This is a chance to nurture and love a child, to provide the care and relationship that I never fully experienced because my mom passed so young. It’s an opportunity to parent in a way that I imagine my mom might have, and to build a future that reflects the love and support I’ve always hoped for.
The rest of the evening is spent at the hospital in a blur of tests and scans as the highly skilled doctors in Spain check as much as they can for me being only nine weeks along.
By the time I’m discharged, I’ve got some cool sonograms of a gummy bear like baby, confirmation of a strong heartbeat, a growth scan that shows I’m measuring right on track, and a recommendation to follow-up with my OBGYN back in the states in three more weeks.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything as I step into my host family’s home in Madrid. But before I even fully realize what I’m doing, my hands are already reaching for my empty suitcase, and I start packing. The motions feel automatic—saying goodbye to my host parents, texting Christina that I won’t be meeting her and Mia at the club tonight, giving mynotice at the hospital, and booking a flight back to Texas, all without a second thought.
I need to tell Clay.
I don’t know what this will mean for him.
For us.
But I know no matter what, he’s given me the greatest gift I could have ever imagined. Something I never thought would be a reality for me. I just desperately hope he sees the joy in this too.
Chapter 36 – Clay
“What did you bring this time? And it better not be your rabbit food lettuce with holes in it,” Wylie’s voice rings out from across the yard at Cameron Ranch as Dallas and I make our way around the house.?
Dallas, completely used to my older brother’s antics, shakes his head, and holds up a wooden crate packed full of snap peas and frozen blueberries. “That was over ten years ago, and you know my kale has been excellent every winter since.”
Wylie lets out a hearty laugh as he takes the box from Dallas and heads inside where the rest of the volunteers and our family are busy preparing a Valentine’s Day meal for the Nourish Co-op members.
“What did you bring?” Dallas asks, turning to me.
“My charming smile, handsome good looks, and winning personality.”
Dallas snorts. “Your personality has been shit ever since Maggie left for Spain.”
“Three more weeks,” I respond, trailing off and wondering what she’s doing right now. It’s around nine at night her time, usually the time when I’d call to check-in. I turn to tell Dallas I’ll be rightback, but he cuts me off first.
“So, since you bailed on the summer tournament, are we submitting you for the spring one? You’re starting to look soft and could use the competition.”
I scoff, knowing he’s just teasing. With Maggie out of town, I’ve been training relentlessly every single day at Golden Farms alongside him. I’ve also been winning every fight that I’ve participated in San Angelo. I’m in the best shape of my life, but the thrill of fighting no longer excites me. I’ve achieved what I set out to prove to myself, and honestly, without Maggie there to watch, I’ve lost the fire that once drove me to perform.
“Not this spring, I plan on spending every day with Maggie once she’s back.”Plan on proposing to her, too.
He chuckles, tells me he’s happy for me and heads inside, but not before Nash and Wylie make their way back to the deck, two beers in hand.
“How've you been little brother? It’s been a while since we’ve seen you,” Nash asks as he leans against the deck’s railing.
I know that they’ve been piecing things together for a while now. You can only show up to so many family gatherings with black eyes, bruised ribs, and limping before these two start acting like the Hardy Boys. With them, it’s better to just be upfront and get this over with.
“I’ve been busy participating in underground MMA fighting in San Angelo. Dallas has been training me at his farm in exchange for free, manual labor.”
Nash’s jaw tightens as Wylie rolls his eyes, propping one booted foot over the other while leaning against the side of the house. His signature smirk never wavers as he fixes his gaze on me.
“I always knew we didn’t beat you up enough as a kid. Nash, you think we can make up for that now or is he too old?”
I snort and take a sip of my water. “I think you’re both too old totake me on.”
Wylie barks out another laugh while Nash rolls his eyes exasperatedly and for a moment, I’m transported back in time to a decade ago. The three of us living and working together. The memories will always be there, but we’ve all grown a lot. I’ve enjoyed seeing them become husbands and parents to their wild kids, and I hope that for myself someday. With Maggie, of course.
“How’s your girlfriend feel about your fighting? Or does she not know?” Wylie asks now wearing a wicked grin.
“She knows about it.”
Nash steps forward, patting me gently on the chest before he and Wylie begin to leave the deck, “That’s good, because she’s standing right behind you.”
