“You aren’t too excited. You’re perfectly reasonably excited. He’s your Godson, Fletch, that’s a huge deal.”
“You’re right. It is.” He smiles, looking over at me just long enough to admire me, and this moment before his eyes shift back to the road.
We pull into Chase and Stella’s driveway, and the car is off, and Fletcher is up to their door before I even have time to undo my seatbelt.
He has other nieces and nephews, but I know this one is different, and not just because he’s Fletcher’s Godson. Fletcher, Chase, and Stella have always been close; he’s looked up to Chase in a way I know he hasn’t looked up to his other siblings. Knowing that Chase trusts Fletcher enough to give him this title means the world to him.
I join Fletcher by the front door just in time for it to swing open. Chase looks like he’s on cloud nine as he motions for us to come in.
“Stels has the little guy in the living room. He’s very excited to meet his Uncle Fletcher.”
“His Uncle Fletcher is very excited to meet him,” I whisper. “It’s all we talked about on the drive here.”
We walk into the living room to Stella, bouncing the baby in her arms. She looks beautiful. There’s a glow I’ve never seen before, and her smile is even brighter than usual.
Being a mom already suits her.
“Hi.” She goes to stand up, but Fletcher shakes his head.
“Don’t get up.”
“Do you want to hold him?” she asks, motioning for Chase to come grab the baby as Fletcher nods.
He does just that, bouncing the baby as he walks over to Fletcher.
“Fletcher,” Chase hands him the baby, “I’d like you to meet Theodore Fletcher Reed.”
My hand grabs my chest as Fletcher’s eyes fly up to meet Chase’s.
“You’re lying.” Fletcher takes a step back, staring down at his Godson and then back up at his brother.
“No. We may have been indecisive about a first name for baby boy Reed, but we always knew what his middle name would be.”
Fletcher’s eyes begin to swell with tears.
“You named him after me?”
“It was a no-brainer.” Stella stands up, wrapping her arms around Chase, as they watch Fletcher hold their son.
“Hi, Theo.” Fletcher bounces him. “I’ve been so excited to meet you.” He brushes his hand against Theo’s cheek, a mixture of emotions forming on his face as he holds Theo closer to him.
My stomach drops as I watch them.
Fletcher’s a natural.
Theodore didn’t even stir when Chase handed him to Fletcher.
I may not want kids, but Fletcher deserves to be a dad.
If a part of me didn’t feel that way already, I would feel that way now. Seeing him with Theo is proof that no matter what he says, this is something he wants.
I just don’t know where that leaves us.
forty
Tate
I’m hoping the girls can help give me some clarity on the whole Fletcher situation.
