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I watch Hallie blush with her smile. “Thank you. It smells so good in here.”
“I hope you brought your appetite,” Mom says, walking around the kitchen island and stirring a large pot on the stove. “I made Logan’s favorite.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Mom,” I state, joining everyone in the kitchen and giving my grandma a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Gram.”
“Hello, sweet boy. I’m so happy you’re joining us this evening, and you brought this beautiful woman with you,” Gram announces, offering us both a smile.
“I appreciate Logan extending the invite to me,” Hallie says with a tight smile. “Otherwise, it would have been something quick and simple at home and not nearly as delicious smelling as what we’re having here.”
“Have a seat at the table,” Mom announces. “Dinner is ready.”
“Let me help you,” I offer, moving to the stove to help carry the food to the table.
“If you haven’t had Patty’s Italian shells and cheese, you’re in for a real treat,” Gram says to Hallie as she takes a seat.
“Her garlic bread is the best too,” I chime in as I place the dish on the potholder in the middle of the table.
“It’s the butter,” Mom replies, setting a bowl with chunks of hot bread beside the dish. “Everything is better with real butter,” she adds with a wink, taking her seat.
We all dive in, scooping up big helpings of the Italian dish. I watch as Hallie takes a small bite of food, slowly chewing and swallowing. Her eyes widen immediately. “Holy crap, that’s amazing.”
We all chuckle as Gram reaches over and pats her hand. “You’re not wrong.” She takes her own small bite before asking, “So, what’s been happening with you two?” There’s a twinkle in her eyes that causes me to pause. It’s a knowing little gleam, making my heart pound a little harder in my chest.
Hallie’s wide eyes hesitantly glance up from across the table, waiting for me to take the lead. I clear my throat and set my fork down. “Actually, there is something we wanted to talk about, but it can wait until after we eat.”
Mom gasps. “Are you two finally dating?”
“What?” Hallie asks, a look of shock on her face.
“I’ve been secretly hoping this would happen forever,” my mom confesses, making me want to hide under the table.
“No, no. We’re not dating,” I reply, breaking my mom’s heart with just a few words.
“Oh. I just thought…”
“We’re not dating, but we do have something else going on,” I say, trying to figure out the right words. I’ve been imagining this conversation for the last few hours, but now that it’s happening, I have no clue what to say.
“What’s that?” Gram asks. Again, the meaningful look on her face is suspicious as hell.
Hallie sets her fork down and drops her gaze to her plate, while I decide to just rip off the Band-Aid. “Hallie and I are having a baby.”
My mom gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. “What? Really? A baby?” she asks, instantly smiling before her eyes narrow at me. “You’re not messing with me right now, are you?”
“Of course not, Mom. I’d never joke about something like this,” I insist.
She relaxes and nods. “Wow, a baby. I’m going to be a grandma,” she whispers, as if trying that word out for size. Then, her chair scrapes on the linoleum floor as she pushes back and stands. She reaches for Hallie and pulls her into a big hug. Hallie somehow stands and returns the gesture. “I’m so excited,” my mom whispers, sniffling and wiping her eyes.
“I know this is a little unconventional,” Hallie starts but is waved off.
“Don’t worry about any of that. I couldn’t think of anyone better to share a child with Logan than you,” my mom says, causing Hallie’s eyes to get a little misty.
She turns to me and approaches, arms extended. I prepare for the hug and am rewarded with a fierce one that reminds me of the ones my dad used to give. “Love you,” she whispers in my ear, making my throat tight.
“Love you more,” I tell my mom, giving her a few extra seconds of squeezes.
When we finally release our embrace, I turn to Gram, who’s still sitting in her chair, smiling. “You don’t seem very surprised,” I find myself saying.
Gram shrugs her dainty little shoulders. “Well, if I hadn’t already heard, I definitely would have figured it out when I saw Hallie. She has that pregnancy glow.”
