A Bad Boy's Gift

Chapter 50

The next 24 hours went by smoothly, and telling the kids was by far the happiest moment we've been able to give them since Archer and I met again.

Molly was wild, as though we'd given her all the blue smarties out of the bag, dancing around the house and telling us she was practising for the dance floor. 

Hudson gave us both a hug, telling us both that he knew it was coming, he had managed to keep it a secret that Archer had asked his permission like he would have if our parents were still alive.

He went upstairs with Alfie soon after, leaving Archer and me to finish the last of the pizza. 

Molly playing on her switch in the living room allowing us to snuggle up and watch a film in the snug. 

We both go up to bed early, making sure we have a good night's sleep ready for the party. 

I wake with my alarm at 08:00, turning it off and seeing my ring glinting in the sunlight. I look at it for a few minutes, simply feeling the elation that comes with it. 

"I'm glad you're awake, I've been watching you sleep for nearly two hours," Archer says, running his hand along my side. 

"Two hours? You've been up since 06:00?" I ask, turning to face him. 

"Yeah, it's an important morning," he says before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. 

"You get to meet Lucy," I state, knowing that's the reason he is anxious.

"We, get to meet her." He emphasizes the we, reminding me that we now come as a unit. 

I smile at him as he rolls out of bed to go to the bathroom. 

I choose my clothes from my walk-in wardrobe and place them on the bed after I put the covers back in place. I open the curtains and look out over the back garden, seeing sheep in the first field and cows in a field further into the horizon. I can tell the weather is going to prove to be a lovely hot day, the sun shining already, a shadow over the patio from the house. 

Archer comes out of the bathroom, his wet hair still glistening from the shower. 

I take my turn, go through my face care and just dry my roots again, leaving my hair to dry naturally for the natural curls to come out. 

I put my jean shorts and plain tee-shirt on and make my way downstairs where I can smell bacon cooking. I stand in the doorway watching Archer at the oven flipping pancakes. 

"Well, aren't you domesticated?" I lean against the door frame, biting my lip.

"Anything for my future wife," he smiles, sliding the pancake onto a plate he produced from the oven, and then putting the plate back in to keep the pancakes warm. "Although, I am making them for everyone," he says sheepishly. 

"Good, it's Hudson's party day anyway. Don't want him missing out, and we all know pancakes are the way to Molly's heart," I say as she comes bounding into the kitchen, still in her pyjamas. 

We eat our pancakes while talking about the day ahead. 

"Hudson, Lucy is coming early to meet Archer, so you can greet her when she gets here then I'd like you to go find something to do for a while before everyone comes," I inform him. 

"Okay, what time is she coming?" He asks, before stuffing more pancake in his mouth. 

"She's coming at 10:00, you and Alfie could go for a run if you'd like?" I offer, knowing I have decorations to put up and his cake to finish decorating, so could do with him being out of the way.