She laughs. “That’s the feet. Kicking. And that’s the head up here.” She points at what looks like a head if you squint at it. “And it looks like once that head grows a little, it’ll be perfect for a cowboy hat.” She pauses, squinting and blinking. “And that right there”—she points again—“It looks like I might be having a boy.” She grins.“A boy!”
I grab her a stack of tissues and lean over and kiss her on the forehead as the tears spill out.
23
HONEY
I wakewith the beautiful thought that I might have found two big, good things all at once. The baby. And John, who’s sleeping next to me, scrunched up in a chair, his legs propped up on the bed. He’s frowning, even in his sleep, his thick hair is scruffy, and his face is stubbly, and I’ve never seen him look so handsome. My heart wants to take a photo of this very moment.
He shifts in his sleep, and grumbles something. I notice that his right hand has a bandage on it now. He still hasn’t told me exactly what happened after I hit my head. Just that he and Trey “had a chat.” I’m assuming it wasn’t a pleasant exchange of words.
I slide one of the ultrasound pictures off the bedside cabinet next to me. John’s right. It’s hard to make out the details, but I’ve already fallen in love. I think of how Cat would trace my heart-shaped face when I was young and tell me I was destined for a life filled with love.
This baby won’t erase Trudi. He will be another good thing. Small at first, then large enough to fill everything while still leaving room for Trudi’s memory.
“Morning,” John says, and I smile over at him.
“You should go home and get some real sleep,” I tell him.
“I’m fine.”
I level him with a stare. “I’m not going to be discharged today, so I need you to go check on Monster, give him some hugs, and spend some time with your mom. Please.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone, Tiny.”
“I won’t be alone. There are way too many people going in and out of here. I couldn’t be alone if I tried. And Emma and Danni are visiting me this morning. But, before that, I’m going to take a few naps.” I stare him down until he nods and reluctantly reaches for his boots.
Danni and Emma arrive after John has slipped his boots on, real slow because he’s stalling, and I’m sipping at a mug of tepid tea.
“What’s going on here?” John says, his jaw tight as he eyes the man with Danni and Emma.
“This is Tate Stratham,” Danni says. She turns to me. “Tate is a lawyer.”
“Sorry to disturb you while you’re recovering,” Mr. Stratham says.
I set my tea down, and John stands and frowns at everyone.
“I’m not going to press charges. If that’s why you’re here,” I tell him. “I’ve already decided.”
Mr. Stratham folds his arms. “You don’t want to pursue any legal action even though I’ve been told there is video footage that may clearly show what happened?”
I sit up, then wince as pains shoots through my head.
“You should leave,” John tells Mr. Stratham, crossing his arms and glaring.
“What video?” I ask before remembering the camera that Ned set up. “Oh.” Hot tears of shame prickle at my eyes as everything that happened before John arrived rushes toward me.“You didn’t see it, did you?”I stare at John. “Tell me you didn’t see it.”
John crouches down next to me but my gaze has already turned to Danni and Emma, devastation rushing through me. “Did you both see it?”
“They didn’t see it,” John sits on the bed and tries to pull me to him. I push him away. “But yousaw it, John?” But I know the answer. I can see it in his eyes. I fall into him, sobbing into his chest. “I wish you hadn’t!”
“It’s okay,” he says, his gruff voice low. “It’s okay, Wren.”
“I wish you hadn’t seen me that way!”
He tilts my head up, so I’m looking at him. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. You were tough and smart. You handled yourself well in a bad situation.”
Emma rushes to the bathroom and returns with a warm rag and hands it to me.
