Page 162 of One Good Reason

Lifting my mother up from the couch, she grabbed ahold to my elbow. “She loves you,” she mumbled when we walked out of the living room.

“I loved her just as much at one point,” I admitted.

“It would have never worked. The two of you.” Her head shook. “It wouldn’t have.”

“I know that now. My time with Adele served its purpose. Talitha is where I’m supposed to be at. I hate that it took so long for us to find one another.”

“It happened when it was supposed to.”

“Gema said the same thing.”

“Gema was right.” My mother giggled.

“Are you going to be okay here alone? I promised Talitha I would come over tonight.”

“Go.” She patted me on the arm. “I can move around on this boot just fine. Go spend time with your lady. God knows you’ve mopped around long enough.”

“Lady, I have not been mopping.” I chuckled.

“You have.”

“Well in that case, let me get you settled so I can go see my baby.”

The many conversations I’d had with Gema, I’d taken every single one of them to heart. My mother saying things happened when they were supposed to confirmed that Talitha and I were going to be okay. We might experience a few bumps in the road, but I had a feeling Gema was up there making sure we stayed on the right path.

Epilogue

LAWTON

When Talitha reached down and pulled her out, I took one look at her face, and I knew what we would name her.

“Graelyn.” I smiled and looked up at the ceiling thanking Gema for the inspiration.

“Graelyn,” Talitha hummed. “I see I wasn’t the only one she mentioned that to.”

“Apparently not.” I laughed.

“I told you Gema be knowing.”

“Yeah she does.” Rubbing Graelyn’s back lovingly, I fought back tears. “Love, I can’t believe she’s really here. You did it.”

“We did it Harvey,” she crooned. “She’s so beautiful.”

“Yes Love. She is.”

“And this hair. Lord knows I was over buying Tums.”

Talitha’s entire pregnancy she suffered from the worst heartburn. I joked with her that we needed to buy stock in the company since so much of my money was spent towards them.

After our blow up, we decided it would be best if we did therapy to help us navigate through our issues. So twice a week I sat down with a therapist to discuss my relationship and to continue trying to build a relationship with my mother. She wasback at home in the Heights but once a week she traveled down with Sincere so we could attend therapy.

Now that the baby had arrived, I expected her to temporarily move into the lake house. She was so happy to be welcoming her first grandchild that she’s had a room at her house decorated for the baby. Both Talitha and I were unsure of what we wanted to name her so when we designed the nursery we selected a neutral theme. My mother on the other hand had the one at her house decked out in everything pink. I told Talitha if she didn’t watch out we would look up and my mother would have my baby enrolled in some type of pageants.

“Dad, you want to hold her?” the nurse asked after they’d finished cleaning her up.

“Yes I do.” Trekking to the sink, I washed my hands and dried them before taking my princess out of the nurses arms. Sitting down in the recliner next to Talitha’s bed, I cradled her to my chest and sung lowly in her ear.

When her mother realized what she was singing she frowned. “Hey,” she frowned. “I thought I was your latest, greatest, inspiration.”

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