Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

quick glance toward my familywhich I found to be incredibly adorable. I placed my finger underhis chin and directed his face to look at me.

“Hey, Ithought you said us Blaxlos were going to be putty in your hands,so why the nerves? Everything is going to be fine; they are goingto love you.” I leaned forward once my buckle was undone and gavehim a quick kiss.

He reached inand placed both his hands on my hips then lifted me to the ground.“I’m not nervous.”

“Liar. Comeon.” I grabbed his hand and led him to my smiling family.

As weapproached, Olivia was singing ‘riding in a copta...wocka wockawocka’. She put her arms out, so I took her from Jen as I kissed mysister on the cheek.

“Hello Livy,did you see the big copta?”

She excitedlypointed to the helicopter. “Dere dere”

“Yes. And whatsound does a copta make?”

She bounced upand down in my arms. “ Wocka wocka wocka.”

I laughed.“Good girl.” I leaned in and gave a Steven a peck on the cheek too.“Hi, Steven. Steven this is Bryce. Bryce, my brother-in-lawSteven.”

They shookhands. “Nice to meet ya, Mate.”

“Likewise,”Bryce said with a smile.

“And youremember Jen.”

“Hi, Bryce,it’s nice to see you again. So, it would appear you don’t likedriving,” she said with a silly grin. “I’m just kidding.”

Bryce went toexplain. “I could’ve—”

I interrupted.“The kids wanted to fly, so we flew to cheer them up.” I raised myeyebrows at her. “Anyway, why drive when you can fly?”

“Yeah, fairenough,” she replied.

I gentlyplaced my hand back in Bryce’s, his grip tightening to let me knowhe appreciated my closeness. We moved along the receiving line myfamily had created while Olivia kept singing ‘wocka wocka’ into myear.

“Hi, Mum.” Shewrapped her arms around me, squashing Livy at the same time. Ipulled back after kissing her cheek. “Mum this is Bryce. Bryce,this is my mum, Maryann.”

Shepractically pushed me aside and wrapped her arms around him. “It’sso lovely to finally meet you, Bryce. Alexis has told me so muchabout you.”

You’re sucha liar, Mum. I haven’t told you SO muchabout anything.

Bryce raisedhis eyebrows at me, obviously pleased to hear of my so-called‘bragging’. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. Blaxlo,” hesaid.

“Oh, you’re sosweet, but please, call me Maryann.”

I passedOlivia to Mum and then approached my Dad who was still eyeing offthe helicopter. “Bryce, this is my dad, Graeme.”

Bryce shot outhis hand. “Nice to meet you, Graeme—”

“Please, callme Mr. Blaxlo.” Dad said, in a stern and mildly intimidatingvoice.

“Dad!” Ismiled at my father’s not so funny joke. “He’s kidding, Bryce,” Isaid as I gave my dad a hug. “You’re not funny, Dad.”

Dad held outhis hand to Bryce while chuckling to himself. He shrugged hisshoulders. “Nice to meet you, Bryce.” They shook hands.

“Thanks forletting us land the chopper in your paddock. I hope it didn’t spookyour cattle.”

Dad seemedpleased with Bryce’s concern for his beloved bovine. “Nah, it’s allgood, although, you can do me a favour.”

“Sure, what isit?”

“I wouldn’tmind an aerial view of my property while your here.”

“Of course,not a problem. Do you want to go up now?” Bryce askedenthusiastically.

I butted in.“No, not yet. Let us get settled in and then you can gojoyriding.”

***

After theformal introductions were complete—apart from my brother who had nosense of appointed time—we settled in. Bryce got better acquaintedwith my family over a coffee and some of Mum’s scones. He wasimpressed with her baked masterpieces, so much so that he asked herwhat she had put in them. I watched her put her finger up to herlips, indicating it was a secret ingredient, but then dragging himinto the kitchen to reveal what it was. I observed his expressionof disbelief which had me now wondering what it was too—she refusedto tell me...and so I did Bryce. I’ll remember that.

Mum had alsoput out a platter of cheeses. I would normally dig in to the bluecheese, but I knew it was on thenot-safe-to-eat-while-you’re-pregnant-list, so I avoided it andselected the cubed cheddar instead. Unfortunately, blue cheese hada powerful and God awful stench, and my super-human smellingabilities had honed in on that stench, triggering my vomit-expressto leave stomach-station and begin its journey to itsdestination—my mouth. In my panic, I quickly covered my nose andmouth with my hand, then realising being sick was inevitable, shotup and ran for the toilet.

I made it justin time, but gagged every time I pictured or thought about cheese.No, I love cheese. It’s not fair! I could so knock back afreakin’ glass of gin right now! I sulked for a bit then openedthe door to the bathroom. Jen was standing just outside and as Iopened the door, she pushed her way in, locking it behind her.

“Hey! It’sfine, I’m fine. The cheese just smelled awful. Could you smell it?”My acting was far from Academy Award worthy.

“No, itsmelled fine, but then again, I’m not the one who is pregnant, amI?” Jen placed her hands on my shoulders and pierced me with herall too knowing eyes.

Look away,Alexis. Look away. Fuck, she knows.

“No, you’renot...,” I replied, “I am.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Alexis Elizabeth Summers,”was all Jen could say as she pulled me in for a hug—then pushed meout again to search my eyes—then pulled me back in again.

“It wasn’tplanned, Jen,” I mumbled into her chest. “I completely forgot totake my pill during that week I spent with Bryce. I know it’s noexcuse, but I was so head-fucked at that point that it justcompletely slipped my mind.”

“Does heknow?” she asked, concerned.

“Who? Bryce?Or Rick?”

“Oh shit,Lexi! Whose baby is it?”

“Calm down,Jen. It’s Bryce’s baby, and yes, he does know. He couldn’t behappier. We are both really happy. Obviously, I had no plans atthis stage in my life to have another baby. But, it happened, andwe are both really excited about it.”

She stoodthere stunned for a moment then smiled brightly. “Well, in thatcase, congratulations.” She hugged me again. “How far along areyou?”

“Approximatelynine weeks.”

“Are youplanning on telling Mum and Dad anytime soon? Because if you keepdoing that...” she pointed to my hand which I had subconsciouslyplaced on my belly in a rubbing circular motion, “...then you aregoing to give yourself away.” Oh shit!

“No, not yet.We are going to wait a