I cup the side of her face. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Okay then…”
“And these are all of the rocks we’ve painted,” she goes on to explain, pointing to the circles of various colors she drew on the bottom of the paper. “But we need to paint more because I love painting rocks.”
“I love that too.” Another yawn leaves my lips as Joanne clears her throat from the door.
“Vienna needs some rest, sweetie,” Joanne says to Ellis. “Maybe we can start making some cupcakes while she’s sleeping and then decorate them together when she wakes up?”
Ellis nods enthusiastically. “Yes! We bought new rainbow sprinkles, Ms. Vienna.”
“I can’t wait to see them.”
Ellis gives me one more hug. “Sleep tight.”
“I will, sweet girl. Thank you.”
Ellis runs out of the room just as Joanne walks in further. “I know you need to rest, but I want to bring something up to you two sooner rather than later.”
“Everything okay?” Rhonan asks her.
Joanne has tears in her eyes. “Everything is perfect, Rhonan, because you’ve finally found someone to build a life with again, which means it’s time for me to move on with mine too.”
“Fuck, Joanne…really?”
“You can handle this now. You have Vienna. She’ll be healed in no time, and with the new baby coming along, you’re going to want your space to build your new family and new normal…”
I glance over at him. “You told her?”
“Yes. I had to tell someone, and she was going to find out sooner or later having you here,” he explains before directing his gaze back to Joanne. “But I need you…”
“No, you don’t. You and Vienna have a lot to figure out, and I’m not going anywhere until Vienna is back on her feet and you two have decided on your next steps, okay? But it’s time that you build your family together. Besides, my family is in Charlotte and I’m ready to be a grandma.” She smiles wide. “I just found out that my son is expecting his first child, and I want to be closer to them.”
Rhonan stands from the bed and pulls Joanne into his chest, towering over her and enveloping her in his arms. “You have no idea how much I appreciate all that you’ve done for me.”
Tears fill my eyes as I watch them.
“I do know that, Rhonan Hart. And you’ve given me purpose for the past five years. Me leaving doesn’t mean that I won’t still keep tabs on you and your family, but it’s time everyone moves on, including me.” When they part, none of us have dry eyes. “Like I said, I’m not going anytime soon, but I wanted to let you know so you can factor that in as you discuss what comes next.”
Rhonan nods. “Thank you.”
Joanne leaves the room and then he returns to his spot on the bed beside me. “Fuck, this is a lot to take in.”
“She means a lot to you.”
“I wouldn’t have survived the past five years without her.”
“But what about when we have this baby…ifwe have this baby…” My fear is ever present, even though I truly feel like things are all going to work out for us.
He presses a finger to my lips, silencing me. “Don’t talk like that. This babywillbe here in a little less than nine months and we can figure out what that’s going to look like after you’re healed, okay? We also need to decide if you want to stay home with the baby or fill in one of the vacancies at the school next year.” Naturally, I told Rhonan about the possibility of me having a full time job at Blossom PeakElementary next year while I was lying in that hospital bed and we were discussing the future. Yet I’m still very much undecided.
I can feel my eyes growing heavy. “Okay. I can’t believe that your sister is pregnant too though.”
“It was taking all of my restraint not to blurt it out loud to everyone that you’re pregnant as well.”
“Maybe we should tell everyone then?”
