Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“What does this mean?”
“It means that Harrison and I are having a baby.”
“For the two of you?” Gabby corrects.
I open my mouth to reply, but Winnie beats me to it. “It means we're working it out. Regardless of where we end up in our relationship, one thing will hold true for the rest of our lives. We share this baby.” She places her hand over her belly.
“Just like that? He knocks you up, so you're just going to take him back, just like that?”
Again, I start to speak to defend us, but my girl beats me to the punch. “The demise of our marriage is not all on Harrison. We were both equal partners in our marriage, and we both did things—” She stops. “Regardless of what you think you know, you don't. Love was never the issue for us. I'm confident we both will love this child unconditionally.”
“Hey,” I say, my voice gruff. Winnie turns to look at me. I cup her face in my hands. “I love you.” Leaning in, I place a kiss on the corner of her mouth. Her eyes are glassy as her tears threaten to bubble over.
“Have you told Mom and Dad?” Gabby asks, oblivious to the moment we're having.
“Not yet. We haven't really discussed when to tell our parents or anyone for that matter,” Winnie answers her, but never takes her eyes off mine.
“I want to shout it from the rooftops. You tell me when you're ready, and I'll make it happen.”
“That easy?” Gabby crosses her arms over her chest. “Where were you a year ago, Harrison? Why now after all this time?” Her eyes are boring into mine. I can see the hurt and the worry for her sister.
I debate on whether or not to answer her. I want to tell her it’s none of her damn business. However, the reality is that Winnie is close to Gabby. And as much as I hate the need to explain or defend myself, winning over Gabby isn’t a hardship. She’s like a little sister to me too. I understand where she’s coming from, but that doesn’t mean I like it. “I didn't fight for us like I should have. I put the gym before Winnie, but not because I didn't love her. I was trying to build it into something that would secure our future, and the future of our family.”
Gabby scoffs, and I clamp my mouth shut, refusing to react.
“I didn't fight either,” Winnie tells her. “We both are to blame for how things ended, and equally so for this little miracle.” She once again places her hands over her belly. “It will be our decision on how we move forward. I love you, Gab, but this is our choice. As my sister, you have to respect whatever decisions we decide to make.”
“So, he's living here again?” Gabby asks. She’s fighting against this, but I can see through her tough-girl act. She was hurt when we divorced. She needs some time to catch up to where we are. She’ll come around.
“I'm staying with her to take care of her, of both of them.” I take a calming breath. I know Gabby means well, she's hurt, and I have to remind myself of that before I continue on. “I know what it's like to live without her. I know what it's like to want to tell her something from my day and not be able to. I know what it's like to go to bed without her and wake up just as alone. None of that is enticing to me. I know what I had, what I lost, and I know that this is a gift. Both of them are my gift, and I'll be damned if I let them go again.”
Gabby's quiet; I'm sure processing my words. “You're going to be an aunt,” Winnie says softly. “Can we focus on that? Let Harrison and me figure out the rest. This is our life, our future,” she says gently.
“I've been here and I witnessed what losing him did to you.” Her words cut deep, the pain slicing through my chest. “I don't want to see you go through that again.”
“I survived. I made it through, and if that happens, we still have the best part of each other—this baby. You have to let us make our choices. Besides, you're the little sister,” Winnie teases, trying to lighten the mood.
“I'm going to be an aunt.” Gabby’s smile is wide when it finally appears.
“Yes, and you have to keep it to yourself. No spilling the beans to Mom and Dad before we get the chance to. You're not supposed to tell anyone until after the first trimester in case of miscarriage.”
“Wait? What? Are you okay? Do we need to go back to the hospital?” Panic floods my veins.