little kicks in return, but before long the baby must have grown tired. The movents slowed, then faded altogether.
Ashton, however, didn’t seem ready to stop. His hand lingered, reluctant to move away.
Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I pulled his hand down. ‘That’s enough. The babies have gone to sleep. Don’t wake them up again.’
***
The trip to the ranch had done good. I was calr now, and staying at ho no longer felt like being trapped.
It was Saturday, and I didn’t have to go into the studio. Ashton was in his study.
I was in the living room, flicking through variety shows on TV while doing my stretches. The doctor had taught these exercises to help with an easier birth, and I did them whenever I had ti during the day.
But standing there doing them alone made feel a bit ridiculous, so I kept the television on, not to watch, just to have so background noise. It helped distract from how uncomfortable the movents could be.
I lifted my left arm straight above my head, bent my knees, and leaned to the right three tis. Then I switched sides, one full set. I was supposed to do fifteen in total.
I had just finished the left side and was about to start the right when the variety show ended and the program suddenly cut to breaking news.
A man’s body had washed up on the shore. The police identified him as Frank Vance, an ex-convict. His death was ruled as misadventure.
I stared at the screen, at my father’s mug shot.
Death by misadventure? Frank hated the sea. What would he be doing near the water?
Ashton had told he’d sent people to look for Frank. Had they found him? Was his death... Ashton’s doing?
I glanced up at the second floor, at Ashton’s study.
If I asked him, would he tell the truth?
A sudden, sharp pain twisted through my stomach. I gasped and cried out.
‘What’s wrong?’ Ashton was out of his study in an instant.
It took a while to catch my breath. ‘It’s fine. The baby’s just being naughty again, but this ti it really hurt.’ My voice was tight with the effort of holding back the pain.
I steadied myself against the sofa and sat down slowly.
‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ Ashton looked worried.
I knew what he was like when it ca to the babies, so I forced a smile. ‘I’m fine, really, it’s nothing—’
Another wave of pain hit, stronger than before. My hands trembled so much I could barely hold my phone.
‘Where does it hurt? Don’t panic, just tell slowly.’ His voice was calm, but he was already calling out to Geoffrey, ‘Get the car ready, we’re going to the hospital.’
I was starting to panic. Clutching my stomach, I forced out the words, ‘It really hurts.’
He lifted off the sofa and carried out. By the ti we reached the door, the car was already waiting.
The mont we got in, it sped off towards the hospital.
Ashton kept talking to , trying to calm down. I could only groan in response.
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