“Jojo, I know.” I tell her, “I wanted to race over there right away when I found out too. But we’re no good to anyone if we left right now. It’s too late, we don’t have anyone to stay with the boys. Most importantly, she’s somewhere safe, with people we trust to take care of her.”
Her eyes begin to fill with tears, but she nods her head in agreement. “I know, you’re right. Let’s try and get some sleep and we’ll call your parents in the morning.”
With a plan in place, we get ready for bed and try to get some sleep. The night’s filled with tossing and turning until finally we give up around six a.m. and decide to get up for the day. We sit at the island and drink our coffees in silence as we wait for the boys to wake up. I shoot my mom a text telling her to call me when she wakes up.
We don’t have to wait too long before the boys are up and my mom calls me. My parents agree to come spend the day with the boys and say they’d be leaving within the hour. Which means that we have three hours before we can leave for Xaviers.
I send Josie to go have a shower, while I get the boys their breakfast.
“Where’s Evie, Daddy?” Shiloh’s question catches me off guard, and just goes to show how aware kids are of the people in their lives.
“She’s been spending some time with Auntie Harps and Uncle Xavy, buddy. She should be home soon though.” I try to keep my voice calm and give the most basic answer.
“Oh, okay. I just miss her and wanted to see if she wanted to make a blanket fort in the loft again.” He says with a sigh as he takes another bite ofhis scrambled eggs.
My chest squeezes in my chest at the love he has for her. “I’m sure she would love that, you’ll have to be sure to ask her when she comes home.” I tell him and pray her coming home isn’t a lie.
When my parents arrive a few hours later, we load up the SUV and head out.
I look over at Josie and hold out my hand for hers. She slides her hand onto my palm and threads her fingers with mine.
“Let’s go get our girl.”
ChapterForty Two
Evie
The next day
Istirawaketoasoft knock on my door. I slowly sit up as Harper comes into the room with a tray in her hands.
“Good morning Eves.” She says, laying down the tray beside me. There are two slices of toast with butter, a glass of water and a prenatal vitamin in a tiny cup. She went out and bought me those the day after I showed up to her house.
She said that whatever I decided to do with the pregnancy she’ll support me, but she got them so if I choose to keep the pregnancy I’ve been having the proper vitamins. I’m thankful she didn’t tell me what I should do with this pregnancy. It was easier for me to then tell her that as soon as I saw those two pink lines I was going to keep the baby no matter what the outcome.
I feel good today though… minus the puking, which comes like clock work every morning. Which is why a minute later I am racing to the bathroom to puke the water I just drank. When the nausea has passed and I’m able to stand up, I quickly brush my teeth and come back to the bedroom.
Sitting cross legged at the head of the bed, Harper sits with me as I eat my toast.
“I think today’s the day.” I tell her with more confidence than I feel inside. “I’m ready to talk to Monty and Josie.”
Harper’s eyes shift down to her hands and she bites her bottom lips. I narrow my eyes at her in suspicion. She only avoids eye contact when she’s trying to hide something from me.
“Harps, what are you hiding?” I ask her cautiously. Did they talk to her and tell her they were done with me? That they weren’t willing to wait for me and decided I was a waste of time?
“It’s nothing! It’s just Imayhavealreadycalledthemandtheyarecomingoversoon.” She rushes the words out so fast that it takes me a minute to register what she said.
When it dawns on me what she says, “they’re already on their way here!” I shout at her. I run my hands through my hair and groan at the greasy feeling that runs through my fingers. “Harps! I haven’t showered, I look like a wreck! What the fuck.” I jump up and go grab some clean clothes from the bag I brought with me.
“They won’t be here for at least another hour. They had to wait for Monty’s parents to come down to spend the day with the boys before they could come.” Harper tells me, “I’m sorry, but I’m also not sorry. You need them and they need you. You hiding away is just preventing the inevitable and you’re too stubborn to realize it.”
My lip twitches and I try to hide the amusement that flows through me as Harper calls me out on my shit and is pushing me to do what’s best for me without my knowledge.
“Thank you.” I tell her, wrapping my arms around her. She quickly wraps her arms back around me and holds me tight.
“I didn’t realize you were going to come to the realization sooner than later, but I guess it’s meant to happen.” She grumbles into me, “You should definitely go shower though, or they might change their minds once they smell you.”
I snort, “Oh you got jokes, eh?” I tell her as I pull away, her face brightens with a smile and she fans her hand in front of her face and scrunches up her nose like she’s trying to wave away the smell. “Alright, alright, I’m going to shower jeez.”
