chapter 1

Despite Stanley's assurance that there was no need for Lauren to feel guilty about the way she told him of peanut's existence, Lauren sort of felt the need to make it up to him. This was Stanley's first time in experiencing fatherhood and she wanted to make each and every moment special. 

Stanley walked out of the bathroom in his usual nighttime attire. (his sweat pants and no shirt on)

He smiled when he saw Wrenny standing in front of her dressing table. Though she was deep in thought, she had a proud smile on her face and was caressing her three months old bump. Something she had grown so fond of lately. 

Stan bridged the gap between himself and the love of his life, he circled his arms around her waist and kissed her right shoulder, bringing her out of her thoughts. 

"What are you thinking about my love?" He whispered. 

Lauren turned around to face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck. 

"I was silently thanking God for blessing me. I don't think I've ever been this happy."

"I'm grateful for my mom and sister, I'm grateful for your family who treats me like I'm their flesh and blood. I'm grateful to God for having an amazing man like you and I'm more grateful for peanut who is growing well and healthy."

"Today marks the end of my first trimester which is such a relief because it means peanut is out of any danger whatsoever."

"And very soon, we are going to find out the gender of our little miracle. I'm so overwhelmed. I pray nothing takes away our joy."

Stanley cupped her face. "We both had horrible pasts and I think the hour for our happily ever after is here. Nothing will take away our joy." He assured. 

"Never have I been this happy and I'm grateful to God for blessing me with you and Peanut."

Lauren smiled, "I love you, Stan."

"I love you more than you can ever imagine, babe." He kissed her forehead. 

Then he crouched down to Wrenny's bump, raised her shirt a little and placed a kiss on it. "I love you my jewel."

Stanley never fails to talk to peanut at every opportunity. Lauren had no doubt that their baby would get familiar with Stanley's voice first. Whether peanut was going to be a boy or a girl, she could see it and Stanley forming a very strong bond. 

"I have something to show you babe" Lauren announced. 

"Sure, what is it or should I say where is it?" Stan asked, slightly excited. 

"Come with me." She connected her hand with his and led him out of their bedroom. 

Stanley's lips curved into a small smile as soon as he noticed they were walking in the direction of Peanut's nursery. He wondered what she wanted to show him. But whatever it might be, he was sure he was going to love it. 

They both came to a halt when they got to the front of peanut's room. 

Stanley noticed a blue and Pink ribbon was attached to the door handle. A folded paper was also attached to the ribbon. 

"When did this get here? I don't think I noticed it when coming upstairs." He asked with a quirked eyebrow, a small smile playing on his lips. 

Lauren innocently shrugged. 

She and Stan's room was just a few steps away from peanut's room. There was no way they could get to their room without noticing peanut's nursery which was opposite theirs. 

"Maybe you should open the paper. Only then will we have a clue what all of this is about." She encouraged. 

Stanley took a step forward and carefully untangled the note from the ribbon. 

He looked at Lauren after accessing the neatly folded paper. 

Lauren replied him with a positive nod, encouraging him to open the paper and perhaps read what's in there. 

"Hi Daddy, Thank you for showering me with so much love. I love the way you talk and sing to me every morning and very late at night. Thank you for always making mommy eat yummy food, I love them so much and they help me grow. I don't know yet if I'm a boy or a girl but I love you so much Daddy and you will always be my superhero. I promise to always shower your face with my kisses when I come out of mommy's belly."

"Oh, Mommy showed me all the surprise gifts you bought for me. I can't wait to wear and play with them. Thank you, Daddy, for everything you do for me and mommy, we are soooooo blessed to have you in our lives. I'll be waiting for you to sing me a song tonight but for the meantime, enjoy the surprise mommy put together on my behalf. I love you so much, Dada!!!! Peanut Chatwin." Stanley read aloud with a proud smile on his face. 

"This is one of the cutest things I've ever experienced. I'm never throwing this paper away and I hope to read more letters from peanut. Thank you for always putting smiles on my face." He placed a kiss on Lauren's lips. 

She grinned. "You're welcome."

"So does that mean you were always pretending to be asleep whenever I sing or talk to peanut in the morning or at night?"

Wrenny blushed, "Not really. Sometimes I overhear you in my dreams and other times, I pretend to be asleep and just enjoy the moment." She confessed. 

"Do you mind going in first?" She pointed towards Peanut's door. 

Stan nodded before connecting his hand to the door handle. The room was dark so he located the switch and turned on the light. 

He stood still as soon as he took in his surroundings. 

Peanut's nursery was no longer empty as it used to be because Stanley and Lauren have started buying stuff for their little miracle. 

Lauren was able to put up a "Happy Fathers Day" balloon decoration on one side of the wall, She turned the end right corner of peanut's room to a small gift corner which was bombarded with a few presents and lastly, She managed to arrange for a small movie date in the nursery. She also made provisions for her and Stanley's favourite snacks and drinks. 

