Everett gives me a sweet kiss. “Time will prove that I’m not going anywhere. So, for now, we don’t say anything about whothe baby’s biological father is. We can let people guess or make their own assumptions.”
He needs to know how I feel about him. That even with my fear, in my heart, I know who he is to me and this child.
I reach my hand up and brush his hair back. “From the day I found out I was pregnant, you’ve been the father in every way that matters. You’ve been the man I’ve needed, and I love you, Everett. I love you.”
He smiles, and the joy in his eyes sends a wash of warmth through me. His voice is thick as he speaks. “I love you so much I worry you’ll drown in it.”
“I don’t think love drowns, I think it makes you fly because right now I’m not weighed down. I feel like I can breathe.”
twenty-nine
Everett
“Good morning, beautiful,” I say as I enter my mother’s house with Violet.
Her smile widens. “Everett, hi, sweetheart. You brought someone.”
“I did. I brought Violet. She wanted to see you again.”
Mom reaches her hands out to Vi, and she takes them, pulling her to the chair beside her. “Oh, Violet, hello. I ... know ... we saw each other. I just, you looked different.”
Violet smiles widely. “I changed my hair,” she tries to explain.
God, I love this woman. She always makes my mother feel comfortable. If she says something or doesn’t remember, Violet never puts her down. She just gives an excuse.
“You are positively glowing, darling.”
“Thank you,” Violet says.
I’d like to think I had a part in that. I did give her two orgasms this morning. Sure, it could be the pregnancy, but I’m going to take the credit where I can.
I sit beside Violet, taking her hand in mine. Mom has had two good days in a row, and so far it looks as though we mightbe going for a three-peat. Last night Violet and I agreed if she looked good today, we’d tell her about the baby.
Violet is starting to show. Her stomach has the most beautiful bump, and we’ll find out the sex of the baby soon, so we thought it was time.
“Mom, Violet and I wanted to tell you something, and we’ll come all the time and tell you again, so if you forget, it’s okay,” I say carefully. She tends to get pissed off when she can’t recall things, but my hope is that if we tell her enough, and she continues to see Violet, it will become part of her memories.
“Are you okay? Is everything okay?” She starts to panic, and before I can react, Violet moves to her, taking her hands.
“Everything is fine. This is good news,” Violet says quickly.
“Oh, okay,” Mom breathes. “What is it?”
In the millions of ways I dreamed of telling my mother big news, I didn’t picture it this way, where I don’t know if she’ll remember any of it tomorrow. If she’ll ever really know Violet or the baby when she sees them.
I don’t even know if, at my wedding, she’ll have a clue who half the people are.
It really fucking sucks, and this will be a big test for her.
Violet squeezes my hand. Right, I need to tell her. “Violet and I are together again, and we’re going to have a baby.”
Mom looks to Violet and then me. “A baby?”
“Yes, Violet is pregnant.”
Her eyes mist over, and she gets out of her seat. “You’re going to have a baby together?” she asks again.
Violet and I both rise. “Yes, are you happy?”
