Page 47 of Entirely Yours
“Seems like you’re plenty good at them, actually,” she chuckles.
Mortified, I bury my face in my hands. “Oh my God. Signal! Signal!” I cry, hoping Jules hears me.
Elaine’s hands find mine and peel them from my face. “Relax, my cabbage, I’m only joking. We speak very openly about sex around here. Well, I do, at least. Any one of my children would kill me if they heard this conversation.” She winks and gives me a reassuring squeeze. “Hugo and I—we worry about our kids. You and Bex understand that better than any of the boys. Jules is learning, it seems. He’s going to be a good father, and I can see after one day with you that you, dear, are an excellent mother. This baby is very lucky.”
Tears well up almost instantly. It’s been so long since someone motheredmeinstead of the other way around. “Thank you.” It comes out gurgled.
After one last squeeze, she lets go of my hand. “Anything you need, you let me know, okay? I know you have your dad, but we also love babysitting and don’t get to see our granddaughter Elodie often enough! Chloe is welcome here anytime.”
I nod because if I open my mouth, the well of tears will start streaming and may never stop. I realize in this moment just how tired I am and how good it feels to be seen. Chloe has Dad and me, but to think about this baby having all of the Bardots? It’s a life I never could have hoped for.
Just then, Jules finally wanders into the kitchen. “She signaled for you, darling,” Elaine coos.
His concerned eyes meet mine and seem to silently ask if everything is okay.
I’m fine,I mouth.
“Julien, you make sure to take good care of her, yes?” his mom asks.
“I will,” he promises, looking me directly in the eye.
And I think I’m starting to believe him.
It only took me a week to realize I never wanted Thea to move back to her apartment. Honestly, it took less than twenty-four hours, but I tried to get myself to chill the fuck out.
It took me two more weeks, however, to work up the nerve to attempt to tell Thea that I think she should just stay here.
We had our second appointment with Dr. Mitchell yesterday, and everything looked great. Apparently there’s a blood test you can do to find out the sex of the baby, so we should know that soon. I want to do something special for Thea, but I have no clue what. I keep opening my mouth to say something to her and then quickly closing it. She’s definitely noticed, but has been kind enough not to say anything about it.
Fuck, I want her. But it’s more important to me that she feels safe with me—that she wants me to be a part of the baby’s life.
She told me from day one that she’d be skittish, and I will never forgive myself ifI scare her away.
So instead, I think I’ve run my hand through my hair about a thousand times a day for the last few weeks.
I’m doing just that when there’s a knock on my bedroom door.
“Come in.”
The door creaks open and Thea pokes her head in. “Hi.”
She hasn’t done this before so I’m instantly worried something is wrong. I sit up and ask, “Is everything okay? Are you?—”
“No, no, I’m fine! Sorry, didn’t mean to freak you out. Can I—?” She gestures into the room.
I pat the bed next to me, inviting her to come sit. But as soon as she sits down I realize she’s here. In my bed.
“Uh, need water? I can go get some.” I start to get up but am stopped by a soft hand on my arm.
“I’m fine, Jules. I just came to talk. It should be time to tell Chloe soon”—she gestures down toward her belly which looks like she’s eaten one too many enchiladas—“and I wanted to run that by you before I told her.”
“Of course you can tell Chloe. How do you think she’s going to take the news?” I ask. With Chloe’s larger than life personality, I could see it going either way.
Unlike Thea, who I have lost the ability to communicate with, Chloe and I have become fast friends over the past few weeks. Though I suspect that’s mostly to do with Chloe wanting to replace Ben, and I just happen to be here. She helps me make dinner and in return I’ve sat through about a dozen tea parties. Typically the menu involves no tea, because Chloe says tea is disgusting. I don’t think she’s ever actually had it before.
I look back over at Thea. She’s clad in one of her typical dance outfits, a tight workout top and even tighter leggings. I have the hardest time resisting the urge to touch.
“Great question,” she chuckles. “She’s around so many adults, I don’t think she’s ever really thought about having a sibling.” Her head falls back against the pillow as shecontemplates. “Do you—what’s it like having such a large family?”
