“It’s a baby, Ryder. It will need…stuff, and things, and…” It wasn’t often Trina seemed at a loss for words.
“It’s not like we don’t have any experience. We were both pretty involved with Alyssa’s care when Sinclair first had her.”
Her brows knitted together as if she was considering that. Then, as happened with her, a new issue popped into her head.
“How can I even do this?”
“Trina, honey.” I kissed her forehead. “First, you’re not alone. I’m here. Right here. Maybe I’m not perfect, but I stick. Second, we’ve got my parents and Sinclair and Wyatt.”
Her eyes watered a little bit. I thought she was going to settle down, but then a new concern came to her. “What about my job?”
“What about it? Politically correct Mayor Valentine isn’t going to fire you for being pregnant. In fact, you’ve been worried about your job. This baby sort of saves it doesn’t it? It would look bad if he replaced you with that other woman now. In fact, it might be illegal to fire a pregnant woman.”
I was making light of the situation again, and prepared for her to go off on me. Instead she gave me that same look like I was a different species. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Just take everything with ease. Don’t let it get to you? See the silver lining?”
I shrugged. “I suppose it’s part of who I am the same way you are the way you are.”
Her head plopped against my shoulder. “I’m not mom material.”
“That’s bullshit.”
She jerked up at me. “I’m not. You know I’m not. I always see the world with the glass half full. That’s what Sinclair says. I know she’s right. I just can’t afford to be all Pollyanna like you and her.”
“Well, the thing is, your half-empty glass and my half-full glass make a one-hundred-percent full glass.” I smiled, willing her to let some of her worry go. Not all of it. It was in her nature to be on guard, but she didn’t need to keep being in a tizzy about this. We’d figure it out.
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Making it seem like this isn’t that big of a deal. It feels monumental to me.”
I tugged her in closer. “It is a big deal, Trina. We’ve made a life. It’s a big responsibility and despite what you think of me, I can be responsible. But it’s also exciting. Will she have red hair like you? Will she be organized and efficient, like you? Will she like music, like me?”
“It could be a boy.”
“It could be. Won’t it be an adventure to find out what sort of person we made?”
She rested against me, her tension easing. Her breathing slowed. “I’m scared.”
“Me too, but we’re not alone,” I said again. “It’s like a roller coaster. Scary, thrilling, fun—”
“Dangerous.”
I laughed and kissed her on the head. “I’ll take the kid on the coasters then.”
She looked up at me. “You really feel okay with this?”
I nodded. “I really do.”
I studied her eyes. They were red from crying. They looked tired too. I remembered Sinclair being really tired when she’d been pregnant with Alyssa.
“Why don’t you eat some dinner? I’ll reheat it and then you go to bed. You and Katrina Junior need nourishment and rest.”
Her lips twitched up into a small smile, giving me hope that we’d get through this.