Ronnie placed the last plate on the table and stepped back to examine her handy work. The table was decorated in blues and greens that gave it a nice summery feel. Will had invited the whole family over including Annie for dinner that evening. Sliding the spoon in front of her over a few inches to the left, she felt like everything was perfect. The last two weeks Will and Ronnie had finally settled their difference. Every night they would sit down to dinner and Will had been kind enough to not bring Annie around. Things were finally as they should be.
Turning towards the kitchen she saw Will huddled over the counter cutting up vegetables for the salad. He had on a nice button up shirt that was open at the collar showing off his tanned chest. Ronnie felt her heart begin to beat faster. He was magnificent.
"Do you need me to grab the extra chairs from the closet," she asked knowing they would need to pull them out for their guests. Since they had usually ate dinner on the patio or at the bar, all the extra chairs in the kitchen were in the hallway closet.
"Why don't you let me get them? I'm almost done here and when everyone shows up I can put the steaks and shrimp on the barbie," he finished in his best Australian accent.
"I hope you made something I can eat," she laughed.
"Hence, the salad. But since it's my job to fatten you up I have put together a delectable smorgasbord of dessert."
Ronnie smiled," thank goodness. I have been craving some more peach cobbler."
"Yuck, if I never see another peach cobbler after you deliver it will be too soon. Why can't you crave some real food like hot dogs or chocolate cake?"
"Hot dogs," she blanched. "My kid is going to be a vegetarian."
"Our kid is going to eat meat and love it," he waved the knife in his hand. She put her hands up in mock surrender.
After everyone was done eating that night Ronnie tried to suppress the yawn that would tell Will how tired she was. He had been overly protective of her since the doctor's appointment incident where she had lost three pounds. The day had been beautiful but busy. She had gone against his orders and cleaned the house one last time even though their maid had been there the day before. The extra work could be felt all over her body causing her to be sore in her legs and back.
Across the table Will sat beside Annie with his arm around her shoulders. Ronnie had to admit she was very pretty. Even Barbie would be envious of her slim curves. Annie was definitely a tough act to follow. Ronnie looked down at her thickening middle feeling even worse. Why would Will pick her over the model sitting beside him?
Ronnie felt a kick in her side and rubbed the spot till she felt another kick. It was amazing knowing Will's child was resting within her. It made her feel sad for a second remembering how Emma had moved the same way. One minute she had been kicking and Ronnie had heard the heartbeat at her appointments and then the next day she was gone. Another kick to her side made Ronnie remember that she was moving on and had a bright future to look forward to. Ronnie glanced across the table and caught Will's eye.
"If everyone is done I can start clearing the table," Annie stood to her feet and picked up her plate.
"No way, put that down right now," Megan warned. "The women will not be cleaning up tonight."
"I beg to differ woman," Megan's husband interjected. "As I recall the men are the ones who have been winning lately."
The men all grunted in agreement. Even Nick had a big smile on his face. Ronnie had missed nights like this. Will, who seemed very proud of the male dominated winning streak, pulled Annie back down into her seat. "Don't worry you will have plenty of time to clean up after us."
"Your going down Will," Ronnie narrowed her eyes at him.
Will leaned across the table," Bring it on."
"Hold on gentlemen," Susan started in her sweet southern drawl. "I believe since you won the last game it's our turn to decide what we are going to play."
"Pick your poison, it won't matter, we are still going to win," Tom added playfully.
An hour later they were all counting up the final score on their charades game and the women let out a squeal when they found out they won. It had been close but the victory went to the women who had two more points. By then Ronnie was feeling as if she was dragging. She stood to her feet trying to make a quiet exit when her legs gave out beneath her.
Megan's husband, who was the closest, grabbed her arm to steady her. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. I think I overdid it. I'm going to slip out," she whispered to him happy that no one else had noticed her moment of weakness. Walking down the hall she stared up the stairs and wondered how she was going to make it on her own. Instead she sat on the second step and put her head on the wall.
"Ronnie," Will crouched down in front of her. "You okay? I was told I should check on you."
"I think I overdid it," she yawned.
Will put his arm underneath her legs and one on her back and lifted her. She knew she had an extra sixteen pounds on her but Will lifted her as if she weighed nothing. The first room on the left was the guest room she was using and was decorated in fall colors that gave the room a warm feeling. He carried her to the bed and placed her gently in the center.
Her eyes were closed but she could feel him pull her sandals off her feet. "You're undressing me," she murmured.
