Page 118 of Stealing Home

We didn’t write individual vows, but together chose to promise to fight harder for each other than with each other, to build a lifetime of inside jokes, to cancel plans with everyone in favor of doing nothing together, and above all to love each other even in the moments we don’t like each other. The entire ceremony only lasts a few minutes, and then Dolores introduces us as Mr. and Mrs. Ryan.

Scott looks at me, and I can see he’s prepared to correct her, but I put my finger on his lips, stopping him.

“Are you sure?” he asks me.

I nod. “Yeah, I think it would be best if I have the same last name as our baby.”

“Are you—” he swallows hard, “Low, are you telling me that you’re pregnant?”

Again, I nod. “Surprise.”

He lifts me up and spins me around, which might not have been the best idea, considering I’m feeling a little queasy, but his enthusiasm is infectious, and I’m able to settle my stomach through will power.

“I’m going to be a father,” he shouts.

I catch Becca’s eyes, and she winks at me. She was right, that was totally worth telling him around everyone.

Like any event at casa Hale, everyone jumps to work the moment the ceremony is over, and the chairs are replaced with tables. Food is brought out, and music plays softly from large speakers. Scott guides me to sit, and rushes around trying to see to any need he anticipates me having. Wren drops down next to me, while I notice Griffin is doing the same thing.

She rolls her eyes. “Here we are growing an entire human, and they spend nine months acting like we’re fragile. I guess the whole process is scary for them. There’s so much that could happen, this makes them feel like they’ve got some kind of control. Speaking of growing a human, looks like I’m the winner of the pregnancy bet.”

I watch as she turns in her seat to look out across the lawn towards the guests lining up for food. She cups her hands around her mouth. “Griffin, Charlie, and Liam I believe you all owe me some money!.”

Griffin, Charlie, and Liam file over, one-by-one and each slap some bills onto the table, grumbling under their breath. Dolores comes over and adds a hundred to the pile.

“Dolores, seriously, you too?” I gape at her.

She shrugs one frail shoulder. “What? It was obvious that young stud was going to knock you up fast.” Her white hair bobs as she seems to be agreeing with herself.

Scott comes over and steals my attention back. “Dance with me, Low.”

“So what comes next, hotshot?”

“Everything. All the beautiful and messy parts of life. I’m going to love every minute of it as long as we face it together.”

“Beautiful and messy, huh? I can’t wait,” I say to him.

John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I’ll be forever grateful that my plans came crashing down so my life could begin.