Jasmine covers her mouth with her trembling hand. “I couldn’t accept that kind of money, Callie.”
“Yes, you can.”
She shakes her head. “But what about you? Surely you could use the money for something.”
I rub my palm over my stomach. “I already have everything I need. Plus, I’m receiving money from my divorce.”
Paul agreed to give me everything I’m entitled to.
“Oh, my God. I don’t know what to say, Callie.”
“Say yes.”
Her eyes well, and she nods. “Yes! Thank you so much. Yes!”
I hold Jasmine while she weeps, and I cry with her. “You deserve to have what you want most in life,” I whisper.
“So do you, Callie. And I’m so happy that you’re getting it.”
Me too.
The journey was difficult, but I’d go through it all again if it meant I’d end up exactly where I am today.
I say goodbye and head home. Our temporary home is at the pool house while our house is being built. Cole is building us a small house on the water in Lake Arrowhead with the help of Billy and some friends.
He claims it’ll be done by the time the baby is here.
I’m not so sure, but I don’t tell him that.
Before I pull into Josie’s driveway, a text from Cole flashes on my screen:
Cole: Come to Josie’s. She said she wants to show us something.
I shake my head and grin. Probably another piece of furniture for the nursery. She is so ready to get rid of all things baby.
Dan should really think about getting a vasectomy.
When I arrive, I knock before walking inside.
“Surprise!”
My head whips around. Cole, Josie, Dan, the kids, and Gertie are huddled in the foyer. Pink and blue streamers are draped from the corners of the ceiling.
My eyebrows press together. “Uh, guys ... what’s going on?”
Cole snakes his arm around my waist. “We made it past the first trimester, so everyone wanted to celebrate.”
I close my eyes as a grin pulls my lips. “You didn’t need to do all this.”
“Of course we did.” Josie steps forward. “Every part of your journey should be celebrated.”
Life is precious.
“Come on. The party is out back.” Josie links her elbow with mine. “We can’t leave Maverick out there too long or else he’ll start eating his own turds.”
I scoff. “He doesn’t do that anymore!”
“Once a shit-eater, always a shit-eater.”
I give her a playful shove as we step out onto the patio. Maverick charges at me but stops about a foot away. Then he gets down and army-crawls the rest of the way—something we’ve been teaching him as my stomach grows.
“Good boy, my Mav man.” I scratch behind his ears, and he flops over, giving me his belly.
“Callie, can we give Maverick a bath tomorrow?” Miles asks.
“Of course.”
“Yes!” He pumps his fist in the air and then takes off running. “Brandon, she said yes!”
Cole grins. “The things that excite them.”
I push to stand, something that’s getting more difficult each week. “How was therapy today?”
He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “It went well. Had to take a nap after.”
I laugh. “Yeah, it can be exhausting sometimes.”
“We talked about making a worry box. Have you ever heard of something like that?”
My head tilts. “No. What is it?”
“You write down whatever’s on your mind. Whatever’s making you anxious, or whatever you’re scared of. Then, you fold it up and slip it into the box. It’s supposed to help get the negative thoughts out of your head, and it serves as a visual, like you’re physically putting the thought away.” He shrugs. “He said we could read it together if we wanted to. Or not.”
I dab at the corners of my watery eyes. “I love that idea. I think we should do it.”
Cole wraps his arms around me and pulls me in close. “Pregnancy tears again?”
I shake my head. “I’m just so proud of you, Cole. You’ve come so far in such a short amount of time.”
“Couldn’t have done it without you.” He leans down and presses his lips to mine. “My angel.”
“My hope.”
“Get a room,” Gertie barks.
I laugh. “Way to ruin the moment, Gertie.”
“Ah.” She waves her hand. “You’ll have another moment in two minutes.”
Josie throws her head back and laughs. “Those hormones are really doing a number on your sex drive.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You two can barely keep your hands off each other,” Gertie says. “You should see them at the diner. It’s unsanitary.”
Cole tosses a wadded-up napkin at her. “You were the one who pushed us together. You only have yourself to blame.”
“This is true. And you are giving me a great-grandbaby, so I guess it’s not all bad.”
“We should start taking bets on the gender,” Josie says.
Dan raises his hand. “I say girl.”
“Boy!” Brandon and Miles shout at the same time.
Gertie shakes her head. “Definitely a girl.”
I lift an eyebrow at Josie. “Well? What’s your guess?”
“You’re going to have twins. One boy and one girl.”
I glance at Cole, who’s beaming. “You think you put twins in me?”
“It is possible.” He brushes an imaginary speck of lint off his shoulder. “I do have super sperm, you know.”
“Gross!” Brandon scrunches his nose.
“What do you think, Callie?” Miles asks.
I rub circles around my belly and shrug. “I’ll be happy with whatever comes out.”
Girl or boy, one or two.
Either way, I’m grateful for this miracle.
“Oh!” I snap my fingers. “Gertie, I almost forgot. I have the paperwork from the lawyer. He wants you to look it over before everything is finalized.”
“You’re going to be the owner of the diner?” Brandon asks.
“Yeah, B. Pretty cool, huh?”
“Maybe I can work there when I’m old enough.”
I wrap my arm around him and squeeze his shoulder. “You’ve got a spot waiting for you.”
“Can he start now?” Dan asks with a chuckle.
“Then we can start charging him rent!” Josie holds out her fist, and Dan bumps his knuckles against hers.
Brandon buries his face in his hands. “You guys aren’t cool just because you fist bump.”
This sends Josie into a ten-minute rant about all the reasons why she thinks she’s a cool mom.
“I’m going to run to my car,” I whisper in Cole’s ear. “I want to get the paperwork for Gertie before I forget.”
“Want me to grab it?” he asks.
“I’ve got it.” I pull him in for a kiss. “Be right back.”
After I take the file out of my car, I stop and glance across the street at the house where I once lived.