“Do you see it, Dad?”
I dropped to my haunches, needing a closer look. The words on her shirt stared back at me, and the moment I read them, the air was stolen from my lungs.
My hands trembled as I traced the letters printed across her little chest.
“Do you read what it says, Dad?” she repeated, her voice softer this time.
I nodded, swallowing hard, my throat tight as emotion swelled. Words failed me, and my eyes darted to Charlie, who was smiling, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Really?” I asked her, my voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded, covering her mouth as a tear slipped down her cheek. “Really.”
I was going to be a dad again.
Scarlette beamed up at me, her little face full of pride and excitement. “I’m going to be a big sister.”
I dropped to my knees, pulling her into a tight hug, my voice cracking as I said, “You are. You really are.”
The words echoed in my mind. I was going to be a dad again. My wife was pregnant.
I stood, overcome with emotion, and wrapped Charlie in my arms, holding her as close as I could. “I love you,” I whispered, the words tumbling out over and over, like I couldn’t say them enough.
She reached up, grabbed the back of my neck, and kissed me, her lips soft and full of reassurance.
The front door burst open suddenly, the loud crash jolting us both, and in stormed Luna and Dirks, followed closely by Nova and Ollie.
“Does he know? Are we early?” Nova shouted, her eyes wide as she ran toward Charlie.
Charlie nodded, laughing through her tears. “He knows.”
Nova let out a squeal, pulling Charlie into a hug so tight it looked like she might never let go. “This is the best news,” she exclaimed, her excitement contagious as everyone else started cheering and crowding into the room.
I looked around at the chaos, at this unexpected family we’d built, and felt nothing but overwhelming gratitude.
Luna bounced over. “Congrats, Dad,” she said with a playful wink.
Dirks followed, clapping me on the shoulder. He didn’t say much, just a crooked smile and a quick, “Nice job, man.”
Ollie came over next, extending a hand. “Congratulations,” he said, his tone sincere.
“Thanks, Ollie,” I replied, shaking his hand firmly. “Congratulations to you too.”
Ollie nodded. “Thank you.”
Nova and Ollie had gotten married a couple months ago in England. It was just them when they got married, although Charlie and I cooked them dinner when they got back to congratulate them.
I took a step back, pausing to take it all in. Charlie was surrounded in the living room, Scarlette nestled against her side as everyone chatted excitedly. Laughter and voices filled the space, the kind of chaos I’d never imagined I’d find comforting, yet somehow, it felt like home.
Nova quietly stepped over to me, her smile softer now.
“Did you ever expect this is how our story would end?”
I shook my head, glancing at her before looking back at the chaos of our family in the living room. “Never, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Me neither,” she said honestly, her gaze following mine as she smiled faintly.
I turned back to her, and she looked up at me. “If it wasn’t for fucking up so bad with you,” I said, my voice quieter, “I don’t know if I’d have ever had the push to get help.”
