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

a minute,” she gave Nic a look of concern. She obviouslypicked up on the not so pleasant discussion between me and hergirlfriend. Or, maybe in addition to her humongous IQ and computerhacking skills; she could also lip-read—I honestly wouldn’t put itby her.

“Nate andCharli, it’s getting late. You can say goodnight too, okay?”

Both my kidsdid their new fist bump/high five/thumbs up/goodbye salute witheveryone in the room. I shook my head and got to my feet, grabbingmy crutches.

Bryce made hisway to my side. “Here, give me those.”

“No, I canmanage,” I said playfully, but trying to assert my authority at thesame time.

“Are youchallenging me, Hunny?” he asked in a daring tone.

I felt my faceredden, so I quickly looked around the room.

Lucy smiledand shook her head and Nate quickly sided with Bryce.

“Mum, you areso gonna lose. Bryce always wins.”

Bryce kept hiseyes on me but extended his fist toward my son, my son quicklybumping it with his own.”

“Really?” Iasked, looking at Nate and now standing on one leg with my hands onmy hips.

“Yeah,really,” he replied, then snatched up my crutches and ran off.

“Nate, youlittle traitor,” I yelled out after him just as Bryce bent down andswept me off my feet.

As he carriedme out of the room, I looked over my shoulder to Lucy. “And youthink I’m in control over him. Ha, you’re crazy!”

She justshrugged her shoulders.

***

Bryce helpedme put the kids to bed, or more like tilted me in their directionso that I could give them a kiss goodnight. Charli didn’t askanything further about my fall, and I was kind of glad. Being ableto explain the next morning seemed like a better option, I wasstill dreading it though and Bryce picked up on my unease.

“Do you knowwhat you want to tell them yet?” he asked as he carried me to ourroom.

“No. I guessI’ll just tell them the truth. Um, where are we going? You stillhave guests downstairs,” I tried to peek over the half-wallbanister, which spanned the top of the stair case to the end of thewalkway.

“They’ll letthemselves out, they always do,” he said casually.

“Bryce. Youcan’t just abandon them to put me to bed. And anyway, who said Iwas ready for bed? It’s still early.”

“Yes I can.And trust me, you are ready for bed,” he exclaimed as he buried hishead into my neck with an animalistic growl.

I squealed inexcitement. “Bryce!”

CHAPTER TWENTY

I draggedmyself out of bed the morning after Bryce very deliciously put meto sleep by way of kissing nearly every surface of my body—nearlyevery surface. I’d found him and the kids in the kitchen, creatingworks of waffle-art for breakfast, including toppings like whippedcream, sprinkles, marshmallows and chocolate sauce. I liked his wayof making what will be a horrible heart-wrenching moment somewhatbetter with sugar and aerated cream. My feelings told me it was notgoing to work, but I appreciated his effort nonetheless.

All four of uswere seated around the dining table when I decided to get it overand done with. Stewing on the inevitable was not something Ienjoyed doing.

“Nate, Charli.Bryce and I need to tell you something.”

Bryce droppedhis hand and placed it on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze.

I sucked in adeep breath then slowly let it out as I opened my mouth to speak.“Charli, remember when you asked me if the baby was hurt when Ifell?”

“Yeah, Mum. Ihope she is not angry at you, because it was an accident. Youdidn’t mean to hurt her,” Charlotte said with the sweetestsincerity.

“No,Charli-Bear, I didn’t mean to hurt her. But...” I sighed and closedmy eyes briefly. “She did get hurt, and unfortunately because ofthat, she stopped growing and the doctors had to take her out of mytummy.”

Nate stoppedeating and looked at me strangely. I could see him putting two andtwo together. Charli, on the other hand, put her fork down andsmiled from ear to ear.

“Where is she?Can I see her? Can I hold her?” Oh, shit! No, I didn’t mean itlike that, fuck!

I blinked acouple of times then brought myself back together, opening my mouthto speak. “No, Charlotte, Sweetheart. You can’t, because she didn’tsurvive.”

Her smilefaded and she scratched her head. “What do you mean?”

“She means thebaby died, Charli. When Mum fell, the baby got hurt, bad.” Nate gotup from his seat and made his way over to me, wrapping his armsaround my shoulders. “Sorry, Mum. That must be really sad foryou.”

I clasped hisarms with my hands holding him tight, but I could not respond.

“Nate isright, Charlotte. The baby stopped growing, and her heart stoppedbeating,” Bryce explained, knowing my voice had temporarily ceasedup.

Charli’sbottom lip dropped and it began to tremble, breaking my heart forthe umpteenth time. “Oh, Sweetheart, come here.” I freed my armsfrom Nate, holding them out for her. She slid off her seat andwalked toward me, bursting into tears before she made it to myembrace. I wrapped myself around both my children and squeezed themtightly.

“She’s in babyheaven now, playing with lots of other baby angels.”

“Are thereother baby angels?” Charli asked, weeping and pulling away whilewiping her eyes.

Bryce put hisarms out for her so that she could sit up on his lap and be levelwith my face. “Yes, Charlotte, there are lots of baby angels. Somebabies are not lucky enough to be born into this world, and somebabies are born but then don’t live for very long. When thathappens, they all go to baby heaven and become good friends,” Bryceexplained as he reassuringly stroked his hand down Charli’shead.

“Do you thinkshe has made friends yet?”

I smiledthrough my sadness. “Of course she has. I think she has lots offriends, Darling.”

Charlottenodded and returned my smile mildly.

“So, Mum, Iwas right then. She was a girl.”

I looked atBryce then back at Charli. We had decided to open the envelope afew days ago to see if our baby was a boy or a girl, but I hadchosen not to look at the picture—I was not ready for that yet.

“Yes, Charli,you were right.” A tear fell from my eye.

Nate left myside and returned instantly with a tissue.

“Thank you,little man.” I kissed his head and tucked him back into myarms.

“Mum, what washer name?” Charli asked quietly.

Bryce took