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Our tires crunch in the gravel as we pull up to the Sawyer cabin, complete with all the changes Gray and Caleb have made over the past couple years. I walk around to help Piper out, and I can make out the forms of Gray and Claire in the kitchen from out here, their baby in Gray's arms and their toddler Blythe running around with a toy in her hand.
Piper smiles at the sound of children's laughter drifting from the open window.
"It sounds...idyllic," she whispers.
"That's gonna be us soon," I say without thinking.
She gets all starry-eyed.
I think she'll say yes.
I pray to God she'll sayyes.
Piper follows me inside, my mom coming with us. The warm, familiar scent of the Sawyer cabin hits me like a wave, and I feel a pang of nostalgia for my childhood with the smell of good food and the feeling of great company. But there's no time for reminiscing now.
Gray looks up from his conversation with Claire as we enter, and a look of shock crosses his face when he sees Piper.
"Hey, guys," I say, trying to keep my voice casual.
"Hey, Jess," Gray says slowly. "What's going on?"
I take a deep breath, and Piper squeezes my hand.
"Uh..." I start.
But my mom cuts in for me.
"Jesse would like to introduce you to Piper," she says. "Piper Warner."
"Piper..." Claire's brow furrows. "Like--Caleb's ex?"
"Yeah," I tell them. "Andmygirlfriend."
Gray's eyes dart down to Piper's belly. "Your...pregnantgirlfriend?"
"Uh-huh," I say, scrubbing my hair. "I'm gonna be a dad."
There's a beat of silence as the words sink in.
And then Gray's face breaks into a huge grin.
"That's amazing, man!" he exclaims, coming closer and clapping me on the back. "Congratulations!"
Claire's smile is a little more subdued, but she comes over to take Piper into a hug. I'm shocked by their reaction--and thrilled that they're being so kind to Piper.
"So what's the plan?" Gray asks.
"Well, we wanted to tell you guys first," I say, my heart racing. "But we're planning on telling Caleb and the rest of the family soon. We just wanted to make sure that we had your support before we did."
"Of course you have our support," Claire says, smiling at Piper. "We're a family, Jesse."
Piper looks relieved, and I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I'm so grateful for my family, for their understanding and their willingness to accept Piper into our lives.
"Thank you," Piper says, her voice shaking a little. "I know this isn't easy for any of you."
"It's not about us, Piper," Gray says, his eyes twinkling. "It's about you and Jesse and your baby."
"We'll do whatever we can to help," Claire adds.
