In recent days, I’ve gone from excited to wishing I could issue an eviction notice.
Luke is what’s keeping me sane right now. Luke is the one who makes me smile. The minute he jumped off the school bus, we waddled up to the house and I pulled out two plates of cookies.
He currently has white chocolate macadamia in one hand and peanut butter smarties in the other and is taking alternating nibbles like he’s a true cookie connoisseur.
And I suppose after these last couple of days, he is. We’ve been doing an awful lot of teeth brushing to compensate for the sugar intake.
His eyes close, and he holds one finger up dramatically. I can’t help but laugh at him. “Smarties,” he announces.
“Yeah. Think you’re right.” I groan as I haul myself onto the stool next to him and take a bite of one.
“Hey, Willa,” he says, turning my way.
“Hey, Luke.” I wink at him.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Always.”
His wide blue eyes take on an uncertain expression, and his lips press together. “What is the baby going to call you?”
“Well, babies don’t talk, Luke, so I imagine they’ll just babble a lot of random shit.”
He gives me a scoff and a little eye roll, looking like a dead ringer for his dad when he does. “I meant once they can talk. Will they call you mom?”
My eyes travel over his face as I chew. I haven’t even known him for a year and still find myself marveling at how much he’s changed. “I imagine so, yes.”
A sigh lifts and then drops his small shoulders as he glances down at his cookie. “Do you think . . .” He peers back up at me now. “Do you think it would be okay if I called you mom too?”
I’m far too hormonal for this conversation right now and blink furiously down at the little boy who’s gazing up at me with the widest, sweetest eyes. “My dude, you can call me whatever you want. I know I’m not actually your mom, but I love you like one. Did you know I fell in love with you before I fell in love with your dad?”
His eyes light at that. “You did?”
I nod, pulling him close with an arm around his shoulders. “I did.”
His arms wrap around my middle, or what’s left of it. I feel like I’m just boobs and belly at this point. “I love you too, Willa. Even though I think you peed your pants.”
My head shoots down to follow where he’s looking. “Alright. It’s time to call your dad.”
Summer: Are you close? I called Willa’s parents. They’re booking flights back now.
Cade: Five minutes out. Everything okay?
Harvey: Oh, good. We’re all here waiting. Everything is fine.
Cade: All? No. You all need to leave.
Jasper: I’m on my way.
Cade: Why is my child’s birth part of a group text?
Summer: Because we’re excited!
Violet: So excited! Send pictures!
Rhett: After though. Not during. I don’t need to know Willa that well.
Summer: Rhett Eaton. I know you are not texting and driving with the daddy-to-be in your car.
Cade: He is.
Rhett: Red light, Princess. And why are you only worried about Cade and not me?
Summer: TODAY ISN’T ABOUT YOU.
Harvey: Y’all kids give me a ducking headache.
Cade: Rhett gives me a headache. Specifically.
Summer: I just wanna know what you’re naming the baby. And if they’re a boy or a girl. And who they look more like. OMG I’M SO EXCITED TO BE THE COOL AUNT.
Cade: Just got here. Now everyone fuck off.
Cade bursts through the door of the hospital room looking like he’s ready for a fight. I almost laugh at the fierce expression on his face as he rushes to my side. With the trauma of his mom’s death, I know this has been anxiety-inducing for him.
We’ve talked about her a lot. Isabelle Emma Eaton. The woman with the beautiful blue eyes who would make wishes down the well with him as a child.
“Red,” he breathes, pulling me close and smelling of pine trees and sweat. The manliest combination.
He came straight from the fields. Harvey drove me to the hospital and Rhett got on a quad bike to go find Cade. I’ve been playing it cool, but having him here eases my nerves.
“How are you? I came as fast as I could.” His broad palm strokes the back of my head and my eyes flutter shut. I love when he does that.
“Better now,” I say as he kisses my forehead.
“Everyone is in the waiting room. I told them to leave.”
I chuckle but a contraction hits me hard. I grip Cade’s hand and do my best to breathe through it but make some sort of insane braying noise.