Page 35 of Serendipity

“Honey, I’m not trying to talk you into anything, but you understand that there are thousands of parents out there who can’t have children on their own and adoption is an answer to their prayers, right?”

“I get that, I do. I know that it’s a good decision but it just isn’t what I feel comfortable with.”

Stone’s eyes widen as do my own.

“Daisy doesn’t plan to keep the baby, though? Does she know you want to?”

He nods. “Yeah, she does. We fought about it quite a bit, actually.”

Boone sits back down in the chair and I crouch down in front of him.

“Listen to me. I’m going to give it to you straight because if there’s one thing I’m not, it’s a liar. It’s going to be okay. I don’t know how, but it will be. Your brothers and sister, me, Stone… we’re all here and whatever you need, however we can help, we’ll be there. It isn’t ideal. It’s going to be incredibly hard. It changes your life course. But I promise you it will be worth it and whatever you and Daisy decide to do, we will support your decision. If that means you’re going to be a single daddy, well…” I shrug, not sure what else to say.

“Love you, Mom.”

I lean up and hug him, tears springing to my eyes. “I love you, too, my baby boy.”

“Thanks for not being mad.”

“Oh, I’m not thrilled, but being mad about it doesn’t help anyone, right? It’s a hurdle that we’ll jump and come back stronger on the other side.”

“Promise?”

“Promise. Now. You need to get ready. Your commencement ceremony is in an hour and we can’t be late.”

“Wow. Graduating high school and becoming a dad all in one day. This a story for the record books,” Stone says, jokingly.

Boone’s lip twitches. “Right. Go big or go home, right?”

As Boone wanders to his bedroom, Stone and I look at each other, flabbergasted by what just happened.

“You’re gonna be a grandma.” Stone grins.

“Not helping,” I grumble.

He pulls me to him. “We’ll get him through it. Just like you said, we’re all here for him and no matter what happens, he’ll have us. All of us. Now, let’s go get that boy graduated from high school.”

“Holy shit,” I sigh.

“Yeah,” he says. “Just remember, in two months, you’ll be Mrs. Montgomery. See? There are good things to come. Babies are a blessing, Leah. Sure, this is not the plan but it’ll still be wonderful.”

“Gosh, I hope so. You’re right, though. Babies are a blessing.”

“You know what I was thinking the other day?”

“What were you thinking?”

“That day at the grocery store that we ran into each other? How we were both divorced and started talking and everything just… clicked?”

“Yes?”

“It was like serendipitous or something.”

“You mean us running into each other?”

He looks a little embarrassed when he shrugs. “Yeah. Serendipity.”

“I like that.”

“Me, too.”

“Know what I like even more?”

“What’s that?”

“Calling you Mrs. Montgomery.”