Charlie’s grinning at my grandmother, and thinking about how close I came to living in a world where she wasn’t mine is almost enough to drive me to my knees.
“You were stronger than your father,” my mommurmurs. I startle, flashing a wide-eyed look her way. She smiles self-deprecatingly when she sees it, shrugging. “I know I haven’t been the best mother. Not this past year, or any that came before it?—”
“Mom—”
“No,” she says over me, and I fall quiet. “I’ve had to face a lot of really hard truths since finding out about my grandbaby. You think about how you almost lost Charlie.” Mom looks at me, and I nod. “Well, I think about how I almost lostallof you. I might have missed out on watching you grow, Dillon, becoming this amazing man and husband. And then I imagine a world where I wasn’t invited to be part of your wife’s family, or a grandmother to that baby. And all because I was so focused on not losing a man who wasn’t worth the dirt on my shoes.” She swallows hard, watery eyes locked on mine.
My mouth parts on a quiet gasp, unsure of what to say. She’s never spoken so frankly about my father, at least not to me, and she’s never acknowledged that the rift in our family lay on his shoulders. Hearing it now brings every buried feeling rushing to the surface, my heartbeatwhooshingin my ears.
“I didn’t blame you,” I choked out.
“I blamed me,” Mom says softly, looking away. “And I was right to. Not because I deserved what your father was doing, but because I wasn’t strong enough to put a stop to it.”
I shake my head, stepping in front of her and ducking my head, forcing her eyes to lock with mine. “You were strong,” I tell her fiercely. “You kept yourself afloat without losing yourself. You might have gotten lost for a while, but you’re here now.”
Mom blinks at me, her cheeks flushedred. I don’t know if it’s the cold or emotion, but her lips tremble, her lashes wet and spiky.
“I have to be here,” she says quietly. “Your gran is a menace, and Charlie’s family can kick rocks.”
“Hey!” I say sternly, making her eyes flare with alarm. “We’reCharlie’s family. Don’t talk badly about us.” The tension visibly leaks out of her as she glares at me, but I continue, “Those other people were just placeholders. It was too bad they sucked at their jobs. Charlie’s strong, though, and she survived.” I pin a meaningful look on her. “Just like you. Yousurvivedhim, Mom. Now you get to see what life is supposed to be like.”
Mom ducks her head, sniffling. “I love you, baby.”
I hook an arm around her neck, dragging her into me. “I love you, too, Mom.”
“What’s happening here?” Gran interrupts stridently. “It looks like you both need a brandy.”
I look up, finding Charlie standing a couple of feet away, her smile soft as her eyes bounce between the two of us. Gran is at her side, eyeing us with interest, her mouth pursed.
I pull back from Mom, keeping an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll take a brandy.” I shoot my grandmother a sharp grin. “Just hold the damn tea.”
Gran sticks her nose in the air, acting like her eyes aren’t twinkling with mirth. “Don’t push me, boyo. I’ll put an advert in the paper about you. See if I don’t.”
I roll my eyes dramatically as Mom ducks away from me, linking her arm with Gran and walking back down the wharf with her. “Come on, Mom. Let’s go find somewhere for lunch.”
“Good,” Gran grumbles, allowing Mom to lead her away. “It’s cold as the dickens out here. I can’t feel my toes.”
“I told you not to wear those…”
Mom’s voice is lost to the wind as I turn back to my wife, finding her already watching me. “You okay?” she asks softly, closing the distance between us when I hold my arms open for her. Her firm stomach bumps against my abdomen, making me chuckle as she angles herself to the side to fit more comfortably against me.
“I am now,” I reassure her, sliding my hand up under the hem of her coat and over the tight ball of her stomach. “How’s our boy?”
Charlie tilts her head, green eyes sparkling as she grins up at me. “He’s kicking the absolute crap out of my bladder, and I’m about to pee my pants.”
I smirk. “You just get sexier every day.” I lean down, brushing my nose against hers. “You’re also cold as hell.”
Charlie doesn’t protest as I lead her after Mom and Gran, but her voice is dry as she tells me, “I have a hot water bottle living in my stomach. The last thing I feel is cold.” There’s a pause. “I could use some nachos, though. Or maybe pasta. Or an ice cream.”
I look back at her, arching an eyebrow. “That’s an interesting mix, Angel.”
She rolls her eyes. “Not together,obviously. A three-course meal will do.”
I shake my head. “Where will you fit it all?” I tip my chin toward her stomach. “He’s kind of taking up all the room, isn’t he?”
A stubborn glint flashes through Charlie’s eyes. “Don’t you worry about that,” she says smoothly, patting her stomach. “If this kid knows what’s good for him, he won’t get between his mother and her food.”
By the time we catch up with Mom and Gran, they’ve picked out where they want to eat. A quick glance at themenu shows that Charlie’s appetites will be appropriately satisfied, so we follow the hostess to a free table.
