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“Remember what the doctor said. Plus, it’ll be easier if I help you. This isn’t a small car. We’re high up. Give me a sec.”
Her brown eyes are soft. “Okay.”
I get lost in them for a second. Resist the urge to take her chin in my hand and kiss her. We still haven’t told Katie about our relationship. I figure that’ll be easier after I tell Maren how I feel. Then we can go to Katie, tell her we’re in love and this is what people in love do—create families together.
Looking at Maren, a voice inside me says it’s time. Maren isn’t going anywhere. Neither is the baby.
My heart flutters when I think about how Katie is going to lose her damn mind. My family will be thrilled.
And Maren’s face when I pull out that diamond?—
“Daddy! Get me out, I want to go in.”
“How do you ask?” Maren says.
“Please pleaseplease.”
I shiver when I step outside and open Katie’s door. Settling her on my hip, I walk around the front of the car and open Maren’s door. Offering her my hand, my heart swells when I take in the sweet little curve of her belly as she steps onto the pavement.
She’s so damn cute.
We head for the door. Maren draws up short when she sees the sign beside it:Coastal Cheer & Gymnastics.
“Tuck,” she says slowly.
I smile. “Yeah?”
“What’s this?”
“A tumbling class for Katie. Food for thought for you.”
She blinks. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” I grab the door and open it. We’re immediately hit by a cacophony of shouts, screams, and music. Katie’s arms tighten around my neck as I follow Maren inside.
The large gym is divided into several sections. There’s a corner with balance beams and several sets of bars. Another corner is covered in mats and big soft shapes in various colors. The main area is a large, carpeted floor in front of a wall of mirrors, where a group of young girls is currently practicing some kind of routine.
A Britney Spears song plays in the background.
I watch Maren’s expression transform. Her eyes sparkle, lips parting as she takes in our surroundings. She puts a hand on her belly and smiles.
“Remember any of this?” I ask.
She digs her teeth into her bottom lip. She holds her thumb and first finger an inch apart. “Just a little bit.”
“Pom-poms! Look! Maren! They have pom-poms and theirs are purple and mine are blue,” Katie says. “Daddy, did you bring mine?”
Laughing, I set my daughter down. “I asked your teacher, but he said you don’t need them today.”
“But Idoneed them.” She stomps her foot. “You can’t be a cheerleader without them.”
Maren bends down, slipping her hands between her thighs. “You absolutely can be a cheerleader without pom-poms. As a matter of fact, cheerleaders don’t use them a lot of the time. Like when we’re building towers.” She points to thehuman pyramid going up on the floor in front of us. “See? No pom-poms.”
A twenty-something guy in joggers and a hoodie approaches us with a smile. “Y’all here for the ten A.M. tumbling class?”
“We sure are.” I hold out my hand. “I’m Tuck, this is Maren, and this is Katie.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jeremiah, and I’ll be Katie’s teacher.”
