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“Reese—”
“Say it, Cat.”
“Stubborn man. Okay. Yes, I’m pregnant.”
I bury my face in her lap and press my hand to her belly, emotions sideswiping me, momentarily overwhelming me. I look up at her. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. How do you feel about it?”
“Blessed. Happy, Cat, I’m happy but it’s you I’m worried about. How do you feel about it? You didn’t tell me.”
“Blessed. Happy. Of course, I wanted to tell you. We’ve always talked about this, but I found out right before your opening statement. I wasn’t going to distract you from that and then I was going to tell you once you were past that, but then Debbie—”
“You had to deal with Debbie, while you were pregnant. Please tell me you haven’t been regretting this, Cat.”
“My God, no. Regret your child, our child? Never. I knew Debbie stole a little of my joy and I didn’t want her to steal yours. I wanted this moment to come when we were past her threats and I wanted it to be special. Why do you think I did the whole ‘end this in one week’ demand? That’s not like me. I kept telling myself I could make it until your birthday, which I was going to tell you then no matter what, but it was killing me to hold it back.”
I lay her down on the couch on her side and go down with her, facing her. “I understand why you held it back. I do. You tried to protect me and something special between us.”
“Yes. Very much.”
“And you succeeded. Now we don’t have to think about Debbie or Dana.” I laugh. “Let’s stay away from names that start with a D. Boy or girl?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know when we’ll know. I had to see the nurse. The doctor is gone until my next appointment.”
“Due date?”
“June 11th.”
“Do you want a boy or a girl?” I ask.
“Either, but a boy that can be just like you would be very special. You?”
I stroke hair from her eyes. “Either, but a girl that can be just like you would be very special.”
She smiles, but it fades quickly. “This wasn’t how we planned this,” she says. “We were waiting a while. I was on the pill. I don’t know how it even happened but it did. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“It seems to be that little one in your belly made that decision for us and yes, Cat. I’m fucking perfect.”
“You’re not scared?”
“Should I be?”
“Well, I wasn’t, but now that we’re talking about it, it’s hitting. There’s a baby in my belly and we’re responsible for that life. That feels intimidating.”
“If it didn’t,” I say, “you wouldn’t be the perfect mom I know you’re going to be.”
“Even that statement feels like pressure. Is there such a thing as a perfect mom or dad?”
“Perfect is you and me doing this together and we’re good at doing things together, Cat. We’ll figure it out and even if we get it wrong, our child will feel loved.”
Her hand comes to my face. “I need to tell you something. Lauren knows. I was freaking out over holding this back, but afraid of messing with your opening statement. Royce walked in. He overheard. He knows. No one else knows.”
I laugh. “I put Royce on the spot in the elevator. I told him I thought you were pregnant and that I needed the DNA test from Debbie. Cat, I started thinking that you were—”
“Not telling you because I doubted you?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
