Sylvia glances down at her stomach. She hesitates before placing a hand over her belly. “I’m terrified, Scott. I’m scared to be happy. To start loving this baby. To believe that this is even real. I mean, I’ve wanted another child, but I’ve been too scared to change things. And now, I’m pregnant? It’s just...”
“Let’s not worry until we have to, Sylvie.” I pull her back against me. “We’ll be okay.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her that the baby will be okay, but I’ve never made a promise that I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep. I don’t want to say those words and then something happen. But I can promise her that we will be okay. One way or another, we’ll make it through whatever happens. “I love you.”
“I love you. I’m sorry about the divorce threats earlier this week.”
I laugh. “It’s okay.”
“I’m glad you’re going to be here for a few days. I need to recover.”
“Do you want the girls to stay with my parents tonight?”
“No. They probably know something is up, and I don’t want to worry them. Can we not tell anyone yet? Maybe wait a little bit longer and go to a few more appointments? Just in case?”
“Whatever you want.” I don’t mind that plan, actually. Cautiously optimistic doesn’t necessarily mean blasting to everyone we know that the impossible has happened.
“We should go get the girls.”
“Why don’t you stay here, and I’ll go get them? It’s been a long day. You rest.”
She nods, so I kiss her forehead and then leave. Now, I have to evade questions of “What’s wrong with Sylvia?” from my parents and “Why are you home?” from the girls. Well, I’ll need to come up with an answer for the girls. The ride isn’t terribly long. Sure enough, my mom answers the door and the first thing she says is, “Is everything okay with Sylvia?”
“She’s fine, Mom,” I answer as I step into the house.
“Well, what happened?”
“Nothing.”
She raises one brow at me. “Nothing? You left a game for nothing?”
“Leave it alone. Now is not the time to discuss it.”
She nods. “Stella! Stephanie! Your father is here!”
A heartbeat later, the girls come running toward the door with their things. “Daddy! What are you doing here?” Stella asks.
“Don’t you have an away game?” Stephanie adds.
“Your mom got sick, so I had to come home. Do you have everything?” They nod. “Let’s go then. Thanks, Mom.”
Once we’re in the car, Stella asks, “Is Momma okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine now. Let’s be on our best behavior tonight, okay? No fighting, no being loud, no annoying each other. Think you can do that for your momma?”
“Yes,” they say simultaneously.
“Good. We’ll bake cookies tomorrow then.”
The rest of the ride is unusually quiet. When we get home, the girls rush to where Sylvia is still sitting on the couch and give her a hug. That causes her to burst into tears as they curl into her sides, asking if she’s feeling any better. I leave them alone to start on dinner.
I’m about halfway done when my phone vibrates with a call from Lizzy.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Is everything okay? I heard you weren’t with the team due to a family emergency. What happened?”
“We’re all good here, Lizzy.”
“But—”