Page 44 of Matrimonial Merger
“There is space for everyone,” I said. “She will be so blessed with people to dote she’ll be spoiled rotten.”
“Impossible,” Cal said. “You cannot spoil a baby. I firmly believe that.”
Mum rolled her eyes. “You and David. It drove me mad. Don’t always make your wife play bad cop.”
“Look, I cannot help if I’ve waited nearly fifty years to spoil a kid. I might be crazy, but the kid will be loved and have everything I didn’t have.”
I squeezed his knee. “And she will be so lucky to have all of this family.”
“You must tell your mother,” Mum said. “She will lose her mind.”
“Oh, sheandChloe,” Cal agreed. “Chloe was on Team Girl.”
“I know,” Lanie snickered. “She’s already stockpiling clothes—even without knowing—and searching for ponies online.”
“She’s ridiculous,” Davey said. “Keep this kid far from horses, Daph. Horse girls are the worst.”
Delanie leaned across Mum to slap him. “You’re an ass. Horses are good for kids. Every kid should have a pony. Even Cal agrees.”
“No comment,” Cal sighed. “But it’s proof I love Daphne and Chloe to even entertain the idea.”
I smiled. “If her aunt wants to buy her a pony, I will not stop her.”
“That’s just playing dirty,” Davey said. “No one can top a pony. Derrick will have planes. I’m out of it.”
“Just show up,” Cal said. “She’ll love you for it, Davey. We all will.”
Cal squeezed my shoulders. I leaned my head on his shoulder, knowing it was the best part. Hewantedthem in our lives—even if it was messy sometimes. Even if there was sometimes drama and a lot of complication, even if there was Catholic guilt afoot. He wanted to be a part of our family and he wanted them to be a part of ours. It was perfect. It was what Chandler never would have given me and it was everything I wanted.
“Hello!” Dahlia’s voice rang out.
“Drawing room!” Mum called back.
Dahlia came around the corner, her face erupting in a beaming smile.
“Oh my God, Daphne and Cal are here!”
She swooped in to hug us both. “Sorry I am late. I had to make sure nothing was going to fall apart before I left.”
“It’s okay,” Mum agreed. “I told the cook we’d be late to dinner. Daphne, do you want to tell her the news?”
“Shit! Yes,” I said. “Cal and I are having a girl named Cordelia Alma.”
“Oh my God!” Dahlia said. “So perfect!”
It was. And as we took our places around the dinner table, Cal to my right, I couldn’t help but brim with all the oxytocin in the world.Thiswas my forever. This was what we always deserved—love, acceptance, and joy.
As we returned home, Cal made us some tea while I looked out over the city from the living room window. It glittered. As we’d started that night in a conference room, it was the endless backdrop tous.
“Here you are, baby,” Cal said, setting a mug down on the coffee table.
I turned, giving him a smile. Dropping to the couch, I stopped to appreciate the baby moving within me. The kicks had only just begun.
“She’s moving?” Cal read my expression.
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m still sad I cannot feel her,” Cal said.
