Yeah, she was getting me.
I went on.
“It’s debatable who suffered worse,” I told her and she closed her eyes. She opened them when I continued, “And now that’s done. I want his baby growing inside me. I want a home. I want a family. I want to let Creed give that to me because Creed needs to give it to me. It’s what we’d planned. It’s what we’d dreamed. It’s what we went through hell for and it’s what we’re gonna have and we’re not going to wait. Not a month. Not a year. Now.”
“Your Dad did something to him,” she whispered her guess.
“My Dad did something to him,” I replied.
She licked her lips and turned her face back to the window but she held my hand tight. This time, I watched her face work instead of looking outside to watch my man work.
It took some time but finally she said quietly, “You should move to Phoenix. He should be close to his kids and your baby should be close to his or her brother and sister.”
See?
So totally told you that Charlene would want that for me.
“I am,” I said quietly back and her eyes came to me, they were stunned but they were also assessing. “It’s decided. Creed’s going to transfer his admin to you so you won’t feel that financial hit and –”
I stopped talking when her eyes filled with tears.
Then I started talking fast, holding her hand still to my chest, I leaned close and said gently, “I’ll come up. So will Creed. I mean, he can’t come up every two weeks to mow your yard but we’ll come up. Take the kids so you have time and –”
Charlene interrupted me.
“You’re happy.”
I blinked and asked, “What?”
“I didn’t see it or, I should say, I didn’t believe it.” She swallowed. “Now, I see it.”
“Charlene –”
She yanked her hand from mine but then grabbed me by the shoulders, pulled me close, wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hard hug.
I felt her body jerk with her sob as her voice broke with it when she said, “Always, I saw it, that hurt in the back of your eyes. Like you were lost in a way you couldn’t get found.” She gave me a squeeze. “Now it’s gone. You’re found and I’m so happy you’re happy, Sylvie.”
God, friends… freaking… rocked!
Suddenly she pulled back but her hands framed my face and she yanked mine close to hers. “I want you to make lots of babies. Lots and lots of them. You’re so cute and pretty. He’s so handsome. They’ll be beautiful. They’ll be brilliant. They’ll be loyal. They’ll be funny. They’ll be fabulous.”
Shit, I was so over this. Now Charlene was gonna make me cry.
“Charlene –” I started, my voice sounding hoarse but that was all I got out before she pulled my face even closer to hers, her wet, shining eyes were all I could see.
“Make him give you lots of babies. Make him, Sylvie.” It sounded like she was begging.
I didn’t think I would have a tough time convincing Creed to do this but still, I gave her what she wanted.
“I will, Charlene.”
She let my face go so she could throw her arms around me again and give me a deep, sweet, close hug.
I held her back just the same.
She did it sobbing quietly.
I did it breathing deeply.