Page 148 of Through the Storm

Katy tilts her head. “Why do you look nervous?”

“I’m not,” I say immediately. And it’s a complete lie.

“Come here.” I lead her down the hallway, my heart pounding harder with every step. The door to the second bedroom is still closed. She hasn’t seen it yet.

I stop in front of it. “Okay,” I say. “Just open it.”

She turns the knob, and her breath catches. She takes one slow step inside, like she’s afraid to disturb something.

“Wow,” she whispers.

I rub the back of my neck, suddenly sweating.

“Ben.” She turns to look at me. “This looks like a Pottery Barn catalog.”

I laugh weakly. “Is that… a good thing?”

“A very good thing.” She spins slowly, taking everything in. The crib. The soft rug.

The rocking chair by the window. The little basket with burp cloths, snacks, and water bottles exactly like Grandma Patty taught me.

“How did you do all this?” she asks.

I shrug, suddenly very interested in the floor. “Well… those months you weren’t talking to me, I had some free time.”

Her smile falters at the reminder.

“So I made myself useful,” I add quickly. “I bought some things. Returned them. Then I bought them again in different colors.” I glance around the room. “I just wanted to be ready when you were.”

She reaches out and runs her fingers along the crib rail. “You did all this by yourself?”

“I had help,” I admit. “Ella gave me very clear instructions.Grandma Patty gave me a list of everything you would need. My mom came shopping with me a few times. Logan and the other guys helped paint the walls.”

Katy turns to look at me again, her eyes shining. “Ben… this is incredible.”

My heart swells.

She crosses the room in three quick steps and presses her forehead against my chest, careful of the baby between us. “You made us a home,” she whispers.

I close my eyes. “Yeah, I wanted you to love it here. Both of you.”

She pulls back and looks up at me like I’ve done something heroic. “We do,” she says softly.

The baby stirs and makes a tiny noise.

I look down at him immediately. “You like your new room, buddy?” I ask him. “What do you think?”

Katy laughs, and the beautiful sound fills the room. I want to hear that laugh every day of my life.

I finally might have gotten something right. Although, with the way she looks at me, the way she’s always looked at me, you would think I’ve been doing something right all along.

KATY

I’m slowly becoming an expert at being back in the real world but with a baby with me. I was terrified of doing the most basic things but as always, Ben has a way to make everything feel lighter to me. Now I’m fearless. Because I’m at brunch with a baby.

The restaurant is loud in the way that only feels good when you’re a little buzzed and surrounded by people who love you.

Rebecca is on her second mimosa and gesturing wildly, which means she’s telling a story she’s already told but thinks is better now.Ella is sitting beside me, smiling at Mini-Ben like she’s personally responsible for him existing.