Still, the possibility of Cali carrying his child filled him with so much joy. At the beginning of the year, he had been on the edge of death. Rio had to learn how to breathe again on his own. A child was something he’d wanted before the accident and the only woman he wanted carrying his legacy was Cali.
Rio had to take a boat back to the mainland and grab a taxi to get to a convenience store. When he arrived, he grabbed three pregnancy tests, paid for them, and made his journey back to the bungalow.
“Damn, you’ve been gone for over an hour, Rio,” Cali complained, standing in the kitchen.
“We’re on a private island, baby. I can’t just hop in my car and go to the store. I had to take a boat then get a cab.” He sat the bag on the counter.
“How many did you get?” She rummaged through the bag. “Three?” She snickered. “Rio, you're thirsty as hell.”
He bashfully smirked. “It don’t hurt to have back-ups.”
Cali grabbed one of the boxes and read the label. “Should I take it now?”
“Yeah,” Rio replied without sounding so desperate.
“Okay.” She ambled to the bathroom and shut the door.
Rio couldn’t wait to hear the verdict. Would he be a father or would God punish him for making a plan without Him? Pacing back and forward, he nibbled on his bottom lip while hismind fell down a tunnel of possibilities. The timing was off. Cali lived in Diamond Falls while he was in St. Parklynn. They were supposed to be taking their relationship slow but a baby would speed up the process, immediately. Despite all that, Rio was elated at the idea of them growing a family.
Ten minutes passed by before the door opened. Rio peered at Cali with great anticipation while she looked down at the test in her hand.
“It’s positive.” A nervous chuckle resounded from her mouth.
“Yeah, right?” he challenged, taking the test from her hand.
Rio was relieved to see two blue lines, confirming her pregnancy. “Damn,” he whispered in disbelief.
“How do you feel?” Cali asked, wearing a skeptical expression.
“I um.” He ran his hand down his face while at a loss for words. “I mean, I’m uh…”
“Don't tell me you're upset.”
Snapping his head toward her, he confessed, “Never that. I’m just happy like… I’ve been wanting this shit for so long. It don't even seem real.” This was so surreal as he stared at the test. “How do you feel?”
Cali lifted one shoulder. “I don't know. It hasn’t registered yet.”
“Do you wish the test said differently?” Rio held his breath, hoping her answer wouldn’t take away the happiness that had infected him.
“No, not necessarily… but I have to ask, how are we going to make this work? It was cool when there wasn’t a baby involvedbut now, we have a life on the way. I’m trying to envision how this is going to play out.”
Rio didn’t have an answer for her at the moment but he would work it out. Throwing the test in the trash, he pulled Cali toward his chest. She gazed up at him with her almond eyes, pulling him into a deeper spell.
“Can I be honest and tell you I don't have an answer for your question right now?”
She nodded.
“But do you trust me to take care of everything, including you?”
Cali bobbed her head again.
“You know I've been wanting a baby for years but I only wanted one withyou. I never thought it would happen, especially this way.” He shook his head, taking a mental tour through all of their ups and downs. “The accident, the divorce, and all the other shit we suffered through. I never thought it would happen.”
Cali kissed his lips while he cupped her ass. “Maybe this was our journey all along. Maybe we had to go through the hardships so we can appreciate this moment. We’re no longer operating in the pain of what happened. We have forgiveness now and a newfound respect for each other. This might be kismet.”
Rio loved the way she put their life into perspective. After all the bad choices and adversities, they’d found their way back to each other. Only God was responsible for this second chance.
“Yeah, it seem like it.” He hugged her tightly. “Let’s go celebrate.”
