Chapter 105

**Blue**


I’m not sure how many things I’ve tried on, but nothing fits just right. My belly is too small for most of the maternity pants and I’m swimming in the maternity shirts. I can’t seem to find anything nice!

“Why don’t you try something you normally wear but in a size or two bigger?” Artemis suggests after I give up on trying any more clothes on.

I sit up and gawk at him. How did I not think of that?

“My stretch pants are really comfortable, why don’t you get those?” Lilly says.

This two…

“Yes! I’ll buy a large shirt and leggings! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before.”

“Pregnancy brain is a real thing.” Rhea says.

I called her after a few outfits and asked her advice about which outfits to buy. She was nice enough to stay on with me as I tried a ton of stuff, so how come she didn’t suggest this? She has been pregnant before!

“What?” I ask her. “Pregnancy brain?”

“Have you not been reading up on stuff? When you’re pregnant you sometimes forget things. I lost my keys at least three times a day during my last pregnancy.” She laughs but I’m too busy looking through a better selection of clothes.

Not that the maternity clothes weren’t nice, but they aren’t really my style. They remind me too much of the clothes Abigail had me dress in when I first met her. I finally find a few things I really like and with Rhea’s stamp of approval I end up with several outfits that will hopefully last a while. I’ll eventually need maternity sized things since my belly is going to get huge but for now, I’ll enjoy what I can still wear. We also buy a few things for Lilly while we’re here and she even convinces Artemis to buy a couple casual items. He can’t seem to say no to her. I love it!

When we’re done shopping, I can start to feel myself getting tired but I’m determined not to turn around and go home. I’m not feeling sick yet and the apple Artemis got me is still sitting happily in my tummy. I just hope I’ll eventually be able to eat healthier foods as well but for now the babies seem to only like a handful of things. Tart green apples with caramel and almonds seem to be on the top of their list.

We’re driving away from the mall, but I’m not sure where we’re going. Artemis said he wanted to take me somewhere special but won’t spill anything more than that. He has also sworn everyone else to secrecy because no one else is telling either. Not even Lilly! Eventually I give up trying to beg for answers and decide to scroll through my comments on social media. I haven’t posted in a while since I’ve been sick and we aren’t telling anyone outside of immediate family about the babies yet, so I’ve been getting a lot of concerned comments.

“Let’s take a picture guys so the world knows I’m still alive!”

Lilly leans into me but Artemis doesn’t. I give him my biggest pleading look and he gives in with a sigh. He takes the phone from me since he has longer arms and we cuddle up closer to him. We smile wide and he takes several different shots. When he’s done, he hands me my phone back but I’m not done.

“Can we do one of the two of us? Please?”

He gives in and wraps an arm around me and just before he presses the button to take the picture, I turn my face toward him and kiss him on the cheek. I hear the sound of the picture being taken and quickly grab my phone to see our photo. Artemis looks grumpy as usual, but he caught a picture of me looking at him with a smile and then one of me kissing him.

“It’s so cute.” I love them!

“Hold on. One more.” He says surprising me.

He lifts the phone again. “Blue.”

I turn away from the camera to look at him and he moves in and kisses me. It’s a sweet kiss but has my head spinning as always.

When he pulls back, I tilt his way but stop myself because we are in a car full of people right now and kissing my husband like the way I want will just traumatize everyone. He keeps his eyes on me when he hands me back my phone and I have to force myself to look away from his handsome face. The picture is amazing! It’s a lot more intimate than the usual photos I post but I love it so much.

“Maybe I should keep this one private.” I say out loud.

“Why?” Artemis asks.

“I didn’t think you would want me to post such a personal photo.”

He shrugs. “I don’t mind if it means the world knows you’re my wife.”

I roll my eyes at his possessive reasons, but I secretly love it. No one has ever wanted me in any way like he does, and I like how it feels. I won’t take a single second of Artemis wanting me for granted.

A few little tweaks to the photos and I post them. It doesn’t take long for comments and likes to build up, but we pull to a stop before I can start reading any. I look up and see this impressive building that looks sort of like a hotel, but it’s decked out with a ton of kid’s stuff.

“What is this place?” I ask.

“It was my old home!” Lilly says before Bryant opens her door and helps her into her chair.

I look at Artemis. “This is the group home? What…how…Artemis did you have something to do with this?”

He gives me a small smile. “I bought it and had it completely redone. Abigail has been working here and Alan too sometimes.

He opens the door and climbs out of the car allowing me a better view of the the new group home. It’s beautiful! I can’t believe that run down old house where we found Lilly is this now.

“What do you think?” Artemis asks when I slide out and stand next to him.

“It’s amazing!” I turn to him and throw my arms around his neck.

He chuckles and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Thank you for doing this. It’s beautiful.”

“Look at the name.” he whispers into my ear.

I look at the building again and see the words: *Blue Rhodes Home for Children*.

My eyes burn with tears, and I don’t try to stop them when they start to fall. I bury my face into Artemis’s neck and sob. He holds me while I cry and doesn’t rush me. When I am finally able to pully myself together, he releases me but keeps his hand on my lower back.

“Should we see inside?” He asks me and I nod excitedly.

I don’t see Dane or Bryant anymore so they must have taken Lilly inside already. Artemis leads me to the front door and as soon as we walk in, I’m hit with the sounds of kids laughing and playing in all different parts of the house. A few run past us and wave our way but don’t stop to talk.

“They all look so different.” I say mostly to myself.

“They went on a trip while we built this place and have been doing well since they’ve come home.”

“They’re doing really well!” Abigail walks out of one of the rooms.

“Hey! What are you doing here?” I ask her before she pulls me into a hug.

We both reach out and rub each other’s bellies and laugh.

“I’ve been working here getting new staff in and managing the day-to-day stuff. Alan’s helped a little too.” We move to the other side of me and leads us further into the building. “We have everything these kids could possibly need. Spacious bedrooms, bathrooms with multiply stalls and showers. Boys and girls of course, and they sleep on separate sides of the building for a little more privacy. The rooms each have a special code that only we and the resident children know. In case of an emergency or dangerous situation they are well protected. There are also many activity rooms, and rooms specifically for doing homework or getting help with homework. There is an amazing library with a section of computers that is monitored for safety.”

“Wow, you really went all out.” I say to them.

“So many of these kids have been waiting to be adopted so they could have a home, but most will age out before that happens. This way they have a home, and we won’t kick them out when they come of age.” Abigail explains.

“I will be building a separate complex for the kids who turn eighteen to stay in until they are able to purchase their own homes or apartments.” Artemis adds.

“This is amazing guys! I wish I could have been here to help. I’m so sorry.” I hate that they did all this on their own while I was lying in bed.

“This is all for you. When you’re ready you can manage it the way you want, and I’ll be here to help too. I realized that this work is far more important than starting another company from scratch. There is a lot we can do with these kids and many others.”

My heart is melting over this man. He’s done something so amazing that if I wasn’t already pregnant, I would want to have his babies. I love him more today than yesterday, and I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.