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“Speak for yourself,” Jabarri says.
“Fine, I am getting too old for this shit. Now we have this woman and boy here running from what is most likely some criminal who most likely runs weapons, drugs, and humans who want this child. The only thing holding him back from taking him is they are in America, and in less than sixty days, they will be forced to go back home, where I am sure Alondra will be killed, and Salove will find himself in hell. So what is the plan?” he asks.
“We can go back with her and protect them,” Anson suggests.
“Who and what do we do with our wives and children while we are doing this?” Asher asks.
“And we can’t keep going places, fucking up countries. Eventually, someone is going to come looking for us,” Joseph says.
“I called Doorne. Hopefully, he can help us get an extension on their asylum, but we have no idea how long that will take,” Atlas says.
“I also called my father-in-law to see if he can get the request in front of the right people. I’m just waiting to hear back from him,” Anson says.
“The fact that the General is your father-in-law boggles my mind still,” Jaasiel says to Anson.
“Right,” we all agree.
“I guess in the meantime, they can stay with us, and if they have to go back, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it,” Josh says. “And you,” he says, talking to me. “Fix it with our sister,”
“I’ll do my best,” I say.
Brooklyn
It has beenthe most wonderful couple of weeks that I have had in years. If I thought Aryan was attentive before, he is downright dream-level now. Like straight out of one of Savvy’s books. I get flowers, gifts, food, and any craving. All I have to do is text or call him, and I have it within an hour or so. He also sends things for the baby all the damn time and not just the typical things. He sends stuff that’s for the baby but is also helpful for me too. Like the third trimesterBump Box, not to mention theBabymoov Dream Belt, Maternity Support Belt,and the birth box.
But when he booked me spa treatments complete with prenatal massage, pedicure, manicure, and lymphatic drainage massage, I fell in love with him so hard. I almost asked for a wheelchair because I was too relaxed to walk. But the appointment that I am waiting for him to pick me up for is the one that surprised me the most and meant the most.
“Are you ready?” Aryan asks when I open the door.
“I am ready to go,” I tell him. Even though we are working on our relationship, I have kept my own house, and we have spent a few nights together, mostly Aryan and McKinley bonding.
I pull up my black one-piece, slide on my kimono cardigan, grab my bag, push my swollen feet into my sandals, and head to the door. I heard Aryan pull up, and opened the door just as he was getting ready to knock.
“You look beautiful, Brooklyn, and look at McKinley out here looking rounder than ever,” he says, rubbing my belly as I laugh at his antics.
“You are an idiot,” I say, still laughing as I close the door and head to the car. Aryan ensures I’m seated and strapped in before going around the car and getting behind the wheel. We talked to each other the entire way to our appointment. He is so different now, and I know there are a few reasons for that.
“Aryan and Brooklyn, come in,” Dr. Taylor says after we sign in for our appointment. We walk into her office, taking a seat as she sits across from us.
“You guys have been coming in once a week for the past few weeks, and I think we have made great strides, but you two have been dancing around some things. I think you have come far enough to confront some things head-on. I sit there fidgeting with my fingers because I am still unsure if I am ready for this conversation. We have truly opened up with one another; it was Aryan’s idea to go to therapy. Imagine my surprise when he told me to be ready to go somewhere, and he pulled up to a therapist’s office.
“My past kept me from fully being with you and robbed us of years that we probably could’ve been really happy. I am so sorry, Brooklyn. I couldn’t be the man you wanted and needed, and I hid such a crucial part of my life from you. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust you; I wasn’t ready to face my past.
These past few months have been the best since I lost everything. I love you more than words adequately express. I hope we can figure this out before McKinley comes,” he says, holding my hands. She is due in less than two months, but if I am honest, I am ready to be with Aryan, really be with him, but first…
“Brooklyn,” Dr. Taylor says to me.
“I am sorry, Aryan, I put a lot of responsibility on you, but it was my choice to stay. You were honest with me about what you could and couldn’t offer, but I was hoping that would eventually change. A lot of the anger and frustration I felt was because I wasn’t strong enough to do what I needed. But Aryan, you gave me everything you could at the time, and in these last few weeks, you have tried to make up for all the years I wanted more. I love you, Aryan. I have loved you for a long time,” I finally finish.
“What is evident to me is that you two have lost some of the most important people in your lives. Brooklyn, you lost your mother, Aryan, and both of your parents. Brooklyn, your first love who died in your arms. Aryan, you also lost your first love and son, who also died in your arms, and because of these significant losses, you both have been living in and making decisions based on fear, and that almost cost you guys your relationship. You both were so afraid of losing another person you loved. Brooklyn, you held on when you should have walked away, and Aryan, you were so afraid of history repeating itself that you refused to be in another relationship. You are two sides of the same coin, but love is there.”
“I want you to take this couple’s journal and conversation cards daily. I want you guys to pick a prompt every day, answer it, and share it. I also want you to use the conversation cards once a week. Get away together, have dinner or some other activity, and use at least one of the cards, which goes double after the baby is born. Do not sacrifice your relationship because you have a baby. We can move our meeting to two times a month unless you need me more. You two have made amazing progress, and it is obvious that you wanted to make this work.”
By the time she is done talking, I am swiping my tears away. I never realized what I was doing and why and I am sure Aryan feels the same way. Losing my mom and Edreece affected me in ways I didn’t even realize. We finish up with the doctor and make our way to the car.
“Are we in a relationship, Brooklyn?” Aryan asks, looking down at me.
“You want to be in a relationship now?”
