The Secrets That Bind Us

Chapter 25

BROOKE POV

It’s been a month since I got out of the hospital and a lot has changed. I haven’t heard from my mom or Georgia since I came home but that’s no surprise. Joey has been the most supportive boyfriend I could ask for. He brings me food and makes sure I’m staying well rested. He keeps me company and spends time with me. He makes me happy and I can honestly say I love him.

I’ve decided to take a year off from college while I rest and have the baby and then Ellen has offered to take him for me while I’m busy when I’m ready to go back. Joey has just got his degree in engineering and has been job hunting. I’m so lucky to have this amazing support system.

I hear the front door and Joey goes into Nate’s old bedroom before coming into the bedroom. He’s been spending a lot of time in there lately but just keeps telling me it’s a surprise. I did warn him I will be super pissed if he’s watching the vampire diaries without me again. Nate has also been here a lot helping him, and all of the Anderson siblings have made an appearance and went in there too. I’m starting to think he’s got some sort of secret man cave going on.

He walks into the room and looks handsome as ever in his dress pants and shirt. I smile up at him, “how was your interview” he looks down but quickly covers it with a smile, “yeah, um, it was okay.” Before I can say anything he hurries over the bed excitedly and grabs my hands, gently pulling me with him. “enough about that, I just bought the final thing I needed for my surprise to be complete. Follow me” I can’t help but mirror his ear to ear grin as he leads me into the spare bedroom, with one hand covering my eyes and the other steadying me and making sure I don’t trip.

When we enter the room he slowly moves his hand away and the smile on his face is replaced by nerves. “surprise” I take in my surroundings and can’t help the tears that spring to my eyes. Joey looks nervous, “oh no you wanted to do it didn’t you? I’m sorry it thought it was a good idea. Just tell me what you want to change and I can change it.” He’s rambling. I place my hands on both his cheeks, “I love it baby, thank you so much” his grin is firmly back in place.

Nate’s plain old bedroom has been transformed. The once grey walls are all now a shade of baby blue, except for one. There is a bookshelf with lots of different stories in it. Dark blue black out curtains coating the window. A white crib with baby blue bedding. A rocking chair in between the bookshelf and the window. And a small white wardrobe on the other side of the room. I notice the wall that isn’t baby blue is a light grey, but it’s a mural wall, it has all of different characters from winnie the pooh on it.

I look at Joey in awe, “how? How did you do all of this?” I ask, “well I can’t take all the credit, Nate, Parker and Chloe helped me paint. Mia and Cole helped me build furniture and Grace picked out the books and did the feature wall. I just picked up this cute little elephant though on my way home and it was just what I was looking for to go in the crib.” I can’t stop the tears. “you’re amazing, you all are thank you so much.” I wrap my arms around my neck and hug the thoughtful man beside me.
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“How did Grace do that wall it is amazing” I ask later on when we are lying in bed. “She’s always been an amazing drawer, she stopped drawing a while a go but I blackmailed her with the whole ‘it’s your first nephew, I’m your favorite brother, please and I will buy you whatever you want’ that kind of stuff. Although she did just want some dusty old book that I found online for next to nothing so I think she enjoyed it really.” I laugh and shake my head at him, “she’s so talented. And it was so thoughtful of you. Our baby is really lucky to have you as his dad”

He smiles down at me and pulls me into his embrace and plants a soft kiss on my head, “get some sleep baby, I love you” I smile contently, “I love you too” I mutter before my eyes flutter shut and I fall into a peaceful sleep.