Page 114 of Marriage (Red, White &) Blues

“Probably not. Where will you go?”

I sighed, thinking about it for a moment. “I don’t know yet but I’ll call you as soon as I get there and you know, your family can’t know we’re still together.”

He laughed. “You are so sneaky.”

“One of the things you love best about me.”

“That number is infinite, sweetheart.”

“Keep that up, Blake…”

“Keep it up or what?”

“Nothing. Just keep it up.”

That gave us both a good chuckle at the reference. It seemed like so long ago when I’d last said that to him. “We’ll get through this, sweetheart.”

“Oh—I almost forgot to tell you in all the excitement.”

“Tell me what?”

“Yeah, it turns out I’m pregnant.”

I heard something fall in the background and then, “I’m sorry, what?”

“Blake, you’re going to be a dad.”

“Then you’re not traveling,” he said.

“Ha.” I popped out a laugh. “It’s cute you think you can tell me what to do.”

“Gloria—we don’t know how long this will take.”

“Blake, honey… We’ll keep in contact.”

“But I want to be there for you. I want to take care of you. My wife shouldn’t be going through her pregnancy alone—holy shit, I’m going to be a father.”

“Youare. Happy?”

“I’m fucking ecstatic, baby.”

“I’m still going.”

“Sweetheart, I’m really asking you not to go.”

“Think about it. I don’t think we have a choice.”

He grumbled some but came back with, “God, I hate when you’re logical.”

“You’ll come to me when you can—hopefully with information.”

He did that harsh breath thing where I just knew he was raking his fingers through his hair. “God, I hate this,” he said and I agreed. The situation sucked. “Okay, Glory, I’m going. Love you.”

“Love you, too. Don’t sound so low. It’s not forever, I remember someone telling me that.”

“When that stupid son of a bitch told you that, it was before his whole world was planning to leave on a plane to God knows where.”

“We’ll get through this.”

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