Derek breathed in the delicious smell of made from scratch chicken noodle soup. That had been the one thing Erin had been insistent on making that evening after she had seen cans of it on sale on an end cap. He had tried to convince her that the canned would be perfectly okay for him, but she was nothing if not stubborn.
"Derek? I need you to open this jar, please." She turned and held out the jar of Gemlik olives. He grinned as he took the jar from her hands and easily twisted the lid off.
"I think you loosened it for me," he teased as he handed it back, watching her pop one into her mouth as she rolled her eyes.
"I didn't even try to open it. I usually press jars into my stomach when I open them, and I know that's not good for me right now." She turned back to the pot on the stove and stirred it vigorously, popping another of fruits into her mouth.
He came up behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist, spreading his hands out over her tiny bump. "How much longer before you really start showing?"
"Another month or so." Erin rested her head back against his chest, setting the spoon aside on the stove. "Would you get out the bowls and spoons? This is almost ready."
"Of course." He stepped away from her and opened the cupboard next to her, pulling out two bowls before grabbing the necessary utensils from the right drawer. After he had handed the bowls to her, he filled a tall glass with milk and another with water. Taking a seat at the table, he let Erin serve him before she sat herself.
Their meal was quiet and he caught her looking at him every so often, a soft smile on her lips. "Do you have anything to freeze the rest in? I may have gone overboard with how much I made."
"Sure, let me get out some Ziploc bags for that." She nodded as he got them out and he washed the dishes while she got everything settled away. "Why don't you go settle yourself on the couch while I finish up in here? I think Penelope may have left a present for you in there."
She looked at him a little oddly before turning and leaving the kitchen. He heard her shocked gasp before she hurried back in and hugged him tightly. "Thank you!" she squealed before kissing him hard. It seemed that she didn't realize what she was doing, since when she stepped back, she was blushing deeply. "I'll be on the couch, reading," she mumbled out before scurrying off.
Derek laughed as he packed the rest of the dishes away in the washer, starting it before going out to join her. She was thoroughly engrossed in her book, and he knew better than to interrupt her. Penelope had taught him that much in their years of friendship. Instead, he sat next to her, smiling when she cuddled into him. Over her shoulder, he watched her read, and when she reached the end of the chapter, he finally asked, "What are you reading?"
"You Belong To Me. It's one of my favorite Mary Higgins Clarke books. I read it so often that I thought it better to get it in this format rather than wear out yet another paperback copy." She went back to reading, only to murmur moments later, "I don't mind if you turn the television on. It won't bother me. I've learned how to tune that out over the years."
He nodded and flipped it on, trying to find something interesting on. USA was running an NCIS marathon, so he stopped it there and let it play. He needed the mindless escapism the show offered, especially in their portrayal of the FBI. After a few hours, he felt Erin stretch against him before standing up. "Heading to bed now?"
"Yes. Um, do you go to church? I don't really know about your faith beliefs, but I was raised Episcopalian and prefer attending those services."
"Momma raised me Baptist, but…" He thought about Buford and how the man had stolen so much from him, his faith included. "I've had a few rough patches in my faith."
Her eyes softened and she held out her hand to him, helping him up before encircling him in her arms. "I understand rough patches, Derek." She breathed in and out a few times before letting him go. "Come to bed with me."
He could tell from her voice that she wasn't propositioning him and so he nodded, letting her pull him into the other room. "Wear that soft pink nightgown that I put away," he said as he tugged his shirt off.
She nodded and pulled it out of the dresser before opening the closet door and quickly changing behind it. While she was occupied, he stripped down and tugged on a pair of flannel pajama pants before turning down the covers on the bed. She joined him and he saw that the nightgown was shorter than he thought it would be, just skimming the middle of her thighs. He watched her yawn once more before she crawled in.
"I'll go to church with you in the morning," he said lowly as he got in, curling his body around hers. She seemed to melt against him, seeking out the warmth of his body, and his arm immediately went around her waist, sheltering her.
"Thank you. Like you said, if we're to do this, we have to present a united front. And my faith plays an ever more important part of my life, post-alcohol." She turned to look at him. "This means so very much to me." Leaning in, she kissed him sweetly before looking into his eyes.
"Maybe it was time I worked a little harder on my faith," he said as he began to stroke her hair. It was clear that she liked when he did that, since she always arched into the touches, and he found himself wanting to do things that pleased her.
"And maybe one day you'll trust me with your secrets," she murmured before closing her eyes and relaxing against him. It struck him, how well she could read him, and he continued to run his fingers through her hair as he let himself fall asleep as well.
In the morning, he could hear her singing in the bathroom and he smiled as he stretched through a yawn. Laying over the end of the bed was one of his few suits, and he shook his head as he got out of bed and pulled the covers up, making it quickly. As he picked up the clothes she had chosen for him, she came into the bedroom, a smile on her face. "Good morning, Erin."
