She Is Where The Sun Shines

Chapter 13

A/N: Unedited

Heaven Hartwell

I scheduled a doctors appointment, I made a note to call my office headquarters tomorrow, I braided Laila's hair up and fed her dinner after her nap, and now we're watching Tarzan, well sort of. She's mostly running around but every once in a while she'll come and stare at the cartoon for a minute.

My phone rang and I answered absentmindedly. "Hello?"

"Hey Heaven." It was Christiana, Kyle's sister.

I tensed. I wondered if Kyle told her about the baby yet. Knowing how close they are, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. They usually talk about everything, that's just the way his family works. They all actually care about one another and are involved in each other's lives. And I admire that so much. But I'm not sure if I'm really ready to talk about my pregnancy with them yet.

"Hey..." I said in an oddly high pitched voice.

"Ok so I was wondering if you'd want to go dress shopping with mom and I tomorrow. Linsey is busy, I'm regretting making her my maid of honor."

Instant relief washed over me. "I'd absolutely love to." I smiled excitedly. I'd never been wedding dress shopping before. I've never even been to a wedding other than Kyle and mine. My parents never got married and during my childhood, I didn't have any stable adult figures in my life, let alone ones that wished to spend the rest of their life with one another.

Just then Laila ran into the living room.

My shoulder sunk. "But I'm taking care of my niece this week."

"Well that's fine," she chirped. "You can just bring her along, right? It'll only be a few hours. I've done a lot of planning so I have more than enough time to find the perfect dress, there's no rush."

"Okay." I beamed, excited once again just like that. "I wouldn't miss it for the world then."

"Great, thank you so much. I'll text you the address. We're going to try to meet around one."

"Of course no problem. See you tomorrow." We hung up as Kyle walked through the front door. At six in the evening. The usual time he gets home. "Hey love," I smiled. I watched him as he took off his shoes at the door.

I was excited to see him. My heart even sped up a little as it always did for no good reason. But I took in his weary posture and the lack of his usual bubbly energy. Kyle's natural aura is this incredibly uplifting spirit that can like literally brighten a room. And I can tell with very little effort that that Kyle isn't the same one walking into the living room.

He came and dropped down on the couch next to me. "I'm so tired." He frowned, resting his head on the back of the couch.

Laila sat on the floor, playing with her toys and watching Tarzan. She didn't pay him any mind. He didn't say anything to her.

Kyle West also known as The Godfather to any child has barely given Laila the slightest glance today. That's the same man who freaking cried when he found out he was going to be a dad. The same man that has an amazing relationship with his niece. The same man that wanted to hug Laila his first time meeting her in the grocery store.

Kyle isn't himself. And I'm afraid that I might not be what he needs to get back there. I might just be the exact opposite. This is my fault after all. What if I can never be what he needs because I'm literally carrying the problem in me?

I crawled to him and sat so I was facing him. I loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt. Then I ran my fingers through his hair. "I thought you were going to the gym?" I asked simply.