A Ghost Encounter: My Time with Simon "Ghost" Riley

Part One Hundred: A Pursuit Of Happiness

Considering the late period and the alcohol, I figured I'd play it safe and take a pregnancy test. When the test came back positive I almost had a panic attack, not because I didn't want a baby, but because I didn't know if I'd be a good mom...and I wasn't sure if Simon wanted to be a dad.

So I had to be absolutely certain that I was pregnant. I went straight to Urgent Care and had them run a test. Turns out I was, in fact, pregnant.

I was so scared. Me? A mom?

I had told Simon that I needed to grab something from the store and that's why I had left. When I got back home, being as intuitive as he is, he noticed I didn't have anything with me.

...

"I thought you went to the store. You didn't get anything?" Simon asks incredulously.

I freeze and remain silent. My dumbass forgot to bring something back with me...

Simon immediately grows concerned, walks up to me, and holds my hand. "What's wrong?"

"Simon...I'm-" My jaw tenses and my throat bobs.

"Hey." He lifts my chin with his hand so he can look into my eyes. "What's the matter, sweetheart?"

"I'm..." I pause, struggling to find the words. So instead I hand him the results of the pregnancy test.

It takes him a minute to register what his eyes are seeing. Simon looks up at me, down at the test, and then back at me again with eyes wide and a mouth slightly gaped.

And then he starts crying.

"Simon, I'm so sorry," I say breathlessly as I feel the tears coming. "I can make an appointment and-"

Before I can finish my sentence Simon hugs me tightly. He pulls away from the hug, squats, and kisses my belly.

I couldn't stop the tears that came after that.

"I'm..." His voice breaks and he takes a steadying breath. "I'm going to be a dad," he says joyously and it made my heart ache.

"Yes," I laugh happily through my tears.

Simon jumps to his feet, grabs my face between his hands, and kisses me so deeply.

...

Simon was an absolute dream throughout the pregnancy: always so attentive and caring. At all my requests, Simon completed them with grace and absolute servitude.

I once—maybe a handful of times if I'm being honest—had Simon get me pickles and honey at three in the morning after we had run out.

What? It was my favorite pregnancy craving...

There were only two people in the room with me when I gave birth: Simon and Laswell.

Poor Price, Gaz, König, and Captain Winters waited anxiously in the lobby.

After giving birth and looking into my daughter's eyes—eyes that shine like my sisters—I knew what to name her.

The rest of our family, the Task Force, entered the room after I delivered Sarah and I instantly knew how loved she was.

If only Soap could have been there. If only he could have met his niece.

Even though he's gone, Soap will always be a part of our lives and when Sarah is old enough, I'm going to tell her all about her fearless and hilarious uncle Soap.

"Who's hungry?" I smile at everyone. At my family.

Although I lost my family of origin, although this family isn't bound by blood, we're bound by something much stronger: love and the utmost respect.

"Me!" Price chuckles as he takes Sarah from Laswell.

Laswell pierces him with an annoyed look.

"You have to share, Laswell," Price huffs and tickles Sarah's belly, which makes her giggle oh so preciously.

"Me next." König says eagerly and we all take our seats around the dining table.

"Riley. Sit," Simon commands, and our German Shepherd takes a seat on the floor near him.

Simon trained Riley himself and Riley absolutely adores Simon.

Although he won't always admit it, Simon is a big softy when it comes to Riley.

Simon always says, "Don't give him human food" or "Don't let him do that" but as soon as I turn around Simon's giving him a piece of bacon or letting Riley sleep in the bed...

But I don't mind. It makes me happy that Simon has a friend and companion. They do almost everything together from going on runs to training at the dog park.

"Ahh," Sarah starts fussing.

"Someone's hungry," Price says, smiling, and hands Sarah to me.

"Come here, mamas." I grab my sweet angel and breastfeed her under my nursing cover.

"You'll be doing that later, too." Gaz suggestively winks at Simon and playfully nudges him with an elbow.

"Knock it off, Garrick." Simon nudges Gaz back, hard, but then they both burst out laughing.

"Idiots," Laswell scoffs, rolling her eyes, and then everyone bursts out laughing.

My thoughts exactly...haha. But I love those idiots.

As I look around the table, at my family eating and laughing, I'm filled with an overwhelming amount of happiness. I never thought I'd find this family, that I'd find Simon, or that I'd ever be this happy.

Because I chose to be happy, and because I chose my own path, I have this beautiful life in front of me and I'm going to spend the rest of my days cherishing and nurturing this life that I love so deeply.

I don't know what the future holds but I know that with Simon, Sarah, and Riley by my side everything will be okay, and even if it isn't, we'll get through whatever comes together.

Always together.