Page 96 of The Trouble with Flings

“Maybe don’t use the words baby arrangement,” Dixie suggests.

Jennifer looks like she’s going to throw up.

I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and say, “We know this comes as a shock. We don’t have all the answers yet. We’re figuring things out as we go, but we’re in this together.” I look around the table, meeting each of their concerned gazes. “But I want all of you to know that I’m crazy about Jennifer, and I love our baby.”

Turning to Jennifer, a sea of emotions stares back at me as I say, “We both do. I didn’t know it was possible to love something so fast and as deeply as I do.” I hold her gaze for a beat before giving her parents my full attention. “I give you my word that I’m committed to being a good father and a good partner. Regardless of where Jen and I end up, I will always be there for both of them.”

The room goes quiet again, but the tension humming around us eases a little.

“Well, I for one am elated to have another grandchild on the way,” her father says.

“Yes, we both are,” her mother says, and gets up, going to Jennifer. She brushes Jennifer’s hair off her shoulder the way I’ve seen my mother do to my sisters hundreds of times and touches her cheek. “Another of our girls is having a baby. This is a very special day indeed.”

She hugs Jennifer, and Jennifer’s eyes well up. “Thanks, Mom.”

Her mother turns a warm smile on me. “Fitz, honey, I understand that you two have a lot to figure out, but this baby makes you part of our family. Welcome to our noisy little world.” She leans down and hugs me.

Relief crowds out the stress of the moment, and I get choked up but manage, “Thank you. You won’t regret it.”

Mia and Jayla are on their feet, doling out congratulations and hugs, and the others are not far behind, including the kids. Kyleigh is a picture of innocence, bouncing on her toes, begging for a sister, while Max runs circles around the table, and Thane asks with his most serious voice if he can name the baby.

“What would you name the baby, buddy?” Rush asks.

“Flash!” Thane exclaims. “He can race cars with me!”

Jennifer laughs, and the sound is like a dam breaking, clearing the way for jokes and animated conversation.

“I’ll have to see if I can find Jennifer’s old Nutty Bunny,” her father says.

“No,” Jennifer’s siblings all say at once.

“Not Stinky Nuts!” Jared says, and everyone cracks up.

“His name is Little Nut,” Jennifer insists, which only makes everyone laugh harder.

I cock a brow. “Little Nut?”

They all crack up again, and she rolls her eyes. “It’s from a book!”

“When Jennifer was three, she was obsessed with the book Guess How Much I Love You,” her mother explains. “Jacob and I gave her a stuffed rabbit like the one in the book. In the story, the rabbit’s name was Little Nutbrown Hare.”

“She carried that thing everywhere,” Jace adds. “It was missing one eye and had more stitches than Frankenstein.”

“She used to dress it up in our dolls’ rain boots and hats that she’d cut holes in for the ears,” Mia says.

“Speaking of ears, she used to chew on them,” Jace says.

More laughter rings out.

Jennifer’s cheeks pink up. “You laugh, but that rabbit never disappointed me. He was always there when I needed a friend, which is more than I can say for any of you.”

That makes Mia snort-laugh, and the jokes about the bunny lead to jokes about Mia’s fashion dolls and Jace’s obsession with motorcycles, and Jared’s affinity for the perfect cooking knives.

“There was a period of about a year when your father and I had some concerns about Jared and his knife obsession,” her mother admits.

Jace coughs out, “Serial killer,” and laughter erupts anew.

The way her family harasses and loves one another in the same breath reminds me of my own family. I know they have questions and concerns about how Jennifer and I will work everything out, but their love and complete, unshakable support are there for her, and I’m so damn grateful for that.