Come What May

Seraphine sits up, drawing my gaze down to hers. “Don’t beat yourself up over it. You’re only human.”

“It’s just something I’ve always regretted.” It’s also why I make such an effort to be involved in her life now. Sure, Desi doesn’t know I didn’t attend her pre-natal appointments, and maybe my guilt is misplaced, but it exists in me all the same.

“We all have regrets. Like I said—human. But the thing about being human is, we have the potential to learn and grow, to do better, and trust me when I say that you’re one of the best.”

Her praise makes me feel about ten feet tall. “The best you say?” I lean in and nuzzle her neck.

“Don’t fish for compliments—it’s not becoming.”

I chuckle at her unwitting remark. “Pretty sure there’s a joke in there somewhere, mariposita.”

“And I’m pretty sure you offered to take me out to celebrate.”

“That I did. Let’s get cleaned up.”Chapter Thirty-TwoSeraphine“You’re sure you’re okay spending the day with my mom?” Mateo asks, passing me a cup of hot cocoa—because apparently the smell of coffee makes me want to hurl now, along with pretty much everything else I love.

“Desi is coming with her, but even if she weren’t, I would be fine with it.” I take a sip of my chocolatey drink, letting it warm me from the inside. “I love your mother.” I mean it too; ever since that last dinner at Lety’s, we’ve taken to texting every day.

Mateo chuckles. “She loves you too.”

“We need to tell her—and Desi—about the baby. I’m almost twelve weeks and if you look close enough, you can tell it’s not just bloating.”

“You look incredible,” Mateo growls. He’s made it more than clear he loves every extra pound on me.

“I look like I did five trips to the buffet. My jeans are getting a little snug.”

He rolls his eyes; I lift my top and point to the hair-tie securing my pants.

“We really do need to tell them. Ideas?” I ask, like I haven’t been scouring the internet for ideas.

“I’ve heard the words I’m pregnant are pretty effective.”

“Smartass,” I mutter under my breath.

“You love it.” He wags his eyebrows.

“I love you.”

Growing serious, he sets his mug on the counter and cups my cheek. “I love you too, and we can tell them however and whenever you want. You could even do it today.”

“Really?”

“Really. If it makes you happy, it makes me happy, mariposita.”

“Okay, good.”

“What do y’all have planned today?”

I bounce on my toes as a beaming smile splits my cheeks. “We’re doing a floral arrangement class at Stems and then getting lunch at Dilly’s.”

Mateo steps into me, kissing my temple. “Maybe I can meet y’all for lunch and we can tell her then?”

I pop up and kiss his lips. “That’s perfect!”

“You want me to drop you off then? That way we can take one car home?”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

Mateo stares at me blankly. “Are you really asking if I mind spending more time with you?”

“You got me there.” I kiss him one more time before chugging down the rest of my cocoa. “Now, let’s go so we aren’t late.”

“In such a hurry to get rid of me.” He shakes his head in mock-disappointment. “You wound me.”

I roll my eyes at his antics while rinsing my mug.

“Come on Seraphine.” He tugs on the hood of my jacket. “You’re gonna make us late.”

Laughter bubbles up inside me, spilling out. “You’re crazy, you know that?”

“Crazy for you.”

Mateo gets a call from his brother the second we pull out of the garage, so I spend the quick drive to Stems on my phone pinning more cute pregnancy announcements.

I give him a quick kiss on the cheek when he pulls into the parking lot before hopping out of the truck. “Love you,” I holler as he pulls away, blowing a kiss.

He blows one back in the rearview mirror.

I trek inside, eager to escape the cold. Ever prompt, I find Lety and Desi already waiting for me.

Desi spots me first and flies over to hug me. “I didn’t think you’d ever get here. She keeps asking me about boys!” she mutters the last part so only I can hear it.

“I’m perfectly on time.”

Desi rolls her eyes in agitation, but a smile breaks free

“Seraphine!” Lety wraps me in a tight hug, kissing each cheek. As she releases me, I swear, she glances down meaningfully at my stomach. “You are looking well. Glowing.”

“Oh, thanks. Um, you look well too?”

Both Lety and Desi laugh at my less-than-eloquent reply. “Come, let’s arrange flowers.”

The class is intimate, with only five other people plus the instructor.

“Good morning,” a chipper redhead says. “I’m Toni and I’ll be teaching y’all how to make one helluva bouquet today. If you’ll move over to our worktable, we can get started.”

We all shuffle to the massive table in the back of the shop. Desi gets paired with another girl close to her age, and the two become fast friends.