Page 127 of Malachi
“I just did what I had to do. We all did.” She shrugged, embarrassed.
“It wasn’t nothing, love,” I whispered so only she could hear me.
“I’ll never stop thinking you’re a badass, baby Temple,” Ollie told her, giving her a wink.
“I’m not baby Temple anymore,” Eden chuckled. “That one is.” She pointed at Talia, who was gently rubbing her baby bump. She was really starting to show. I could scarcely contain the utter relief I felt knowing that the two of them were alright.
“Baby Temple isn’t quite the name we had picked,” Talia snickered.
“Oh, baby names! I’m so excited about baby names,” Delilah exclaimed.
“We were thinking something more along the lines of Violet,” Zeke said after giving Talia a look.
“Violet Temple? Oh, that’s so beautiful,” Ruth praised, dabbing at her eyes anew.
“What about boy names?” Levi asked.
“Well, we have time to pick a boy name,” Zeke shrugged.
“Hey, the next few months will go fast, brother,” Ollie teased.
“We won’t need a boy's name for a few more years, actually,” Talia said with a blush.
“Wait, does that mean—” Ruth gasped.
“Oh my goodness,” Eden exclaimed, releasing my hand to clasp hers together beneath her chin.
“Baby Temple is a girl,” Zeke stated proudly. I’d never seen him happier, or more proud.
“A girl,” I whispered in awe. I was going to have a niece.
“Violet means hope. And she was made out of exactly that,” Talia explained, her eyes never wavering from Zeke’s. I’d never seen more love between two people than I did between him and Talia at that moment.
“I think a toast is in order, then,” I announced, clearing my throat in an attempt to brush off the overwhelming emotion that threatened to put tears into my own eyes.
“I think that’s our cue to pack it up for the night, men,” Driscoll announced. “Let’s give these people some privacy.”
“Don’t worry about it, Agent Driscoll,” Levi interjected. “We’ll head back over to Malachi’s. You all keep working. You are doing important stuff here. But if you’re done with us for the evening, I think we will take our leave.”
“You’ve done plenty. Go enjoy your evening. We’ll be done soon, I promise,” Agent Driscoll promised, clapping Levi on the back.
We filed out of Levi’s house slowly, bidding the agents goodnight. I took a deep breath when we walked outside, enjoying the fresh, cooling night air as it filled my lungs.
“Let’s go home, love,” Eden murmured beside me, giving my hand a squeeze as I helped her hobble her way to the truck on her bad ankle. It was wrapped, but she wouldn’t get the boot for another few days. I helped her in, making sure she was buckled, and then found my seat behind the wheel. The engine roared to life, and we headed away. The drive was quiet for only a moment before she spoke again. “I can’t believe it’s over.”
“I know,” I agreed quietly.
“I don’t think I’ll stop saying that for a while. You’ll get sick of me saying it,” she chuckled lightly.
“No, I’m right there with you. It’s hard to believe. It’ll take a while for it to actually sink in.”
“A baby girl,” she sighed happily. The smile on her face was dreamy and content, and I hoped it would never leave her.
“Yeah. I can’t believe it. We’re getting a niece.” The excitement filled up inside of my chest like a balloon. We needed something good after all the bad they had subjected us to. This baby would be all things good in the world.
“I have a sneaking suspicion she will be the first of many nieces and nephews in the Temple family,” she teased, shooting me a look of mischief. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. The sudden thought of us joining the ranks of parents filled me with too many emotions to name.
“Is that something you want?” I asked her cautiously. We’d never talked about it. I wasn’t sure I was ready to talk about it.
