“What are you on about?” Her defenses instantly go up, which tells me everything I need to know.
“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“I... Shit.” She looks between me and Lyric.
“What is going on right now?” Lyric asks, clearly completely out of the loop.
“Char’s been keeping a secret.”
“Who told you?” she hisses.
“So it’s true?”
“What’s true?” Lyric injects.
“Char... Perhaps you’d like to tell her before my brother opens his big mouth again,” I say, throwing Jackson right under that bus. Serves him right for being a gossip.
“River.” She looks over at her man, who’s managed to break free of the streamers he’s trying to twist, his gaze immediately finding hers. “You told Jackson?”
“I... Well, yes.”
“I thought we agreed.” She lowers her voice as he approaches.
“I had to tell someone. Though I didn’t tell Jackson. I told Kai.”
“Told Kai what?” Lyric looks up at her brother, confusion drawing her eyebrows together.
“Maisie already knows. We might as well just tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Lyric’s never-ending patience begins to show signs of strain.
“Lyric...” Char turns fully to Lyric, taking both of her hands in her own. “You’re going to be an aunt again.”
I watch Lyric’s confusion deepen, and then realization dawns as her gaze darts to Char’s belly and then back up to her face, tears filling her eyes.
“You’re pregnant?”
“I am.” Char blinks back her own tears. “I wanted to tell you the moment I found out, but I worried it was too soon. I wanted to wait until I was further along to make sure... Well, you know why.”
“You’re pregnant,” Lyric says again as if trying to convince herself this is really happening.
“I am.”
Without warning, Lyric throws her arms around Char’s neck, hugging her so tightly it’s a wonder she can manage to pull in a breath.
I give them a few moments, knowing this affects Lyric more than it does me, before I join the fray, throwing my arms around both of them. While I may not be this baby’s aunt by blood, make no mistake, I will still be Auntie Maisie.
“But what about school? What about New York?” Lyric pulls back, breaking our hug.
“I’m not due until July, so I’ll be able to finish the rest of the semester. After the baby is born, I’m going to take online classes in order to finish my degree. And New York... Well, some dreams are just more important.” She touches her belly with a smile.
It’s clear that she’s so in love with this baby already she can barely contain it, and really, who could blame her after spending most of her life believing she could never have kids, and then of course, the events of last year.
“New York is still on the table.” It’s not until River speaks that I even remember he’s standing there. “It’ll just look a little different now.”
“Riv...” Tears break past Lyric’s lashes, streaking down her cheeks. “You’re going to be a dad.” She throws her arms around her brother’s middle, burying her face in his chest.
“I am.” He hugs his sister back affectionately, meeting Char’s gaze behind her. “I love you,” he mouths, clearly meant only for her.
