Page 233 of Josephine and Clay

This was a mistake.

A huge mistake.

Nash immediately starts walking. "I've got thoughts.”

"That's what I'm afraid of."

He ignores me. "The trick is acting like you know what's happening."

"You never know what's happening."

"And yet people keep trusting me with responsibilities."

I stare at him.

Nash points triumphantly. "They can't tell."

"Children absolutely can."

"Hailey can't."

"She's four months old."

"See?"

I rub my forehead.

Nash laughs.

Then his expression grows unexpectedly sincere. "Just love them."

I glance over.

He shrugs. "Everything else you figure out."

It should feel too simple to be useful, but somehow it sticks anyway.

Later that afternoon, I find Mom in the garden.

She's pruning roses with enough intensity to make me nervous. "You got a minute?"

She glances up. "Of course."

I lower myself onto the bench beside her.

We sit together while she trims roses and I search for a place to start. The wind moves through the trees. Somewhere in the distance, Rusty barks at absolutely nothing. Probably winning the argument too.

Mom clips another rose stem. "You're thinking hard."

"Everybody keeps saying that."

"Because it's true."

Fair.

I stare out across the yard.

Then finally say it. "Josie's pregnant."