The Wandering Caravan (Forever and Always #8) Read online

  Christmas was just as depressing as Christmas Eve. Cortland tried to cheer Scarlet up with jokes but she only chuckled. I rubbed her back and lathered her with kisses, but nothing I did could take her pain away. I finally accepted the loss of Ryan. If he wasn’t coming back knowing she was pregnant, he was never coming back.

  We sat down in front of the tree and exchanged gifts. Ryan’s pile remained untouched.

  A knock on the door made us all flinch. I immediately assumed it was my parents.

  Scarlet did too. “I’m not in the mood to deal with your mother.”

  Neither was I. “I’ll tell her to leave.”

  “Thank you,” Scarlet said.

  I walked to the door and opened it, immediately feeling the chilly wind. Our lawn was covered in snow. Even our grand fireplace couldn’t keep the cold away.

  When I saw Ryan standing in front of me, holding a bag of gifts, I froze. Janice stood beside him, smiling.

  Ryan and I didn’t speak for several seconds. I didn’t expect him to show up here, becoming a Christmas miracle.

  “Can we come in?” he asked.

  “Of course.” I opened the door and let them walk inside.

  When Scarlet saw Ryan, her eyes immediately poured with tears. She jumped off the couch then ran to him, hugging him like she would never let go. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m sorry too.”

  “I love you. I would never hurt you on purpose.”

  “I know,” he whispered.

  She cried into his shoulder, holding him tightly. “Thank you for coming.”

  He kissed her forehead then held her close. The rest of us backed off so they would have some privacy.

  Ryan placed his hand on her stomach. “I heard you got knocked up.” A smirk was on his lips.

  She chuckled and cried at the same time. “I did. I’m a slut.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ryan and Scarlet sat on the couch, directly next to each other. She held his hand and laid her head on his shoulder. It made my night to see how happy my wife was. Now we were back to the way we used to be.

  “So, I’m going to be an uncle?” Ryan asked.

  “The best one in the world,” she said.

  “You’re pregnant?” Cortland asked.

  She nodded. “I’m not just fat.”

  Monnique clapped her hands excitedly. “I’m so happy for your guys.”

  Everyone moved in and hugged Scarlet, making it into a group hug.

  She started to cry again. “I’m so happy. My emotions make me all over the place, but I know I’m happy right now.”

  Ryan stared at her fondly. “Do happy people always cry?”

  “Shut up.” She squeezed him tightly.

  “Still a brat, I see.”

  “God, I miss hearing you call me that.”

  He smiled. “Now I’m going to tease you like crazy since you love it so much.”

  “Please do.”

  His eyes softened. “I’m sorry about everything.”

  “Let’s just forget about it,” she said with a sigh. “I’m happy.”

  “I am too.”

  I watched Scarlet stick to Ryan like the moon to the Earth. I wanted her in my arms but I was content watching the happiness on her face. Perhaps I wasn’t a piece of shit husband after all. She was happy, and now I was happy.

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