"Good morning, Derek. As soon as you finish showering, I'll start breakfast for us. The service begins at eleven, so we have a little time before we have to leave." She brushed past him and he breathed in the scent of her perfume, finding it pleasing to his senses. Derek hesitated a moment, watching her put in a pair of earrings and then work on her makeup. "Go on and get ready," she finally said, shooing him out of the room.
He made his way over to the bathroom and let his pajama pants fall to the floor. Usually, he'd let them stay there, but he still wanted to make a good impression on his soon to be wife. His shower was quick and then he stepped out, drying off and then trimming his goatee before getting dressed in the suit. He decided to forego his usual cologne, not certain if it would set her stomach off, and he didn't want her puking before church.
By the time he stepped into the living room, he could smell bacon and eggs cooking. A grin broke out over his face and he picked up his speed a little, hurrying into the kitchen to see her plating everything up. "This looks wonderful, Pretty Lady."
"Thank you," she said as she took a seat. "But don't get too used to it. I'm only domestic like this when I'm pregnant. It feels right, for some reason, in a way that it doesn't when I'm not pregnant. Sorry."
"That is perfectly okay. I'll take the thirty four weeks I can get." He winked at her and she tried to hide her smile, but it was a lost cause. "So, when are we going to go on our first doctor's appointment?"
"Soon. I have to set all that up tomorrow, after the ceremony. The first appointment just verifies everything and gives me a concrete birth date for the sprog." She smiled tenderly as she took a bite of food, her free hand drawing a pattern on her stomach. "But, we should probably get a move on things." Erin focused on her food and he found himself doing the same.
Together, they did the dishes and then he watched her pick up her purse and approach the door, tugging on her coat before looking at him expectantly. "Just give me a moment, Erin," he said before picking his cell phone up off the charger and stuck it in his pocket. "All right, let's head out."
She slipped her hand into his and they walked out to his truck. Derek helped her up and she purred a little in pleasure as he once more rubbed her stomach. Filing that away in his brain, he got in the driver's seat and took off. She gave him soft directions and soon he was pulling into the parking lot of a beautiful church. "We're here," she murmured as she got out, clasping his hand. He nodded and let her lead him inside.
They headed up to a pew in the middle of the sanctuary and she slid in, shying away from the aisles. "So, what goes on at an Episcopal service?"
"You'll see," she answered as she turned her phone to vibrate. He followed suit and then placed his arm around her shoulders. She didn't shrug him off, and as he looked around the sanctuary, he noticed many couples sitting like they were. The whole service made him feel at ease, even though he fumbled with some of the responsive readings and songs. "I always feel like I'm home when I'm here."
"I can see why. This is going to be a nice place to call our spiritual home." She smiled at him and he tugged lightly on a piece of her hair as they got up and went out. The priest was smiling and talking to people as they exited and Derek found he didn't feel anxious about talking with the man.
It took a few minutes, but finally they were at the head of the line and Erin smiled warmly at the man. "Father Mark, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Derek Morgan."
The man looked him up and down, then looked at Erin's stomach. "I thought you were seeing that author, Erin."
"He didn't want to be saddled with fatherhood this late in his life. Derek's agreed to step into that role. I couldn't say no, not when I was asked so sweetly."
"And when is the ceremony taking place?"
"Tomorrow at the justice of the peace. We're not going to make a big fuss about this, since, well, you know."
Derek tightened his arm around her waist, rubbing his thumb along her ribs. "Erin needs someone to take care of her and the sprog," he said tenderly, looking down at her. She looked up and smiled gently at him before resting her head on his arm.
"Well, I hope you don't mind me making an announcement next week during Mass, then. We should always celebrate felicitous events such as this."
"That will be fine, Father Mark. Have a good week." Derek guided her over to their truck, helping her in, testing his theory about what she liked by not caressing her stomach. Her eyes narrowed a little as she shook her head and he chuckled a little before letting his hand come to rest on the slight rise of her stomach. "I'm that easy to read."
"Yeah, you kind of are. I think it's going to be my saving grace with you," he said as shut her door. Getting in, he started the vehicle and began the trek home, feeling her eyes on him. "What is on your mind, Pretty Lady?"
"You. And work. And everything that's happening to me. I'm really trusting God as we move forward, you know. And you. You have to know that."
Her honesty made his heart clench and he glanced over at her. She was smiling at him and he grinned in return. "Perhaps tonight, we could talk a little more about our childhoods. I want to know everything there is to know about you."
"As long as you tell me a little about yourself in return. Not everything, that will come in time, I'm sure, but a little bit."
"Deal." For some strange reason, he felt at peace with the response, with the knowledge that he was going to be opening himself up to her, and this just further cemented the idea that she was meant to be with him in his mind.