Holding You Close (Ex-Con Duet 4)

Noah nods. “I’d love to have Anthony around. And I’m sure Owen would be happy to get to spend time with his half brother.”

I chuckle to myself, and Loretta tilts her head at me. “Sorry, I’m just laughing at how odd all of this is. Owen went from having no siblings to…” I trail off for a second and turn and look at Noah, asking for silent permission. As if he reads my mind, he places his hand on my shoulder and gives me a head nod. “To having several,” I continue.

I notice the confusion on her face. “Several?”

Noah gives a soft laugh, and I can feel the warmth of his breath on the back of my neck, which causes goose bumps to form. “I’m pregnant,” I happily say.

“With twins,” Noah adds. “But we’re not making any announcements anytime soon.”

I turn to her. “Oh yes, please don’t tell anyone. My parents and Noah’s dad haven’t been told yet. You’re actually the only one who knows outside of us.”

Loretta grins wide. Standing, she gives Noah a hug and then pulls me in for another. “Thank you for telling me. I’m so thrilled for you two. I’ll always consider you my daughter, Katie. And I hope you two allow me to continue to be in Owen’s life and the babies’ lives too.”

“We’d be honored,” Noah confirms, and I’m in awe at how easily he speaks with her after how she’s treated him. It feels as if our lives are finally moving in the right direction, and everything’s going to be just fine.

Chapter Fourteen

NOAH

The gym’s busy for a Friday afternoon, but it makes the day pass faster. Though I enjoy working with Tyler and my sister, it’s not as fulfilling as it was to renovate. For now, I’m managing the front desk, so I mainly register new members and scan others in. Occasionally, I answer the phone and do random tasks as needed. Basically, I’m a glorified receptionist, but I appreciate having a job until I find something permanent.

If someone had told me I would have a gun pointed in my face and the life of the woman I love threatened, I would’ve called them a liar. The very moment I thought I could lose Katie for good, I didn’t hesitate to rush toward her. I’d take a bullet for her any day but thank God for the vest that saved my life. It’s been a month since that happened, and we’re finally getting back to normal.

Noah: Hey, baby. How’re you feeling today? How’s work?

I’ve never been more excited in my life to be a dad and start a family with Katie. Finding out she was pregnant was a huge shock, but we’re excited about this next step in our relationship. I love her more than I could ever express and can’t wait to make her my wife. Though I wish I could take away her sickness, she’s taking it like a champ.

Katie: Great and great! Gonna leave work early and grab Owen before heading home. How about you?

Noah: Fine, it gets busy, then slows down for a bit. Hoping to leave early too.

Katie: YAY! Can’t wait to see you!!

I smile at her enthusiasm.

Noah: Love you, see ya soon!

Though I know Katie’s a strong woman, and she acts fine, I worry about how she’s handling the incident—or rather, her lack thereof. She didn’t have much time to process it before it was confirmed she was pregnant, and I’m worried she’s suppressing her feelings. It was a tragic event for everyone involved, and I know I’ve pushed away my pain and bitterness by focusing on other things like our relationship. Compartmentalizing emotions isn’t a new concept for me, though. It started when my mother passed away, then continued when I went to prison. I worked through the different stages of emotions the best I could.

First, I experienced denial that I had killed Gabe and was being charged with his murder. Then I felt intense anger and took an unfair plea deal instead of risking being sentenced for longer. Next came the bargaining, depression, and eventually—acceptance, which took years. It didn’t mean I was fine with what happened or the outcome, but rather, I accepted I’d lost ten years of my life for an unintentional crime.

The only reason I didn’t spin out of control afterward was because redemption became my focus. I felt so damn guilty for putting my father and sister through that while also not being there for Katie. I didn’t give myself time to obsess about how I had to start completely over or how my life would never be the same. I pushed through the fear and worked hard, which miraculously resulted in the outcome I wanted.

However, not how everyone deals with life-altering events like that. Katie hasn’t really talked about it, and I don’t want to force her until she’s ready. Instead, she’s focused on being pregnant more than anything. I just don’t want her spiraling later on because she’s ignoring what happened a month ago. I’m supporting her the best way I know how and will continue to do so. Since I wasn’t around after Gabe passed and refused to see her once I went to prison, I don’t know if this is how she deals with things. But if it is, I’m going to respect that.