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“Let’s tell at least Cleo so she doesn’t learn it from anyone else,” I suggest, and he gives me a hot kiss first before nodding.
“Tonight you’re all mine,” he warns before we head downstairs, finding Cleo reading one of the books Jaime bought her when they went to the bookstore last night. She babysat for us so Adam could come with me. I’ll have to tell her thank you tomorrow, especially since I was asleep when we got home.
“Hi sweetie, can we talk for a minute?” I ask Cleo and she nods, giving me a hug as we settle onto the couch with her. Adam sits behind me, his hand on my leg, and I can’t stop the smile that hits. “We wanted to tell you something, so you hear it from us first.”
“Is it about that lady?” she asks, her eyes widening, and Adam tells her no, calming her fears.
“She’s still in jail and will be until everything’s settled,” I add, hating that she’s still an issue even a bit. She was in jail for a week for violating the restraining order the first time. It wasn’t five days after she was released that she showed up again, but thankfully this time, the judge wouldn’t let her out. Remanding her into custody until trial due to Cleo being a minor and the severity of the delusions the psychiatrist had uncovered. We’re hopeful that she’ll be sentenced to jail rather than merely psychological care since she was determined to still be mentally competent, merely delusional.
“I’m glad,” Cleo says, and I nod in full agreement.
“So are we, honey,” Adam adds.
“So what is it?” she asks with a grin at the two of us.
“You know we love you more than anything,” I start, “that even though I’m not your mom and Adam’s not your dad, we think of you as ours. Which is why we wanted you to know that you’re going to be a big sister,” I finish, barely catching Cleo as she launches herself at us.
“I get to be a sister!” she exclaims excitedly when she pulls back and I nod, smiling with a silent laugh at her happiness.
“You do and I know you’ll be the best big sister ever,” I state, enjoying our family hugs for long moments.
“We haven’t told anyone else, so for now, we’ll keep it our secret until Jasmine wants to tell,” Adam adds and Cleo’s eyes twinkle with delight.
“Like when we kept Aunt Jas’ ring secret?” Cleo asks and my jaw drops a bit in surprise at that news.
“Like that, honey,” Adam agrees, and while it’s hard not to tell everyone the next day, I want to confirm it with the doctor first.
Two weeks later, we’re at Mom and Dad’s, celebrating the August birthdays and I lean into Adam’s side incredibly content. I don’t even think of what I’m doing when I shake my head no at the glass of champagne.
“Don’t tell me you’re pregnant,” Jillian says with a laugh taking one for herself. It’s a family rule that you can have one glass at family events once you’re sixteen, so we all enjoy it. I don’t think I’ve ever not had one since our sixteenth birthday in fact.
“Well…I wasn’t going to say anything since it’s the birthday dinner,” I admit as all eyes turn our way, “but yeah, I am.”
“Oh my god!” Jaime gushes, hugging me around Cleo who’s sitting between us. “Best birthday present to know we get another niece or nephew.”
“It definitely is,” Julie agrees making me smile more.
“How about two?” Jackie states, and I can’t help but laugh when she nods at the curious looks her way.
“You just couldn’t stand being in the single digits, could you?” Julie teases her and she shrugs while Andra and Abby shake their heads a bit at them. “You’ll love having another sibling, no matter how much younger. After all, we love Jaime and Jillian just as much. Even Jeffery when he’s not being a grump.”
“True,” I muse, earning an eye roll from him. I understand his frustrations the last year and a half. It’s been rough on him but one day, he’ll find someone that loves him as much as I love Adam, and it’ll all work out.
“You’re going to be an awesome mom, Sis,” Jamison says, hugging me before shooting a dark look at Adam that makes me laugh.
“Thank you,” I tell him, seeing the honesty in his eyes that he’s really, truly happy for me.
“Congrats Jas,” Carly says, hugging me around little Bobbie. “It won’t be long before you have one of these in your arms.”
“A little longer than not. It’s early still but we couldn’t wait to tell everyone now that I’ve been to the doctor.”
“No more secret,” Cleo adds pulling surprised looks from the family. “I’m going to be a big sister.”
“You are going to a great big sister,” Jaime tells her, and that is definitely the truth.
Epilogue
Adam
