AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. Soon,” J.R. says. “We have something to tell you. Something fun.” He looks at me.
“Rosie, how do you feel about being a big sister?” I ask her.
She looks at me strangely. “Why are you asking me that?”
I take a deep breath, and then I clear my throat. “I’m going to have a baby, Knox. You are going to be a big sister.”
J.R. and I wait for a reaction, but there isn’t one. She just sits there, staring at us, emotionless.
“What do you think, Knox?” J.R. asks.
Knox shrugs. “I guess that could be fun, but I won’t have you all to myself, anymore. I just met you; now, I have to share you.”
I feel my heart sink in my chest, and I think that maybe J.R. knows Knox better than I do. I glance at J.R., and he glances at me. He releases my hand, and he sits next to Knox, putting his arm around her.
“Come here.” He pulls her into his lap, and then he turns her to face him. “I know we still have a lot of catching up to do, and I know that the last few months have been full of changes for you, but you will always be my number one. You hear me? I love you so much, Knox.”
“Your daddy and I have so much love for you,” I reassure her. “Nothing will ever change that.”
Knox remains emotionless. She doesn’t look at either of us. Her expression is blank.
“Can I go to bed now?” she asks, and now I know that she’s upset. It’s definitely not the reaction I was hoping for, but maybe I expected it. Everything up until now has always been about Knox. She’s had to make so many adjustments as of late, and now this.
J.R. kisses Knox’s cheek. “You can go to bed.”
Knox slides off his lap. “Goodnight.”
“Want me to tuck you in?” I ask her.
“No,” she says coldly. “I just want to be alone.”
“Okay.” I quickly wipe a tear from my cheek. “I love you, Knox.”
“Love you, too.” Knox’s bare feet patter down the hallway, and I remain frozen until I hear her bedroom door shut.
I look at J.R., my eyes burning as tears develop. I don’t say anything, but J.R. stands up and wraps his arms around me. He whispers against my ear, “It’ll be okay. She’ll come around.”
“Why can’t we ever just do something normal?” I ask him. “How can I expect her to be thrilled about something that she doesn’t even want?”
“She’ll come around, Rach,” he says again. “I know she will.”
I look up at him. “What if she doesn’t?”
“She’ll get over it,” he says. “Okay?” J.R. kisses me.
I nod. “I think I’m going to bed, too.”
“I’ll come with you,” he says. “Rach?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I know.” I smile a broken smile.
***
It’s that time again. Time for J.R. to leave for another six weeks on the road. He’ll be gone through Thanksgiving and getting back home just before Christmas. I’m not looking forward to his absence.
