Page 70 of Cherish

My brother. My family. It feels so strange, but that’s what we’re becoming.

“You’re a part of us,” my father whispered when we arrived. Since Jason is meeting us here soon, he insisted on picking me up, despite living only a few minutes away from Tina.

“You’re good with him.” Owen has dozed off in his grandfather’s arms.

“You will be too. He’s going to love you.” He stands up with the baby and I follow him into the nursery where he gently lays him down. He strokes his hair before we walk out of the room. Once we’re out, he hugs me to him and kisses my forehead. “I’m so happy you’re here, carrot cake.” I laugh at the nickname, making no secret of loving it.

I reach into my pocket for my vibrating phone to find a message from Jason, telling me he’s on his way. He ends the text with a string of heart and kiss emojis.

Any minute now, he’ll get an email with the results of the paternity test for Natalie’s baby. Yesterday, he came to my office so we could walk to the lab together arm in arm, the world ignorant of the seriousness of what we were about to do. Despite the smile on my face and the light tone of my voice, my heart had been heavy. My fear palpable to my own ears.

We entered the lab only to find Natalie standing in the lobby signing paperwork. Next to her was a bulky Asian man, dressed casually in jeans and a button-down shirt, with his sleeves rolled up, revealing a dragon tattoo on his left arm. They stopped and stared at us as we walked in, but no words were exchanged. The man, who I assumed was her husband, turned his eyes on Jason, his glare full of disdain and hatred. When he turned his cold eyes to me, his anger morphed into pity. Jason stood his ground, holding his stare, daring him to say or do anything. I did the same.

He finally put his hand on the small of Natalie’s back and escorted her out of the building, her large belly leading the way. By the time they left, I gave up all pretense of trying to appear happy. I took a seat while Jason showed his identification and filled out paperwork. He only had a moment to sit next to me, his hand on my bouncing knee, before he was called to the back. He kissed me tenderly, words of love on his lips before walking away from me.

He was gone less than ten minutes. Neither of us said a word when he got back. He wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me close, as he walked us back to the hospital. That was almost thirty-six hours ago. Soon, we’ll either be at home preparing for our wedding or talking to Tina about shared custody and child support.

I don’t lie to myself. I’m praying for the former.

Dad, holding a wooden spoon in front of me, shakes me out of my reverie. I taste the sauce for the chicken parmesan and tell him how good it tastes. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings and Bruce opens the door for Jason.

As soon as I hear his voice, I run into his arms, and he lifts me off the ground as he kisses me. Dad hands Jason a beer as the table is set by Bruce’s wife, Nova.

“So, what is this nonsense I heard about you two getting married at city hall?” Tina asks over dinner. But before we can answer, she says, “It’s not happening. We’re having a wedding or Dad will never let you hear the end of it.”

“I have to walk my carrot cake down the aisle. And McCallister, that’s my former partner, is always bragging about his son-in-law, the accountant. Surgeon beats accountant all day every day.”

And that’s how dinner goes. I learn they take turns hosting dinner each month, and I’m told that I am now in the rotation. Dinner is lively and loud as we talk at once and over each other. I laugh throughout, but mainly listen as they tell stories about growing up with their father.

Jason is quiet. Normally, I’d attribute his quiet to fatigue, but we both know there is something else lurking just beneath the surface. This limbo can be over by this time tomorrow, or it can be replaced with even more uncertainty. Because if there’s one thing we can’t control, it’s Natalie.

Dinner’s over much too soon, and as we’re cleaning up, baby Owen’s fussing is heard over the baby monitor. Tina brings him out, and as she grabs a bottle, she hands it to me. I sit down, with Jason beside me, and she places the squirming baby in my arms.

“Relax,” Jason whispers in my ear. I take a deep breath, allow the tension to leave my body, and for the first time, the baby doesn’t cry while in my arms.

CHAPTER 46

JASON

The email was sitting in my inbox before I arrived at dinner. I didn’t open it. I cursed when I saw it. I cursed the lab for taking less than the forty-eight hours they promised me. I cursed myself for getting in this predicament. Fear covered me like a blanket of ice.

She loves me. I know it. But can she handle this? The look I saw on Natalie’s face won’t leave me. She was lacking her haughty look. She was scared. Her fear was palpable, and if Natalie is scared, it can only mean one thing. And I’m not ready to think about it.

Despite the late hour and the long day tomorrow promises to be, I know I won’t be able to sleep tonight.

“You know what you need in here, Jay?” Alex asks as she steps out of the bathroom wearing a pair of black silk pajamas.

“What doweneed in here, angel?” I pat her side of the bed, and when she slides in, I pull her into my arms.

“A TV and more drawer space.”

“We’ll go shopping on my next day off. Have you given more thought about our wedding?”

“I have. So, you know the Public Gardens downtown.” I pull her closer and nod. “There’s this little bridge, and my mom used to take me there, and I’d walk back and forth and stare at the water. I don’t know if it’s possible, but I want to get married right there when the flowers are in full bloom.”

Which will mean a late spring or summer wedding. Fuck.

“We’ll make it happen. Whatever you want.”

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