I swallowed the clot in my throat as it threatened to choke me with tears. What kind of grown man cried when his step-daughter gave him a drawing? What in the everloving fuck was wrong with me?
“Hey there, you okay?”
My head rapidly went up and down, and I was sure I would nod it right off my neck. After clearing my throat a couple of times, I said, “Fine, I’m fine. This is… I, uh, don’t really have the words to express what’s in my heart.” I buried my head in my hands, doing my best not to look the fool.
Warm hands covered my own and she spoke. “It’s fine. I understand. Easton has a way of getting to the heart of matters. She has this intuition for when someone needs something. Did I ever tell you about the time she drew your sister a picture of a rainbow because she didn’t think Ravina knew what one was?”
English told me the story of when she and Easton had gone out there the day of their accident, when Easton had given Landry the picture to give to Ravina. It was just like Easton to want Ravina to be under the rainbow too.
I scooted the chair back and pulled my wife onto my lap. “I am so thankful for the two of you. Having you both to love is more than I ever hoped for.”
“Well, since we’re here, and I guess there’s never a great time for anything, I may as well tell you.”
My heart stuttered in my chest. “Tell me what? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Dandy, in fact.”
“Then what is it?”
“You’re going to be a daddy. Again.”
“Huh? Did the attorney call about the adoption?”
“Nope. But the pregnancy test came out positive. I’m going to have a baby.”
“A baby?” Nothing was sinking in.
“Yep. You know, an itty-bitty human.”
My maw sagged open like a gigantic cave waiting for a spelunker. “A tiny human. A baby. Oh, my God! You’re going to have a baby! You’re pregnant!”
“Shh. I don’t want anyone else to know until everything’s okay.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sort of want to wait until I’m about twelve weeks, you know, in case I lose it.”
“Lose it? Why would you lose it?”
Her shoulders popped up. “Who knows why it happens, but it does sometimes. And I don’t want to have to field questions if I do.”
“Okay, so when can we say something? How much longer?”
“I need to go to the doctor and then we’ll know something. I have an appointment next week.”
“Great. Good. Appointment next week.” I squinted at her. “Can I go with you?”
“Of course. I demand you come.”
“Yes! I get to go!”
She leaned close and whispered into my ear. “Do you think you ought to chill a bit? Maybe take it down a notch?”
“Fuck, no. This is stupendous.”
“Dear God, if you’re like this now, I can only imagine you at the birth.”
“I’m going to order a ton of cigars.”
A week later we were at the doctor’s office. English was on the table as the doctor spoke to us. “Looks like you’re about six weeks along. Let’s get an ultrasound.”
Another woman came in and asked my wife to put her feet in the stirrups and slide down. When English did, she squirted goo on a wand and then inserted it inside of her. What the hell? I’d always thought they rubbed something on the belly.
The doctor explained. “We do transvaginal ultrasounds this early as they detect more than the other kind.”
Suddenly, a heartbeat was heard and I grabbed English’s hands. “Starshine, do you hear that?”
“I do.”
“Can you tell if it’s a girl?” I asked the doctor.
“I’m sorry. It’s too soon to tell. But your baby has a strong heart.”
“A girl?” English stared at me like I’d lost it.
“Sure. I love the ones I have, why not have another one?” I asked. Her grin swallowed up the room. Man, I loved this woman. “I would pay to have a dozen girls like Easton and you.”
Then the tears began.
“Babe? What’s this?”
“I was just thinking about how much better off I’d have been if you were here when Easton was born.”
“Let’s make up for lost time then, shall we?” I’d have to come up with something very special because my wife deserved the best.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
English
“You sure you don’t want a wedding after the baby comes?” I asked. “With the trials behind us, it would be fun.”
“Eh, I don’t care, but if you do, I’ll say yes.”
Tristian had relaxed some since his mom and Sherman had both been found guilty of murder and attempted murder. They were serving long prison sentences and wouldn’t be bothering us again. After it was over, even Ravina had softened up. She’d told us that their mother had poisoned her against her brothers, telling her they’d cheated her out of everything. No wonder her disposition had been so soured. But the one that totally broke my composure was when she said, “Tristian, you did really well with English. I wasn’t so certain at the beginning, but when that little kid of hers drew me a rainbow because she didn’t think I knew what one was, it was my undoing. No one had ever done anything that nice for me, except for Dad.”
We’d invited her over, along with Landry and Stanton, and they’d come and spent time with the crazy Bridges household. It was an introduction to what a normal family was like.
Neither Tristian or I could decide about the wedding. One day, Mom and I talked about it.
“Your father and I did it because we thought you’d enjoy it. How do you think Easton would feel?”
“She’d love to wear the princess dress, that’s the truth.”
“Then why not have a vow renewal and reception at our house?”
“Mom! Are you insane? That’s a ton of work.”
“Not if you hire people to do it all. A wedding planner, caterer, photographer, and so on can handle all the details and your father will write the checks.”
“Fine, if you and Dad are willing. But I want to run it by Tristian too.”
We had our discussion and he wanted to take the burden off my parents and have the event at mansionville.
“But that’s not a happy place for you,” I said.
“Starshine, if we do a vow renewal and host a reception there, it will be my new beginning for the place.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to have any regrets.”
“Positive. Let’s tell the others.”
And they were excited for us. Even Ravina wanted to help, so I put Mom to work with her. I had a baby on the way and didn’t want this to interfere with anything.
A few days later, Tristian said, “I have a surprise for you.”
“You do?”
“Yup.” We were at work and he took my hand and pulled me into his office. “Check these out.” On his desk were plans, architectural plans for a new house. “Thoughts, please. And when you’re done with that, I have something else to show you.”