Holding On Read Online Free

that were beyond his control. The thoughts overwhelmed him.
    To make matters worse, ever since he’d found out about the baby the one person he wanted to tell was his mother, and he couldn’t. He’d felt the same way when he’d earned his Ph.D., when he’d gotten married, each milestone marking her absence. This one seemed bigger than all the others. As much as he already felt like Ella’s father, this was different. This time he was the father from the very start. What if I’m not good at it? He’d never had a father of his own. The closest he’d come to a male role model was his graduate advisor, Arnold Jenkins.
    Daniel consoled himself with the thought that all men worried about one thing or another when they were expecting a child. He tried to clear his head then decided to stop fighting his own thoughts. He opened a new document and began to type.

Chapter Three

    Marienne leaned over the bathroom sink to splash water on her face. Her belly bumped against the cool edge of the tile. She smiled, scrubbing face wash onto her forehead. Pretty soon I’ll have to stand a foot away from the sink. I’m getting round much faster this time. She bent closer to the sink, feeling water run down to her elbows as she rinsed. She glanced up into the mirror and saw Daniel staring at her reflection as he brushed his teeth.
    He gave her a toothpasty grin and spit into his sink, his eyes returning to her mirror image.
    She turned the water off and reached for a towel. “Are you staring at my boobs in the mirror?”
    Daniel’s grin became even broader. “It’s hard not to. They’re magnificent.”
    Marienne looked down and laughed. She was practically bursting out of her bra. “It’s just the pregnancy, you know. They’ll go back down after.”
    “I know, I remember from last time. Though your version of down is still pretty fantastic.”
    Marienne paused, mascara wand mid air. “You remember from last time?”
    He wiped his mouth on his towel, revealing an impish smile. “Vividly.”
    Marienne was surprised. When she was pregnant with Ella, she had no idea Daniel had ever thought of her that way. “I didn’t know you noticed.”
    Daniel stepped behind her, slipping his arms around her. “Where your breasts are concerned you should go on the assumption that all men notice.” He cupped his hands beneath them and kissed her neck.
    She could feel him hard against her butt. She leaned back into him. “Mmmm, it feels good when you hold them up. They’re getting heavy. It makes my upper back ache.” She rubbed her shoulders against his chest.
    “Well I’d be happy to walk around behind you all day, holding them. I wonder if I could pass that off as part of the Family Medical Leave act. Should certainly count as personal time. It would be difficult to do while driving….”
    Marienne turned in his arms. Her belly grazed against him, separating them. He moved his hands to what was left of her waist, his thumbs caressing the sides of her bulging tummy. His face bent to hers. His lips were cool and minty. He trailed his nose down her neck, his silky hair tickling her breasts as he kissed his way down to her pregnant bump. Just as his mouth pressed against her tummy, the baby kicked.
    “Oh my God.” Daniel straightened up, his eyes full of wonder. His hand went to the spot where his lips had been. The baby fluttered again. “Is that?”
    Marienne nodded. She placed her hand on top of his, holding it tighter to her. She felt the baby shift again then settle.
    “Did you feel Ella move this early?”
    “Yes, but not so much. This one’s been at it since I got up to pee at five o’clock. Until you woke up, then I guess it was naptime. I’m so glad you felt it.”
    Daniel smoothed his hand over her belly. “Have I mentioned how happy you make me?”
    “Nope.” She shook her head.
    “I’m….” He paused. “You know, I don’t think words can do this justice.”
    “ You are at a loss for words?”
    “I’m