Page 52 of Beckon

She looked over to the place on the dresser where Reese’s picture used to be and smiled. She was happy that it now sat on the dresser in her son’s room. Tami had ordered all new bedroom furniture and even repainted the room over the last months. Reese wasn’t a factor in her and Chandler’s relationship, but she wanted the room to be a fresh start. That way, if he wanted to stay over, then he would feel comfortable.

Chandler had made changes, changes she had pointed out. She wanted to show him in some small way that she could make changes too if he needed it.

Dressed in a bright T-shirt dress, one that made it feel like she carried sunshine in her pocket, she eyed herself in the full-length mirror. They were visiting Reese today. They went once every month for a while, then those visits became every other month. Eventually, she went whenever Chester asked to go. Tami had said goodbye, and if she wanted to talk to Reese, she could do that anywhere.

After realizing she loved Chandler, her need to talk to Reese practically disappeared. With the exception of updates on Chester.

Her gratitude for Reese would never change. He helped her be a better person, one who could fall in love with a broken man and wait for him to heal. Reese paved the way for her future happiness, and she would never diminish that. But she meant what she’d said to Chandler, that Reese wasn’t his competition. When Chester asked to visit his dad, she decided to go and tell him about Chandler. She’d already told Chandler all about Reese, so it seemed natural. Also, to process it the way she did most things, by speaking them aloud.

“If it wasn’t for either of those men, I wouldn’t have you.” Tami smiled at herself in the mirror, placing her hands against her slightly pudgy stomach that held a secret. One she couldn’t wait to tell Chandler about. She just hoped he was as happy as she was.

It wasn’t that she didn’t know his hopes and dreams for the future, they’d talked about all of that. It was the timing. This was the first time she’d see him, face to face, in just over two months. Was she ready for that? Was he? Were they? What would Chester think?

There were a million and one questions about the future and their readiness for it. Tami was all about routine and planning, but those things went out the window.

“What’s done is done. There is no going back now. And even if there was, I wouldn’t change a damn thing.”

Twice in one day?She was becoming a potty mouth.

“Tami, dear. You up there?” Harold’s voice broke into her amusement.

“Yep, I’ll be right down.”

She was excited for what the future would hold. Nervous too, but she believed in herself, and she believed in Chandler. Even if he wasn’t ready to dive in headfirst just yet, she’d wait. Most things worth having took time.

The only thing was when and how to tell him. Tonight would be the first time they would see each other in person. Their first face to face since he walked out of that room promising to make things right. Tami was all about moving at his pace, but would the knowledge of a child rush him or push him away? Either of those options were not acceptable.

The dilemma was Chandler’s pace versus nature. She had a few months before she’d not be able to hide it physically. Not to mention her mother would pick up on the signs soon if she hadn’t already. If she waited to tell Chandler, her mother would find out first, and that would devastate him. If she blurted it out tonight between the salad and spaghetti, he might make athemdecision based on neither of them but on a baby. That was the last thing she wanted.

Tami didn’t know what she would do when she saw him, so she pushed that problem aside. Instead, she would focus on going to the graveside. Maybe clarity would come before Chandler arrived for dinner.

“Well look at you.” Harold dropped a kiss on her cheek as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “As lovely as ever.” He took her hand and wrapped it around his arm as he led her out the door and toward the car.

After opening the door for her, he leaned in with a sparkle in his eye. “You’re positively glowing.” The emphasis he put on the last word made her gasp.

“How… I mean…”

“Because, your mother is a very perceptive woman, who luckily, shares all her thoughts with me.”

So not only had her mother already figured it out, but she’d also told Harold. It was only a matter of time before their behavior broadcast the news.

“I’ll be lucky to get a bite of garlic bread before you two give it away.” Her plan of waiting just flew out the car window. She would have to tell him tonight.

“Well then, might I suggest telling the young man before he makes it across the threshold?” Harold chuckled.

“But what if he’s not ready yet? This is a huge step. He’s come a long way, but what—”

“Give my boy some credit, he knows what a good thing he has. He’d be an outright fool not to.”

“You always say he’s not that smart,” Tami said dryly.

“Ha, well, that’s because he was Army, but we can’t hold all his past poor decisions against him indefinitely now, can we?” Harold laughed again. Tami wondered if he ever spoke without laughter. “I said he wasn’t as smart as me, but I never accused him of being a fool.”

Harold loved to tease Chandler about not being Navy like he was. It had become such a thing that the gag gifts started about a month ago.

“I hope you’re right, Harold. I can wait, but this little nugget only has about seven months.”

Harold looked over at her with all the surety in the world.

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