I woke with a sense of excitement that quickly faded into fear, doubt, and uncertainty. Is this too soon? Will it change the way he feels about me? Will he regret getting involved with me? Those thoughts played hell on my mind, not to mention my own personal demons from the messed-up childhood I’d had and the fear that I was in no way ready to be anyone’s mother.

This wasn’t a fairy tale. The realization gave me a suffocating feeling as I jolted upright with my heart ...