“This is a surprise. How long’s it been? Three years? Four? How are you doing?”
“You know you can call me, too.”
I sighed. “I know. The last time I did that, your husband seemed pissed.”
“Yeah, well, he can deal with it. Even if we go a hundred years without talking, you’ll always be a part of my family.”
My chest felt heavy, and my throat clogged with emotion, but I managed to choke out, “Same goes to you, dearest.” And she would be. Ember would always be the mother of Raph’s daughter—of our daughter.
She laughed in my ear again. “And you wonder why he gets mad.”
That brought a smile to my face. “He can deal with that, too. Gods, it’s good to hear your voice.” Even if it hurt. And fuck did it hurt.
“Yours too.”
When she didn’t say anything else, I asked, “Is everything alright?”
She sighed. “I wanted to tell you myself so you didn’t hear it from anyone else…”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, Iz. I… fuck, this is harder than I thought it’d be.”
“You can tell me anything, dearest. You know that.”
“Yeah, I do.” She let that settle for a moment before saying, “Obie and I are pregnant.”
I sucked in a breath as a heavy weight crushed my chest. “Em.”
“I know,” she breathed out. “I know.”
My chest tightened further until I feared I wouldn’t be able to breathe. Tears came to my eyes, so I covered them with one hand and plopped down on the steps so I didn’t fall over. “You’re…”
“Yes.”
“But—”
“I know.”
I took a shaky breath. “When are you due?”
“In the spring.”
Slamming my eyes shut, I let my head fall to the beam there. Faye would have a little half-sibling. Oh gods.
“Isiah,” she said, sounding on the verge of tears herself. “I didn’t… I wanted you to hear it from me, but I don’t… I don’t want to hurt you—either of you.”
“I know you don’t.”
“But it still hurts.”
Since I didn’t want to lie to her—we’d always been honest with each other—I whispered, “Yes.”
“I’m sorry. It hurts for me, too, but then it’s also… wonderful. I’m happy, Iz. I’m happy and I’m excited, and Obie’s going to be a great father.”
“He will,” I admitted, albeit reluctantly. “He’ll be great.”
“When she… when she’s born, I’d like it if you and Raph came to meet her.”
“You’re having a girl?” It felt like she’d taken a knife and stabbed it in my heart.
“Yeah.”
I took a deep breath. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, dearest. But I’ll try.”
“You’ll tell him for me, won’t you?”
“Of course.”
“You’re the only one whose head he doesn’t bite off.”
I snorted. “Not for a lack of trying. I’ve just gotten good at dodging his sharp teeth.”
She laughed. “I still don’t know how you did it.”
“Did what?”
“Live with us.”
I snorted. “Yeah, me either, if I’m being honest.”
She chuckled, then sobered. “Are you two safe?”
“Yeah.”
“Happy?”
I hesitated. “Yes… trying to be, at least.”
“I heard about Alaric.”
That brought a smile to my face. “We found him. In fact, we’re at his house right now. I’m sitting on his front porch, his and his soul-pledge’s.”
“That’s wonderful, Iz. I’m happy for you two.”
“Thanks.”
“I should let you get back to them, but… it was really good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too, dearest.”
“Don’t be a stranger, Isiah. I mean it. I want you in my life. Mine and my baby’s.”
And that hurt, too. Like she was digging that knife in deeper. “Same to you. And, Em?”
“Yeah?”
“Congratulations. You and Obie deserve every happiness, and I’m so elated for you.”
“Thank you, Iz. That… that means a lot.”
I smiled even as my eyes welled up. “I love you, dearie-do.”
She snorted. “I love you, too, pudding-poo.”
I chuckled. “Call me if you or Obie need anything at all.”
“I will. You too.”
“Talk to you soon,” I said, even if I didn’t think it was true.
“Bye.”
“Bye,” I whispered before clicking the phone off and squeezing my eyes shut as old pains and wounds opened up inside my heart.
“Izzy,” Raph breathed out a moment later, rushing out the front door, sitting beside me, and wrapping his arms around me. I clung to him, burying my face in the side of his neck and breathing in his familiar scent, letting it settle me.
“Raph,” I choked out.
“I’ve got you. I’m right here.”
I nodded against him and settled further into him, wishing he could hold me for the rest of eternity.
He kissed my head. “You’re okay, honey. I’ve got you.” He kissed my head again. “I’ve got you.”
I nodded and breathed, and we stayed that way for a long time. Eventually, I whispered, “It was—”
“Ember. Yeah, I know.” I was about to ask him how he knew, but he kissed my head and continued. “She does this to you every time she calls. I don’t know why you take her calls.”
“Maybe because you won’t.”
He tensed, then slowly blew out a breath, releasing the tension. “Yeah, well, I think we both know why.”
“And I think you’re being rude and unreasonable.”
He hesitated, then whisper-yelled, “You really think if you react this way to her that I’ll be able to handle it? You’re stronger than I am, Isiah. You always have been. Talking to her would destroy me.”
Guilt niggled in the back of my mind. “I’m not stronger than you.”
He snorted. “Right. Who’s the one that’s constantly picking me back up, huh?”
“Who’s the one holding who up right now?”
He sighed and leaned his cheek on top of my head, and we sat in the cold for a few more minutes before he asked, “What did she want?”
“Maybe she was calling to wish us a happy Thanksgiving.”
He snorted again. “Right, and the sky’s purple. She only calls when she needs something or has bad news.” When I hesitated, he said, “Bad news then. Alright, get it over with. What is it? What devastating thing is she gonna drop on our heads this time?”
I didn’t want to tell him, especially not when we’d been having such a nice holiday. I didn’t want to ruin it. But then again, if I told him now, he’d have Laz, Grady, and Alaric to help hold him up if need be.