He had every piece of me. Someday, I’d be able to tell him, even though if he paid attention, I’d been showing him my entire life.
“Oh, hey, you two,” Mom said, her brow pinching after I knocked and opened her door. “Funny to see the two of you out in the middle of a workday.”
“Notfunny to see the two of us together?” I asked as I slid onto a chair at her dining room table next to Helen.
“Nope. We’ve been waiting for you both to just come out and say it. I know you’re here almost every night.” Helen’s eyes twinkled as she glanced at her son.
“Of course you know that. No secrets, I suppose.” Tyler slid his gaze to mine.
“Well, maybe one.” I bunched my shoulders into a shrug, holding in a laugh when both my mother and Helen froze in their seats.
I glanced at Tyler and slid one of the pictures across the table. Helen’s chair screeched back on the kitchen tile as Mom let out a sound that was a mix of a gasp and a scream.
“Surprise!” I held my hands up, but neither one of them noticed as their eyes were glued to the picture.
“Twelve weeks? Why am I only finding out now?”
My stomach sank when Mom glowered at me.
“I wanted to make sure all was okay before we told anyone.”
Tyler draped his arm around me, lifting a shoulder when my gaze stumbled on his. We were studying our parents for a reaction, and so far we had shock from his mother and hurt from mine.
“Wait,” Helen said, holding up a finger. “Twelve weeks—that’s right around Donnie’s wedding? Or maybe the night of.” Helen’s brow jumped.
“I…I hope that’s not a question you’re waiting for me to answer, Mom,” Tyler stammered. I held in a laugh when his cheeks flushed.
“Well, it’s not like I didn’t know what happened. Or any of us—”
“Mom, please,” he begged, draping his hand over his eyes.
I laughed until I noticed Mom’s rigid stance by the sink. Pushing off the chair, I eased in her direction, but she still wouldn’t lift her head.
“I know it’s not exactly traditional, but—”
“That’s not it. You couldn’t tell me? Is this what I am to you now? A fragile piece of glass?” Her voice cracked as she rubbed at her temple.
“No, Mom.” I grabbed her hand. “The only ones who know are Tyler and Morgan, and that’s only because I was with her when I realized I was. I didn’t want to upset anyone if something happened.”
“That’s what I’m there for, Olivia. To be there when something happens.” She waved a hand at me and turned around.
“Don’t be like this, Mom. The technician said that it’s a boy. Maybe.”
She glanced back for a moment but took her gaze back to the kitchen window.
“I didn’t keep it from you because I didn’t think you could handle it, I didn’t want you to be disappointed or hurt…again.”
“I am hurt and disappointed.” She sniffled and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “After all the fights he broke up between the two of you, your father should be here for this.” Relief rushed through me when a smile broke out on her lips. I crashed into her the second she opened her arms.
“This also explains why you wear hoodies and sweaters all the time now.” She lifted the bottom of my shirt when she backed away.
“It’s not a real bump yet. Just looks like I had too many tacos.”
“I think she’s glowing.” Helen smiled at me from over Mom’s shoulder. “Pregnancy agrees with you.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m a hot mess who cries too much, but thank you.”
“You can make the cake for her shower!” Helen’s eyes widened as she turned back to Tyler. “I think it could be on the small side. Only about fifty.”
