“Um, guys. I think I know what Avril’s getting at.”
“Then enlighten us, oh wise one,” Chase said with a snort.
“You idiots. I think our girl is with child.”
I beamed. I couldn’t help it.
Gio, my emotive Italian, jumped up from the sofa and ran to me with an embrace. When he pulled away, his face was wet with tears.
Sumner sat there, nodding, and laughing.
Chase and Ash were a little slower to see the light. The looked at each other like someone had told them the earth was flat.
And then something washed over their faces.
“HOLY SHIT,” Chase hollered, running to embrace both Ruby and me. He continued, “I’m gonna be a dad AGAIN. We’re all going to be dads, guys.”
“I don’t suppose you know who the father is, do you?” Ash asked.
“Nope, and it doesn’t matter. As far as I’m concerned, this child is a gift from all of you.”
The room was filled with hoots and hollers so loud they must have heard us down on the street.
Chase broke out a very special bottle of scotch. Of course, I declined, content with my seltzer water.
“You’re gonna be an awesome mother, my love,” Sumner said, kissing my hand.
“I hope so,” I said. The sky was the limit when people believed in you like that. I only wished my sister Lisette was around to share in the good news.
Perhaps someday, the ghosts of all our pasts would slip away into distant memories. But until then, we’d hold each other up and keep learning.
We had each other, and we had love. What more could anyone need?
THE END