"Yes, ma'am. I am," he chuckled.
"Don't take advantage of me."
"I'll try not to." Will pulled her into a sitting position and leaned her against his chest. He slowly pulled her dress over her head and traded it for her sleeping clothes.
"I love you Will," she said and then fell asleep.
Will pulled his glasses off his face and rubbed his eyes hoping to get one more hour of work in before he turned in for the night. His guests had gone home hours ago and he was left with the work he had put off. He could have been done by now but Ronnie telling him that she loved him kept playing in his mind. If she hadn't been so tired he knew she wouldn't have said it but it still shook him. What was he supposed to do now?
On his T.V., he had on mute, was the news. Was there really a point to having the sound on when news was on? He could probably give the whole news without a prompter. Someone died, someone got in an accident, and just to lighten the mood they throw in a fluff piece. The whole thing was predictable. But he needed some stimulus to keep him awake.
There was a light knock on his bedroom door. "Come in," he called out. Will tossed his glasses on the side table. Ronnie stood at the door in her burgundy nightdress he had put on her a few hours before. "What are you doing up?"
"I was thirsty so I got up to get a glass of water and saw your light was still on. What are you working on," she asked gesturing towards the pile of papers sprawled out on the bed.
"Some work I've been putting off. Do you want me to get you some water," he asked.
"No, I can do it myself. It's amazing what a few hours sleep can do." Ronnie strolled over to the side table that had a photo beside the bed. She picked it up and ran her hands along the frame. "This was taken at your volleyball tournament the summer we met."
"Yeah, it was taken before you showed up. You can tell how tired I was. I didn't sleep that night thinking it was over between us."
Ronnie smiled and put the photo back on the table. "Then Megan showed up. She was our hero."
"I think she had been trying to be my hero again since the divorce."
"That is a lot of pressure for one person," Ronnie commented. Then Will noticed her wince and rub the side of her rounded belly. "I think our kid is going to be a soccer player or a pain in my side."
Will reached out his hand wanting to feel his baby move but pulled back. He was trying his hardest to keep his distance but the more Ronnie grew the more he wanted to be a part of the experience. It was hard to keep his distance from Ronnie anyways since pregnancy looked good on her. Tonight was no exception. The nightdress she was wearing hugged her in all the right places and hung off her right shoulder making Will feel very aroused.
"Would you like to feel," Ronnie asked.
"I'd love to," he beamed. "Maybe you could stay and watch the rest of the news with me."
"Sounds good."
Will cleaned the papers that were in front of him and then pulled Ronnie on the bed. She settled between his legs and leaned against his chest. The contact between their bodies sent chills down his spine.
"Here," she grabbed his hand and led it to her stomach. "If you rub here the baby likes to kick at your hand." Will allowed her to move his hand in circular motions waiting for the kick he had been dying to feel since she had come back from New York. He heard Ronnie sigh and felt her sink into his body. "That feels so good."
Her mouth was inches away from his and he licked his lips; which felt dry all of a sudden. Then he felt it. The baby had kicked his hand. It was an amazing feeling knowing Ronnie was carrying his child. But it also caused him to feel very protective of her and Annie wasn't too happy about that.
"Wow," he breathed.
Ronnie beamed up at him. "I know. It still amazes me."
They were sitting on his bed with their limbs tangled together and then his lips were on hers. He kissed her deeply letting her feel all the emotions that had been hidden within him. She moved her head slightly allowing him to deepen the kiss. Ronnie moaned driving Will to lose all control. His mouth sought hers over and over reminding him that things were never over between them. When they were like this there were no problems.
"Wait…wait," Ronnie pulled away and stared up into his eyes. He could see the pain and confusion written on her face and he wanted nothing more than to tell her that everything was going to be all right. But he wasn't sure it was. "Annie."
With that one name, Will came crashing down to Earth. He hadn't meant to cheat on her. "I…" he began but had no words.
Ronnie scooted to the edge of the bed and stood to her feet. "Goodnight Will."
He watched her walk out of the room wanting to go after her but not knowing what to say. What could he say? I'm sorry I kissed you? How was that going to help? The only other idea he had was to let her go and talk to her when he sorted out his feelings. The next issue was having to tell Annie about his mistake. She was not going to take it well. Will buried his face in his hands feeling a headache coming on.
Super excited about this chapter! This moment in the bedroom between Ronnie and Will has been nagging at me for a while. Definitely, one of my favorite moments. Please leave a review / comment. It would make my day!