“It wasn’t.None of it was your fault, sweetheart.Oliver Sinn’s the one who screwed up and now he’s going to pay for it.”
“What do you mean?”
She slowly lowers herself onto the couch next to me and waits for me to explain.
“I'm suing him.I'm tired of paparazzi pulling stuff like this and not being held liable.I'm waiting for my lawyer to call me back, but I have a feeling you being pregnant will make the charges a little more severe.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do.It will make it clear to every slimeball in the world to stay away from you, Tali, and our baby.I refuse to stay quiet about this, Win.If I have to splash our family across every magazine in the country, I will.I’ll stop at nothing to protect my family.”
“Thank you.”She lays her head on my chest.
“I have something I want to show you.Do you want to see it now or later on?You just have to go down the hall and into Tali’s room.”
“Now.Then maybe we can take a nap?”
“That sounds like a great idea.”I kiss her knuckles before we both stand and we walk hand in hand down the hallway.
I push open Tali’s door and Winnie lets out a gasp.There are three photos hanging on Tali’s walls.One is a photo of the three of us from the picnic at Owen’s house.Olivia did an amazing job at taking these photos.I’ve been waiting for them to get printed and they were delivered the day after the accident.
I asked Smithy and Wheeler to come over and hang them up while I took Winnie to the doctors.They’re still in the backyard with Liliana and Tali.They were giving us some time to settle in since we got home.
Under the large canvas, Smithy painted the words ‘My Family’.On one side of our family photo is one of Winnie with Tali in her arms.They look like mother and daughter.It’s weird how many similarities they share in their features.Smithy painted ‘Mommy and Me’.On the other is Tali and me with the words ‘Daddy and Me’ under it.I love all of the photos and I’ve already texted Olivia telling her I want another photoshoot when the baby is born.I plan to cover the walls of our home with pictures of our happy family.
“I have more photos to hang, but I wanted to see where you’d like them.”
“Jamie, I love this.”Winnie runs her fingers along the bottom of the canvas, her eyes watering as she takes in the words below them.
“She looks like your daughter,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her from behind.
“She really does.I didn’t realize we looked so much alike.”
“Does she know about the baby?”I can’t imagine Winnie telling her before I found out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if something was said at the hospital in front of her.
“Not yet.”
“I think we should go tell her.”
“Really?”Winnie peeks up at me.
“Absolutely.She’ll be so excited.”
A big smile spreads across Winnie’s face and she interlaces our fingers as we head outside to meet our daughter and friends.
“Is everything ok?”Liliana asks as soon as she spots us.I'm not sure if she knows about the baby, but even if she found out first, I couldn’t blame Winnie.
“Everything is great.”I smile as I place my hand on her stomach.Liliana’s eyes go wide and she lets out a squeal.I motion for her to calm down and call Tali over.
“Guess what, Tali Girl.”I lift her into my arms so she can see both of us and Winnie doesn’t need to bend over or squat down.
“What?”
“You’re going to be a big sister.Mommy’s having a baby.”
Winnie holds out a picture from the ultrasound and Tali’s little forehead crinkles as she looks from the picture to Winnie and back.
“Baby?”She asks slowly.
