We’re crammed around a booth at the bar I frequent with my coworkers (the same one where Charlie and I met) and this time, several of Charlie’s coworkers are here too, along with Rachel and Colin, and Diego. There’s not nearly enough room for everyone to sit, so several of our guests are standing, but they don’t seem to mind, and having too many friends and family is always a problem I feel blessed to have.
We’re all wearing birthday hats, except for Charlie who has a tiara perched on top of his head and an “It’s my birthday, bitches” sash draped across his torso that Dorine surprised him with. He's dressed in a black leather mini skirt and a long-sleeved, leopard print, off the shoulder crop top, complete with his strappy black heels. HIs smile is endless as he takes us all in. I don’t know when the last time was when he had a birthday celebration. Next to the cake are the giant ass balloons that Rachel and Colin brought, and beside them are the endless amounts of gifts from everyone, in all different shapes and sizes. Charlie is squirming on my lap now, and I laugh. I know he’s eager to get to his gifts.
“Don’t you want cake first?” I ask him.
“Okay, but just a little bit,” he tells me.
“Why don’t I get us some drinks,” Carlos says, and glances around, waiting for everyone’s orders. Almost everyone asks for a beer but there’s a few requests for margaritas or mai tais. Charlie and Diego share commiserating looks at the fact that they still can’t drink, and Carlos and I tell them they can have sips of ours. I’m shocked when Rachel asks for water instead of her usual drink. Carlos doesn’t think anything of it and walks away to fill our orders, but I know my ex-wife. That’s strange.
“You’re not getting a margarita? On a Friday night? Who are you and what have you done with Rachel?” I ask as we dig into our cake.
She chuckles as her cheeks pinken. “I’m fine,” she says. Her smile widens and Colin kisses her temple.
“Holy fuck,” I whisper, and drop my fork. I swallow. “Rach?” She’s biting her lip and I can tell she’s trying not to tell me something. Her eyes light up.
“Oh my god,” Charlie says, catching on. “Are you pregnant?”
Rachel exchanges a glance with Colin and he smiles wider than I’ve ever seen him smile before. He nods. She turns back to us and nods. I have tears in my eyes as Charlie shrieks and jumps off my lap. Colin stands so that Rachel can escape and Charlie gives her the world’s biggest hug. She laughs with tears in her eyes. “I wasn’t planning on saying anything until after the party. I didn’t want to ruin your special night, Charlie.”
“Are you kidding?” he says. “This is the best birthday present ever.” He squeezes her again and she laughs.
“Thank you.”
I stand and give Colin a hug. “Congratulations,” I tell him. He’s beaming at me and I just know he’s going to make an amazing dad.
“Thank you,” he says, letting out a breath, his hands shoved in his pockets. “It was kind of a surprise, but we’re rolling with it. I’m going back and forth between being excited and panicked.”
I laugh and squeeze his shoulder. “Sounds about right.”
I turn to Rachel. She has tears in her eyes as I hug her to me tightly. Pulling away, I take her face in my hands. “You’re going to be amazing,” I tell her. “This baby will be so blessed to have you for their momma, Rachel. You and Colin together, you’ve got this. And they’ll have Charlie and me, too. They’ll be surrounded by so much love.”
“I know,” she says. “That means a lot. I’m really glad we still have each other, Paul. After everything that’s happened. I still need you.”
I smile. “I still need you, too, Rach.” I squeeze her hand.
“Hey, what did I miss?” Carlos says, returning with our drinks.
Charlie looks at Rachel and she nods, so he blurts out so the whole table can hear. “Rachel’s pregnant!”
* * *
5 months later Rachel gives birth to a beautiful baby girl, and I have tears streaming down my cheeks when she announces her name. Tracy Gabriella Ford.
“We wanted to honor Trey,” Colin tells me, as I take her in my arms and stare down at her beautiful round face, her tiny body swaddled in the hospital blanket and the little pink hat on her perfect little head. She yawns and it makes my heart clench. God, I’m so in love. Charlie stands next to me, wiping tears from his eyes and rubbing my back.
“Thank you,” I whisper, looking to Colin and then Rachel. I plant a kiss on Rachel’s forehead and then sit with my niece. This beautiful gift of life that I can’t wait to get to know and love and spoil with everything in me.
“Okay, my turn,” Charlie says, squirming, and I laugh. He reaches for Tracy and I hand her over. Charlie’s face lights up as he takes her in his arms and holds her close.
“Hey there, princess,” he says in such a sweet voice it makes my heart melt. “We’re gonna have lots of fun together you and me. We’re gonna have dance parties and tea parties and nail parties and if you want to play in the dirt I guess I can do that too because I love you, even though it’s not really my thing.” We all laugh, and Tracy sneezes. It's the cutest thing ever.
“Actually, Charlie,” Rachel says, “we were wondering if you would like to be Tracy’s nanny.”
Charlie’s head snaps up, his mouth falling open. He seems to be at a loss for words.
“You don’t have to give us an answer now,” Colin says. “We know you have a job already, and you’re in school, and might want to take some time—”
“I’ll do it,” he says, his eyes filling with tears once again. “You really want me to watch her?”
