"A grandbaby," my mother whispers. Tears are forming in her eyes now. "Runes, we're going to have another grandbaby."
"Apparently so." But my father is almost smiling. Almost.
My mother pulls me into another hug, laughing and crying at the same time. "Oh, sweetheart. Oh, my baby is having a baby."
"You're not mad?"
"Mad?" She pulls back, wiping her eyes. "Dalla, after today—after almost losing you—how could I be mad about this? This is a miracle. This is life, continuing on despite everything terrible in the world." She touches my face. "I'm thrilled, baby girl. I'm absolutely thrilled."
I look at my father over her shoulder.
He's watching RJ with an expression I can't quite read.
"You'll take care of them," he says. Not a question. A statement.
"With my life," RJ replies.
My father nods slowly.
Then he crosses the room and does something I never expected—he pulls RJ into a brief, rough embrace.
"Welcome to the family," he says gruffly. "For real this time."
When he steps back, I swear I see tears in his eyes too.
My mother insists on hearing everything about the pregnancy—when I found out, how I've been feeling, what my symptoms have been.
She's already making plans for prenatal vitamins and maternity clothes and doctor recommendations.
It's overwhelming and wonderful and exactly what I need after the day I've had.
Eventually, my parents leave us alone with promises to check in tomorrow.
The door closes behind them, and the basement falls quiet.
RJ pulls me into his arms, and I go willingly, tucking my head under his chin.
"That went well," he says.
"Better than expected." I smile against his chest. "My father hugged you."
"I'm still in shock about that, honestly."
"He likes you. He'd never admit it, but he does."
"He tolerates me because you love me. There's a difference." But he's smiling too. "Although I think saving your life might have earned me some actual points."
"A few." I tilt my head up to look at him. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For coming for me. For not giving up. For killing the woman who wanted to hurt our baby." I touch his face. "For being here."
"Always," he says. "For all of it. Always."
He kisses me then—soft and sweet and full of promise.
And for the first time since this nightmare began, I feel something I haven't felt in days.
