Coupled Betrayal

Epilogue

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Now

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"Ow!" I yelped as he pulled my hair.

"I'm so sorry," he said, letting the hair go as if it burned his fingers.

Claude fell on the bed with a thud.

"I'll never learn how to do it," he grumbled.

"You have three months, according to the doctor." I cupped my growing belly. "And, the baby's hair will need to grow before you can even braid it. And, the baby could be a boy."

"She's a girl. I know she is."

Claude claimed he had a dream the night of our wedding of me with a baby girl in my arms. He thought himself a fortune teller.

I laid down beside him and ran my fingers through his hair, "You will eventually learn."

"Hopefully." He paused for a few seconds. "What name would you like for our daughter?"

"Or son," I added before continuing, "I've always liked Olivia. I suppose it could be Oliver if the baby is a boy."

"Olivia is a pretty name."

"What are your ideas?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes in the fight to remain awake.

"My first one was terrible. I was considering Elizabeth, but we cannot name our daughter that."

"Why ever not? Elizabeth is a perfectly fine name." My eyes began to close for seconds at a time.

"Everyone has it. Half your cousins are named Elizabeth," he complained, "I now much prefer Olivia."

I laughed, and we settled on Olivia as a placeholder.

"Should I turn off the lights?" Claude asked.

"Yes, please," I murmured as he stood up to turn off the gas light. I felt the bed dip under his weight as he pulled me close, and I nestled against his warmth.

"I love you." He kissed the back of my head.

"I love you, too."