"What will I do without you Wrenny?" Stan whispered, trying to hold back happy tears. 

Lauren smiled, "The same thing I usually ask myself. My life will be meaningless without you or peanut."

"But you know Father's Day was last week right?" He asked as he circled his arms around her waist. 

"Yes, I know. Last week turned out to be very busy for us and even though I had wanted to surprise you with something, I had no idea what to do. So thanks to peanut for giving me the inspiration to do all of these for you. Besides, you're our superhero and we don't have to wait until every Father's Day to celebrate you."

Stanley caressed Lauren's face. "I don't know how but the love I have for you multiply every single day."

"The same applies to me. I think it's because we are destined for each other and our love is nothing but pure and true. Who would have thought my happiness lies in the hands of my Boss."

"And who would have thought an amazing young woman called Lauren would walk into my office for an interview and sweep me off my feet?"

Wrenny giggled. "You were quite intimidating on that day."

Stanley laughed. "If only you knew how my heart was racing and what was going on in my head on that day."

"I love you so much, Stanley!"

"And I love you more babe." He gave her a passionate kiss. 

"Time to give you your presents and then we will settle down for our movie, " Lauren announced, pulling Stanley towards the small gift corner. She settled on the carpet and he sat beside her. 

"Start with this." She handed him a small gift bag. 

"Thank you!" he mumbled as he accepted the bag and reached for the item in it. 

Stanley pulled out was a beautifully designed frame that has peanut's sonogram of their last appointment. And beneath the frame was a cursively engraved word. "Daddy's little miracle."

Lauren smiled as she wiped a tear that unintentionally rolled down Stanley's cheek. 

"This is beautiful. Do you mind if it stays in my office?" He asked her. 

Lauren nodded. "I don't mind. There's a spare one. We will put that on our nightstand." She answered as she ran her fingers through his hair. 

Stan leaned closer to the love of his life and kissed her forehead. 

In the next gift bag Lauren handed to Stanley, he found three pairs of black T-shirts with the design 'World best Dad, Peanut loves Dada and Daddy is my superhero' prints on them. There was also a beautifully designed "I love dada" mug. 

"I love them. Thanks!" He smiled at Lauren. "I'm going to wear this one tomorrow." he gestured to the Tee that had 'Peanut loves Dada' design. 

Lauren looked at Stan as if he had grown two heads. 

"Tomorrow is Tuesday and you have a meeting." She reminded. 

"I know. I'm taking a break from corporate wear tomorrow. Though my outfit will be casual, I'll try to make it look a little bit corporate."

Wrenny nodded. He was the Boss after all. 

"I might have gone a little overboard but please don't get mad." She said shyly as she handed Stan the last gift bag. 

Stanley collected the bag with all pleasure. Getting mad at the love of his life now or in the future was not on his to-do list and neither would it start now especially if it was over a gift. 

Stan Chatwin chuckled in disbelief before looking at Lauren. "Please tell me it's not what I think it is."

"Fortunately, it is." She smiled sheepishly. 

"Laurennnnnn!" He groaned. 

Stanley's favourite jewellery was wristwatches and he had a reasonable number of them. With each one of them being ridiculously expensive. 

Lauren had always teased him about being a wristwatch freak so he proudly made a promise to her that he wouldn't buy any more wristwatches For a year. 

Stanley regretted making that promise the day after because new collections of wristwatches from his favourite brand were launched. He didn't know how Lauren knew he wanted this one badly and what made it more special was the fact that she picked the one that had his favourite colour. 

"Just say thank you. I know how much you've been dying to have one." Wrenny rolled her eyes. She knew he was happy but the cause of his groan was due to the amount she spent on the watch. 

"I remember Anita slapping me on the head when she saw me admiring the watch on the website. She said I should rather put my money into better use by saving up for peanut or investing in new business. She said I was insatiable when it comes to watches; I will wear it once or twice and then buy another one when there's another collection." Stanley smiled. 

"Thank you, babes! I really appreciate it." He leaned closer to Lauren and placed a kiss on her lips. 

"Don't mention, I knew how bad you wanted it. Not breaking a simple promise like this assures me that I'm forever in great hands."

"And don't you dare feel guilty because of the amount spent on it. My boss pays me well, my fiancé credits my bank account every week despite my disapproval, I also earn from my paintings and interior job. Hence, the least I can do is to surprise you with the watch you've been craving."

"I think there's something else there." Lauren pointed to a tiny compartment beside the watch box. 

It was a tiny silver bracelet, extremely different from the one she gave him on his birthday. It had the words, 'Peanut's Dad' engraved on it." He unhooked it and wore it on his left wrist, making it sit on top of the bracelet she gave him on his birthday. The one that had 'Lauren's Boo' engraved on it. 

Stanley made Lauren sit on his lap. "I'm never taking them off. Thanks for spoiling me with the most thoughtful gifts."

Lauren looked into his eyes with so much adoration in her eyes. "I love you more than words can even express." She said before giving him a long passionate kiss.