With All My Heart - Emilia Finn Page 0,24
at the garage today.”
Biting her bottom lip, she nods.
“It was from Geo.”
Her body tenses. “Is he okay? What’s wrong?”
I smile. She cares about my best friend, despite the fact she hardly knows him. She knows I love him, and therefore, she loves him. “He’s fine. He misses us. Misses B.”
“He’s never met Bobby.”
I nod. “Exactly. He wants us to come home.”
Her head tilts to the side. “Home?”
“Yeah, back home. He said he’s got a job waiting for me. An apartment big enough for all of us. He wants to know our son. He wants us back.”
“You wanna move?”
I stroke my thumb over the delicate flesh of her chest. “Only if you do. I won’t go anywhere without you, and I won’t make you go anywhere you don’t want to go.” I press my lips to her forehead. “I promised I’d follow you anywhere. That offer never expires, so this is your decision. I won’t get mad if you say no.”
She nods and turns to watch Bobby gouge our table. Naked except his diaper. Hair growing into his eyes. Broad chest he got straight from me.
She looks back to me. “Do you want to move?” She nods before I can answer. “You do, otherwise, you never would’ve brought it up.”
“I would like to be near my best friend again. But it’s not a big deal. If you’re happy here, then we stay here.”
Again, she nods and goes back to watch Bobby. “Maybe you need all the facts, first.”
My eyes narrow at her doomsday tone. “What facts, Bert?”
“Moving is hard work. It’s expensive. Geo’s a full day’s drive away. That’s a lot of gas. A lot of hauling.”
“Get to the point, woman.”
“Bobby.” She waits for his playful eyes to snap up. “Do you remember our surprise for Daddy?”
“What?”
She snickers. “Look at me, baby. What did we do today?”
“Momma did a wee.”
Shaking her head, she leans back against my chest. “I did a wee.”
“Is that your surprise?” I whisper in her ear. “Because, I mean, I can celebrate that if you need me to. I can get on board. I know staying home with a one year old can be a little… under-stimulating.”
She elbows me in the stomach, but that’s nothing on how her next words wind me. “I’m pregnant, Bry.”
Heart. Splat.
Heart. Soar!
“You peed… You’re pregnant. Oh!” I bounce her in my lap to bring her face around. “You did a pregnancy test! Bert, you’re pregnant?”
She rolls her eyes. “I know you do it on purpose. I know you know how to pull out on time. The two times you’re all ‘oh damn, baby. I’m sorry.’ Two times I start puking around ten in the morning.”
“You’re having another baby?” I press my lips to hers. “You’re making me another baby?” I stroke her still flat tummy. “Fuck, woman! You’re having my baby?”
She laughs softly. “I am. I started puking yesterday. You forgot to pull out about five weeks ago – I marked it on the damn calendar. I knew what you were doing. I went to the doctors today, Bobby watched me pee into a little cup. We’re having another monster.”
“You’re having another baby!” I stand and take her with me. The rickety dining chair slams to the floor and reduces Bobby to a giggling mess. He claps his hands and stabs his own palm with the fork. “I totally did it on purpose! Oh my God, you’re making me another baby.” I press a kiss to her lips.
“I don’t know why you did that, Bryan. You work three jobs. Three! You work so hard, and now you’re going to add another mouth to feed.”
“Making a family is bigger than our bank balance. We’re making our future, Bert. Our legacy. Who gives a fuck if I need to pick up an extra job?”
“I do!” She pokes my chest. “I married you because I kinda like you. I’d like to see more of you, not less.” Her eyes water with emotion. “I miss you all day. I want you to be able to rest. I don’t want you to worry as much as you do.”
“Hey.” I swipe away her tears. “Are you sad we’re having a baby? Because I didn’t mean to make you sad.”
“I’m not sad about the baby. I’m sad that this will make you worry more. You need to relax. You need to be able to sit down one day and look around and enjoy all the things you work for.”
Sitting her on the edge of our shitty table while Bobby’s