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Tears of happiness stream down my mother’s face. “River,” she says in a hushed tone. “We’re going to be grandparents.” She looks at my father, and his eyes meet hers as if he’s seeing her for the first time in a decade.
“Hell, had I known getting pregnant was the trick, I would’ve tried it back in high school,” I tease.
“That’s not even funny,” Mom scolds, but I laugh anyway.
“I wish you weren’t moving so far away,” Dad adds. “We’d like to be involved too.”
Guilt washes over me because I didn’t think they’d care that much, considering they haven’t wanted to be involved in my life in a long time.
“You can always come visit. We can text and FaceTime too. I’m sure you’d love it there. No snow. Horseback riding. All the typical Texas stuff: cowboys, cacti, and horses.” I smile, knowing their love for winter sports trumps anything Texas could offer.
Dad lets out a sigh.
“As long as you’re happy, sweetie. That’s all that matters. If moving to Texas to be with this man is what you want, I fully support your decision.”
“I do, too, baby,” Dad confirms. My shoulders relax, and it feels so good to get it all out.
“Does he treat you right?” Mom asks.
I grab her hand with a lopsided grin. “Yes, Mom.” I sigh. “He treats me like a queen.”
“You deserve to be,” she says with a smile on her face.
“You really do,” Dad adds.
For a moment, I feel my emotions bubble over. I’m halfway shocked when tears stream down my face because their reactions shined light to a dark corner of my heart. After the conversation is over, we exchange hugs and goodbyes, then Dad leaves, and Mom follows behind him. I take the bus to Natalie’s apartment and try to replay everything that happened today.
As soon as she opens the door, she pulls me into a big hug. Out of everything that’s here, Natalie is who I’m going to miss the most. She’s my best friend and has been for as long as I can remember. I hope and pray distance doesn’t affect our friendship.
“Come in,” she tells me as she releases our embrace. I don’t hesitate before stepping inside.
I walk in and smell cookies baking, and I know she made them just for me. Sitting in the recliner, I prop up my feet and lean back. “You’re making chocolate chip oatmeal cookies again, aren’t you?”
“Of course, I am, Mama. They’re your favorite.” She smiles and sits on the couch. “How’d your parents take the news?”
“Surprisingly well,” I admit, and I’m still kind of shocked by their response.
“That’s great, River. They don’t really have a choice other than to accept what’s going on, you know?” The oven beeps, and Natalie quickly gets up and takes them out. She grabs a spatula, places a few on a plate, and pours two large glasses of milk. She spoils me. Before Adam gets home, we talk about everything—about me moving, her coming to visit, keeping in touch, FaceTiming, and how I have to keep her involved in every aspect of the pregnancy. We lose complete track of time reminiscing, and when I realize hours have passed, I decide it’s time for me to go.
Natalie pulls me into a big hug, and we squeeze each other so tight it almost hurts.
“I’m going to try not to cry,” she says.
“No tears. This isn’t goodbye forever. We’re going to chat all the time,” I remind her.
She chokes back tears, and I do too. Sucking in a deep breath, I somehow find the strength to walk away.
“Text me when you get home,” she says as I step onto the elevator.
“I will!”
She waves goodbye just before the doors close, and I wipe the tears away.
I guess it’s really all settled now. There’s nothing else holding me here.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ALEX
“Shut the hell up!” I yell at Jackson as he irritates me from his bedroom.
“You’re the one who’s forcing me to move out,” he retorts as he carries boxes outside to his truck.
I laugh when he walks back in and flips me off with both hands.
“I’m paying thousands of dollars for you to leave. You’ve wanted your own place for a while anyway. It’s not going to take that long to finish that house. Dad already told you that.”
Since River will be here tomorrow, I’ve been trying to get everything settled, and Jackson’s deadline to get all his shit out was yesterday. Being the asshole procrastinator he is, he waited until the very last minute to pick up the remaining boxes. This whole process hasn’t been the easiest, considering Jackson and I split the cost to have this house remodeled.
Unfortunately, he’s been giving me shit ever since Mama suggested it. I was surprised when she did, but luckily it was her idea, so Jackson caved and did what she wanted. But until the house is fixed up and remodeled, Jackson’s staying with John, who isn’t happy about the whole idea.
