Eight months later...

Shaun rounded the corner into the kitchen. She loved the bright room even if it was dated. Her heart had an irregular rhythm at the sight of Josh in an impeccable suit, lifting his coffee cup to his mouth. He stopped midway.

"Are you okay?"

She smiled and nodded. Her pregnancy was still early, and a secret shared between the two of them. He looked at the Piaget her mother had given to him after their wedding. "Grant would have wanted you to have this. He is resting easy knowing she has you."

Josh lowered his mug and pursed his lips. "Where is she?"

"Putting on her shoes. We're not late."

He set his mug down and took two steps towards her. "Yet. What are you doing today?"

"Emma invited me over. I have some research to do."

The attic had become a bigger project than she ever intended. She considered using the treasure to start a museum or gallery. It was a long-term goal. In eight months, she wanted to be home with her newborn. In the meantime, she was busy creating a list of items with their pictures, descriptions and values. The task required time, and she suddenly had more of it.

"Here's our Kindergartener. Peanut, you look like a big girl."

Shaun looked at Tansy. Where had her baby gone?

Josh acted more excited than Tansy. "Time for a picture in front of the house and another at school."

Shaun let Josh play photographer. If he arranged to go to work late, he deserved to go all out. Tansy showing her teeth. Soon she'd lose her baby teeth. Shaun touched her flat abdomen to remind herself she was getting a redo. A redo with a husband who already loved their pea sized baby.

They drove two cars the short way to the school. Tansy had joined the pre-K class in January, but the first day of full-day kindergarten was a big deal. After another picture, they both kissed her. Josh stood behind Shaun with one hand on her hip and the other waving, along with Shaun, until Tansy disappeared into the school.

Once they reached the cars, Josh looked at her closely. "Are you alright?" She nodded. "Aren't tears natural?" She shrugged. He pecked her on the lips. "Let me know how her day went? I'll try not to be late."

Instead of walking from his old condo, he drove into work from their Wellesley home. It was perfectly situated between Dover and Waban.

She said, "Send me the pictures. I'll share them."

He nodded as he ducked into his car. "Include my mother."

Jill Roche had taken on the role of step-grandmother. Shaun enjoyed her in-laws. She and Josh invited them over to their house rather than visiting theirs and eating takeout.

When she arrived at Emma's, she and Daphne were in the yard. Emma was on her knees, picking weeds. She wobbled as she stood up. She was more pregnant than Shaun. Her children would be just two years apart. Josh wanted to tell Oliver, but Shaun wanted to wait. Her decision was hard, sitting in Emma's kitchen having tea.

Emma said, "Tell me everything. Did she cry?"

"She was excited."

"Did you?"

"Does misty count?"

Emma shook her head. "Did Josh?"

Shaun laughed. "He took pictures." She looked at her phone. Josh had texted them. "See."

Shaun smiled, looking at them.

"She's adorable. I'll cry the day Daphne goes to school."

"I'm going to forward them."

She sent a group text to her mother, Stella, Jill, Jimmy, Alicia, and Emma. Then she wrote a separate text and sent both pictures. It was too early for a response, but it made her feel better to include Tansy's father. He wasn't her daddy or her dad; Josh had assumed the role. One day, he and Tansy had gone for a ride. Jimmy had bought her a pony. They stopped at the stream and he asked if she wanted to call him daddy. She had been confused, because she remembered Eliot. Since then, she had been interchanging Dad and Dex. Josh had been a better dad than Eliot ever was. The thought made her happy and sad.

She gazed at her phone until Emma said her name. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and gave a half-hearted smile. "I sent pictures to my ex."

"Does Josh know?"

"He knows me. He wants to contact him to get permission to adopt her."

Emma smiled. "Tansy Roche. Do you think he will agree?"

"I'm afraid he won't, but also that he will. It hurts that he doesn't care. Knowing him, he'll agree for an investment. He knows who Josh is so..."

"If he signs, you'll be done with him."

With Josh as her husband, Shaun realized her first marriage never reached its potential.

"I'm not sure who would be happier, Jimmy or Josh."

"Definitely, Josh. Oliver is jealous of Josh. When he married me, he got Rex and Josh got Jimmy Sinclair."

Shaun laughed, but left shortly after she finished her tea. She spent her day on her laptop until it was time to get Tansy. The pick up line was long. Shaun tried to decide between mothers and nannies. Some were obvious, but others less so. Dressed in shorts and a tee shirt, some might think she was the nanny. She looked at her rings. Nannies might wear the rings Eliot gave her, but not Josh. Her band alone had more carats than her first diamond, never mind her engagement ring. He proposed by the stream where they had their first kiss.

Tansy came running out with a big smile. She hugged Shaun and started talking about cubbies and pencil boxes. Shaun missed half of what she said. It was a big difference from crying at daycare.

Josh came home and kissed both his girls. When he went upstairs to change, Shaun followed him. He smiled and kissed her more passionately. "How are my wife and baby?"

She chuckled. "Good, but she hasn't stopped talking. I, um... I sent the pictures to the douche. He didn't respond. I think we should ask."

He smiled. "Really? You're sure?"

She nodded. "I want him to say yes, but it will be his ultimate rejection. If he asks for money, have Jimmy get it from the trust, but don't tell me."

Josh nodded. "I love you. You made my dreams come true."

Shaun kissed him until she heard footsteps on the steps.

"Dad. Daddy. Where are you? I have a cubbie!"

Shaun laughed. "It's her favorite word. Pre-k had hooks."

"Stall her while I change. I ran into Ann today."

"And..."

"She saw my ring and said something about me getting what I wanted. I thought she didn't know how right she was."

"Dex, come on." She stood with her hand on her hip.

"In a minute Peanut, I have to change."

Shaun winked and led Tansy out of their bedroom. Shaun didn't know why she bid on the bachelor; she never expected to buy her husband. More importantly, Josh bet on her. He put all his chips on her to finally realize she needed him. Her bet was on him being the best husband and father ever.

As always thank you for your reads, votes and comments. You are all my friends and I love hearing from you. I tried to keep you from hating Ann because you'll see her again in the Publisher Series. Look for Romance of You currently updating.

The Publisher Series has some crossover with TP Next Gen Series.

First in TP Next Gen Series is Amazing Love Story.

See my profile page for a complete list of my stories.