“Some news a man gets from his woman, it’s a moment in life. We havin’ a moment?”
I nodded again, my throat closing even more at his sweet words.
“Kinda wanna hear you say it, Mama.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m going to have your baby, Cole.”
His arms tightened around me, and we stood that way for a moment. He took a deep breath. “Peace, baby. All the way down to my soul. All that dark? It’s gone. Just light now. And that’s all because of you and the kids.”
“Oh, Cole.”
He held me in his arms for a while.
“How did you know?”
“My baby loves her Bloody Marys. Crystal made you a Bloody Mary today. Saw you take it and thank her. Saw you put it aside later, untouched.”
“Oh.”
He held me close, and his hand slid low to cover my stomach. “Gonna get to see you carryin’ this one, babe. Gonna get to feel it moving inside you. Can’t wait.”
I broke down into sobs.
He gently turned me in his arms.
I buried my face in his chest.
Surprised, he stroked the back of my head. “Baby doll, you’re happy about this, right?”
I nodded, my head moving against him.
“Then what is it?” he asked, his head dipped to the top of mine.
“I’m scared.”
Both his hands slid into my hair, and he tilted my face up to his. “Why you scared, baby?”
“Melissa. What if this one’s sick, and—”
“No, Mama, don’t go there. The bad is all in the past. This family is not lookin’ back. We’re only lookin’ forward, and forward is all good.”
“Okay, honey.” And it was. It was all good.