Sweetheart Series I: The Politician's Wife

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXV

-KASSIE-

"I think I'm one of the happiest people in the universe!" Mama Merriam cheered, her eyes sparkling with joy. "I still can't believe that you kept it a secret!"

"It was my idea, Mommy," I replied, a grin spreading across my face. "I wanted to wait until I finished my first trimester."

"Don't worry, Ma," Richard chimed in, a teasing lilt in his voice. "She also kept it a secret from me at first." He chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.

I turned to glare at my husband, my pout making it clear that I was slightly annoyed. "Yeah! I wanted to tell you that over the phone..." I began, but my voice softened as I added, "But since I wanted to see your reaction, I waited until you returned home."

Richard's smile was infectious as he leaned down to plant a gentle kiss on my forehead. The warmth of his affection made my heart flutter.

"Well, if you'd told me over the phone, I think I would have rushed my way home," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Because I'd rather stay home with my pregnant wife than attend meetings."

I felt my cheeks flush at his words, warmth spreading through me as I absorbed the depth of his affection.

"If that's the case, then it would be better if you just assume the position as our company's CEO," Mama Merriam quipped, a playful smirk on her face.

"Let us please not talk about that, Ma," Richard replied, his tone slightly more serious. I could sense the tension simmering beneath the surface, a silent acknowledgement of their complicated relationship.

Not wanting to dwell on the topic any longer, I quickly jumped in to divert their attention.

"I think we should try the food," I suggested, my stomach growling slightly. "I feel a little famished."

After excusing ourselves, Richard accompanied me to the buffet table. He volunteered to hold the plate while I tried to think of what I wanted to eat. Truth be told, I wasn't feeling particularly hungry; I had only said that earlier to avoid a clash between Richard and Mom.

As I glanced at him, I noticed he seemed a little out of sorts, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"The food I want to eat is not here," I said, trying to lighten the mood. When our eyes met, he took a deep breath and flashed a small smile.

"Hmm... why? What does my beautiful wife want to eat?" he asked sweetly, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to plant a soft kiss on the top of my head. I loved when he did that. It made me feel closer to him, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace.

"I think I want some peanut butter sandwich," I replied, and he chuckled, clearly amused.

"If that's what my beautiful wife wants, then I'd be willing to make one for her," he said, his smile brightening.

"I want two!" I declared playfully, a grin spreading across my face.

"Shall we leave the guests and have a party of our own in our kitchen?" he suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The idea was tempting. A quiet moment with just the two of us sounded perfect, but I knew we had guests to attend to. As much as I wanted to lie down on the bed, I decided it was better to stay while he took a break from the party. After all, we were the highlight of this gathering, and at least one of us should be present.

At first, he disagreed, but I insisted, and when his phone rang, it gave him the perfect opportunity.

"I'll just take this call, and I'll be back with your sandwich," he said, and I nodded, watching him walk away.

As I turned toward the table where my friends were gathered, I heard Lauren's voice. "And once again, Kassie made her way to the article headlines." She held up her phone, showing me an e-article that had been published online: The Governor and His Wife Are Expecting a Child!

I let out a deep breath and flashed a smile. I was starting to get used to seeing articles about our private life published, but I couldn't deny that I sometimes wished they would stop.

The constant scrutiny from the public was one of the downsides of marrying an influential man like Richard, but I never voiced my frustrations because I understood it came with the territory.

"I'm surprised you manage to endure the paparazzi," she added, tilting her head in sympathy.

"I honestly have a hard time dealing with them, but I still try to understand that it's part of my husband's job," I replied, trying to brush it off.

"It must be stressful for you, Kass," Tina chimed in. "And you should stay away from things like those, especially now that you're pregnant."

"Richard and I already talked about that," I said with a smile, feeling a sense of reassurance.

"That's good," she replied, returning my smile. "By the way, where's your husband?"

"He's in the kitchen, making some peanut butter sandwiches because I was craving it," I answered, and they chuckled.

"I've been in that stage, and it's honestly the most difficult for my husband and me," Lauren said.

"I was really picky and sensitive to the smell of spices." She laughed, and I joined in, feeling a wave of camaraderie wash over us.

In that moment, surrounded by my friends, I felt grateful for the support and love we had cultivated. It reminded me that even with the chaos that came with Richard's job, I had a solid foundation to lean on as we prepared to embark on this new journey together.

-RICHARD-

After the party, we finally made our way home, both of us still riding the high of the evening's celebrations. As usual, we ended up snuggled in bed, the soft sheets cocooning us in a comfortable embrace.

I wrapped my arms around Kassie from behind, feeling the warmth of her body against mine, and instinctively began caressing her belly. It was still surreal to think about how just a week ago we found out we were having a baby boy.

The realization brought a wave of joy that settled deep in my chest. I planted soft kisses along her nape, savoring the sweet, floral scent of her hair. Each kiss felt like a silent promise, a way to convey all the love I felt for her and the little life we were creating together.

"Can you believe we're going to be parents?" I murmured, my lips brushing against her skin.

"I still can't wrap my head around it," she replied softly, her voice a mix of excitement and wonder. I could feel her smile even though I couldn't see her face.

I tightened my embrace, wanting to shield her from any worries. "I'm going to be the best father, Kassie. I promise."

Her laughter, light and melodic, filled the room. "You already are, Richard. Just being here with me is enough."

Her words warmed me, but I knew I wanted to do more. I wanted to be there for every moment, every milestone, and every challenge that parenthood would throw our way. The thought of our son growing up surrounded by love made my heart swell. I imagined the future: playing catch in the backyard, teaching him how to ride a bike, and sharing stories that would bond us even tighter.

As I continued to kiss her neck, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I was. Kassie was everything I could have hoped for in a partner—strong, loving, and fiercely dedicated. I had once feared the idea of being a husband, let alone a father, but now I couldn't imagine my life without her by my side.