Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

10. Une Bebé

~Tori~

"Are you all set to go?" Tanner asked from the door to our bedroom, smoothing his tie down. He was wearing a slim fit black suit and his shoes looked freshly shined. I wore a black dress that fell to my knees with a white collar.

"I look like a maid." I said, placing my hairbrush on the vanity table with force.

"You look beautiful." Tanner said, coming up behind me. He pulled my hair so that it fell evenly down my back. "You're hair is getting long again." It had been two months since I agreed that Tanner and I would raise my baby together and close to six months since we have arrived in France and I was massive. My stomach protruded so far that I hadn't seen my feet in months and I felt hot and heavy all the time. Today, Tanner had convinced me to go out for dinner as my due date was approaching and I wouldn't be able to go out after the baby came.

"I know, I should get it cut before..."

"Tor, quit making lists, just relax. Everything will fall into place."

"That's not how this works." I said, exasperated with Tanner's relaxed attitude. We were bringing a new human into the world in mere days and he still acted as if it weren't the most meaningful thing we'd ever do. "Lists are important."

"Okay, you're right, but just for tonight, can you put your checklists away and relax? Please. It's not healthy for you or the baby to be this stressed." I sighed and nodded.

"Sure, could you grab my black oxfords from the shoe rack?" He nodded and pressed a kiss to my cheek then crossed the room to the closet. He emerged with the right shoes and I stood, smoothing my dress. "Let's go."

When we arrived at the restaurant, a beautiful, fancy French bistro, Tanner helped me down into my chair and asked the waiter to bring us a pitcher of water before anything else. He reached across the table and took my hand, stroking it with his thumb while he browsed the menu.

"Do you know what you'll have?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Surprise me." I said, watching his eyes dart across the paper attached to a thick leather bound board.

"Are you feeling ok? You look pale, Tor."

"I'm fine, I'm just...I don't know, don't mind me." Smiling, I sipped the water that the waiter had placed on the table moments before. A little later, as our meals came, I saw Tanner eyeing me suspiciously. I prodded my food, but hardly ate a bite.

"You were saying earlier that you have a meeting tomorrow?"

"Oh, yea a meeting in Paris at the car dealership to pick up the truck."

"Ah, that's perfect timing."

"Did you want to keep the car or sell it?" He asked and I swallowed a strange swell panic rising in my chest. "Tori?"

"Uh, maybe keep it, it might be good to have two cars, especially if we move soon."

"Sure," He said as he finished his food. "Not hungry?"

"I'm actually feeling quite strange..." I began and he nodded.

"Alright, we'll go home, but first..." He reached across the table again and took my hand. "I know we've talked about me being a part of the baby's life, but I wanted to do this before he...or she, gets here." He cleared his throat and I narrowed my eyes. "Tori I've loved you since I laid eyes on you and I'm not exaggerating in the slightest. I only hope that I can do right by you and the baby and I promise to take care of you from this moment to the end, but I want to make it official." He stood, then knelt to one knee, fishing a small velvet box from his jacket pocket, then cracked it open revealing a massive diamond surrounded by smaller ones covering the entire band. "Will you marry me?"As I looked from Tanner to the ring and back I felt a sharp cramp in my abdomen then wetness trickle down my leg. I hadn't realized That I had clambered to my feet and was standing, towering over him.

"Tanner..." I said, and I watched as panic spread over his features. He closed the box and stood with me.

"IT's okay, if you're not ready to make that kind of commitment, I-"

"Tanner, I think I'm..." I looked down and my eyes widened as I was overcome with fear.

"What?" He asked his gaze following mine to the floor.

"My water just broke." I said in a hoarse whisper.

"Oh my god..." he looked around quickly. "Go, go out to the car go." He urged, ushering me out. We stopped at the hostess stand where our waiter stood, confused.

"She...uhh, she is having une bebé." Tanner practically screamed, mimicking the action of rocking a baby back and forth in his arms. The waiter nodded, obviously understanding, then helped by opening the door. Tanner slammed two hundred-euro bank notes on the counter and led me out the door to the car. When he had settled me into the passenger seat he turned to look at me, watching tears streak my cheeks.

"We're having a baby," I said, half laughing, half crying and he nodded, starting the car. "And Tanner..." I said and he turned, "The answer is yes, of course I will marry you." A smile cracked across his face and he leaned across the console to kiss me. "Now get me to a hospital, I'm so ready to meet this little bugger."