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After he finally released me, he rolled up his sleeves and helped me close the shop. We worked naturally alongside each other, and every time our eyes met, we grinned, or I teared up, or laughed, overjoyed by our news like any couple who just discovered they were pregnant.
We decided to pick Jace up together and give him the news.
Dropping off my car at home, I slid in beside Vander, and he reached for my hand. Nerves assailed me once again and Vander gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Let’s just be happy with our news for the moment,” he said. “However Jace reacts, we’ll deal with it. Together.”
“Maybe I should tell him by myself,” I fretted. “I know you’re his father, but he barely knows you.”
“Ruby, he wants this. If he felt in any way ambivalent about it, I’d agree with you, but he wants this. If I don’t show up now, how’s he going to trust me to show up later?”
“This is true.” I pressed the tip of my forefinger into the divot at the bow of my lip. I would have to get used to sharing Jace with Vander.
We saw Jace roll out of school on Alex’s heels, and Vander got out of the car. The boys saw Gus first and headed his way. I had a clear view of Jace and Alex as Gus pointed out Vander and then lifted a hand in greeting.
Jace’s face lit up, making me glad that Vander pushed to come. I watched him lope over with my heart in my throat. He always wanted a dad and now he would have his own.
I glanced at Gus and Alex, waving though I knew the chances of them seeing me in the car were slim.
Alex’s brow furrowed.
Like me, he didn’t like change unless he instigated it. Like me, it took him awhile to adjust. Like me, the events in his life had shaken, not stirred, his world, and he struggled to reacclimate himself. And like me, he wore his emotions on his sleeve.
I needed to give Amber a heads up, and make sure to include him in the life we were building.
Jace made it to the car, and Vander drew him in for a man hug. Jace’s arms went right around Vander’s back for a moment before he slid into the backseat and leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Hey, momma. I didn’t know you were coming today.”
“I didn’t have any supper orders, so I closed up early.”
“That’s good. So, what are we doing? You seem weird.”
I glanced at Vander. He twisted so that we were both facing Jace over the seat backs. “The test results came back today,” I said and Jace’s eyes locked onto mine. “Vander is your dad.”
Jace stared at me, his face expressionless. Finally, he spoke, “Is.”
“Yes. Vander is your father. He is your real dad,” I reiterated to make sure he understood.
He dropped his gaze for a minute and then started nodding his head. He snuck a quick, assessing peek at Vander’s face then met my eyes again.
“Cool,” he said.
Vander chuckled beside me, and I stared back and forth between them.
“Can we go get something to eat? Can we go to the West End Diner?” Jace asked.
Oh, God. Baptism by fire.
“Don’t you think we should tell Yiayia and Thia and Thio and Alex first?”
“Can we just call them?” He pushed.
Jace never pushed, and we only went to West Side Diner on Sunday mornings, and then I got it. He wanted something familiar.
“Sure, yes. We can do that. Is that okay with you, Van?”
Vander sat looking at Jace with that familiar half smile and Jace mirrored the same smile back at him.
“Sure, buddy.” He turned to start the car. “I’ve heard good things about this place.”
