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“I can’t get pregnant,” I say, panicking. “What if there’s a malformation or?—”
“Have faith,” he says reassuringly. “If this is positive, we’ll head to the hospital to get a sonogram and make sure everything is okay.”
“But what if it’s not?” I ask as I head to the bathroom with a cup and a white package that might as well be a COVID test. Gabe follows me and patiently waits for me. He holds me as we wait for the results.
“I can’t be pregnant,” I say.
“You don’t want a baby?” he asks.
“Caleb is too little, and I don’t know what’s going to happen to?—”
“Izzy will be gone for a while. Think at least five years. So we’ll have three kids,” he states. “The house we plan to build is big enough for them all—and a few more. This is our little miracle. Our rainbow baby.”
The idea of a ‘rainbow baby’ fills me with a mix of hope and fear. “What if it’s not a baby, and I’m sick again?” I can’t help but voice the worry that’s gripping my heart.
“I’m afraid too,” he confesses. “Scared that what we’re building might fall apart. But I also have faith in us. That this time we’re older, wiser—and lucky to have each other.”
His words are comforting, yet my mind is racing with all sorts of frightening possibilities. “What if I have a tumor and I’m also expecting a baby?” I ask, the fear evident in my voice.
“There are ways to treat you while keeping our little one safe,” he replies, his reassurance helping to ease my anxiety a bit.
“You seem to have all the answers, huh?” I ask, managing a small smile despite everything.
“This exact situation is why I became an oncologist, Ame. You, our kids—our future,” he explains with a determination that makes me want to believe him. “I wanted to change what happened in the past, to make things right. I’ve been preparing for a long time just in case history tried to repeat itself. It’s also my way of honoring Aly and ensuring that families don’t have to endure what we did.”
“Okay, so no matter what, I believe you. I believe that we’ll be okay,” I say, my eyes flickering to the pregnancy test lying on the counter. Slowly, I reach out and pick it up.
“It’s positive,” I announce softly, staring at the result that has just changed everything.
Gabe strides over, scoops me up effortlessly, and twirls me around. Laughter bubbles up from both of us, a sound of pure happiness and celebration filling the room. “We’re going to be parents,” he exclaims, his eyes shining with excitement and love as he sets me back down, his arms still wrapped protectively around me.
He releases me, gently cups my face in his hands, and leans in, planting a soft, loving kiss on my lips. “I love you, Ameline Decker. Thank you for coming home and putting me back together. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“I love you too, Gabe. Thank you for loving me the way you do,” I say and kiss him again, trying to replace the fear with his courage. Trying to stop being afraid of the past and embracing the future.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Ameline
Week ten, and I officially got diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. That means the morning sickness is ten times worse than any other pregnant woman’s. It seems like that happened while I was pregnant with Aly, too, but we believed it was the TMZ.
Gabe and his team ran all the necessary tests to ensure that the baby was fine and I didn’t have a tumor. We were surprised to find out that Baby A is fine, and so is Baby B. Yep, we’re having twins. My parents-in-law are over the moon and are already making plans to move in with us for the first few weeks so they can help us with the four kids.
Cora is excited to be a big sister again. I didn’t have the heart to tell her the babies were technically her cousins. Gabe and I plan on treating Caleb and Cora as our own, knowing that they might have to leave us at some point. Dad is in a facility where they are taking good care of him.
Cedric is, in fact, going to therapy, and we’re slowly trying to heal our relationship. I understand that the traumas he faced during his childhood are different from mine. Also, Richard had higher expectations of him than he did from us.
As for the hidden accounts Dad was talking about, Finn did find several of them. They were under Izzy, Cee, and my name. Cedric is finally opening his own dental office. He plans to work on his marriage—but first, he has to heal himself.
Finn also found Declan’s money along with a letter—a heartbreaking letter that made me understand Richard—not absolve him, though.
Ameline,
If you’re reading this, it means I left this world. You might be wondering why your brother and sister didn’t get a safety deposit box—or a letter.
Well, I think it’s time you learn some truths.
I had a best friend, Declan. We had been inseparable since grade school. He came from a wealthy family. It’s thanks to him that I was able to get to where I am. He was a good man, the best. I loved him so much. Declan was the kind of guy who would take off his coat and give it to someone in need. He’d give me anything I wanted—including your mom.
