to find out soon enough anyway.
“I’m going to be a father. My…girlfriend, she’s pregnant. I’m going to have a family, and I want to stick around for that. I don’t want to put myself in any danger and risk losing everything or put them through any hardships.”
Tom is staring like he’s been struck by lightning. It’s almost comical. His eyes are so wide.
“I don’t even know which part of that statement to react to first,” he replies and we both break into laughter.
“This is just the best news!” Ella exclaims as she hugs me tight. I can see Reed beaming as he stands behind her. They’ve just come downstairs after putting Mia to bed and I decided it was the best time to tell them. “And Mia will get to grow up with a cousin so close to her age. It’s amazing!”
“I’ve met her very briefly, but you should bring her over, introduce us properly,” Reed adds.
“Yeah, she had to go back to her parents’ place and pack up her things. I’m going to join her the day after tomorrow.”
“Meet the parents!” Reed exclaims, slapping my back jovially, and I smile.
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone’s parents, but Blaire has insisted they are the sweetest people I will ever meet,” I tell them.
“Oh my God! I can’t contain the excitement. This is the best news. Kirk as a daddy; I can’t believe it!” Ella says with a laugh. “Come on, we have to celebrate. I’m going to bring champagne.”
She rushes away, leaving Reed and me alone in the den. My brother looks at me with a wide smile.
“I can’t believe it either. When we first met, apart from the fact that I thought you were trying to destroy me, I also didn’t picture you as the guy settling down with a woman and child.”
“I think there was a part of me that did want to destroy you,” I say with a laugh. “And I didn’t see myself as that guy either. So you were right on both fronts.”
Reed sits down and sighs.
“I think it’s going to be difficult for us, given the history we have with our own parents and family. I don’t know how to not be overprotective of Ella and Mia. I’m so afraid I’ll lose them.” Reed is speaking, but he’s not looking at me. He is not the kind of man who gives in to fear easily, but I can see fear in his eyes. Real fear. I know what he means because I feel it too.
“I refuse to lose them. Kim and the baby. That is how I know she is the one. This is my family. I’ll fight till my last breath to keep us together,” I say.
Reed looks at me, and even though we don’t say another word, the silence is telling. We are made of the same blood. The same genes. What he feels, I feel. We both know how it feels to love our women the way we do. It’s all-consuming. It’s crazy.
“Champagne!” Ella announces as she bounds into the room. Reed stands up and goes to take her into his arms.
“Okay! What’s this about?” she giggles as he kisses her cheeks and forehead.
“This whole thing just reminded me of how lucky I am to have you and Mia,” he says, and I nod.
Even though I saw Kim just an hour ago, I miss her already. I can’t wait to see her again.
It looks like Mom was just getting ready for bed when I knock on her door. She is all smiles when she opens the door. She’s happy to see me. I feel a sharp pang of guilt in my heart. After all this time of arguing, after the way I’ve behaved towards her, she still treats me the same. I will always be her little boy.
“Come in, honey; it’s so good to see you!” she says and leads me in. “Reed said you were going to have dinner with them. I was wondering when I’d get to see you again.”
We go to the kitchen where she flips the kettle on to make tea. I sit at the kitchen table. My stomach is doing somersaults.
“What’s the matter, sweetheart? Are you feeling okay?” she asks.
“Mom, I wanted to come and tell you this in person before it’s too late. I’m sorry for the way I’ve behaved in the last few years.” I say it quickly before I can change my mind.
Mom is standing stock-still. She didn’t see this coming.