Page 43 of Fighting For Light
“I know what you’re thinking,” she says as she climbs the stairs.
I follow and close the door behind me. “And what’s that?” I ask her.
She shoots me a look and fills the electric kettle with water from the fridge. “He’s not mad at me because I’m pregnant. He’s mad at me because I kept it from him and then sprung it on him instead of being straight up the moment I found out and asked him for help. I hurt him, I know that. But you know what, Kai?” she says. “He hurt me, too, with how he reacted, and it’s going to take me a minute to finish being honest with him. I will tell him. I just need time.”
I step up to her and give her a brief kiss on the lips. “Take all the time you need, babe. I support whatever choice you want to make. But your dad loves you, and as someone who knows what it’s like to have the opposite, don’t wait too long, okay?”
She tilts her face into my hold and tilts her chin up, asking for another kiss. I give it to her instantly.
“I love you,” she whispers.
I grin against her lips. “I love you, too.”
***
We got carried away and lost track of time. So we hurry intoBrunch!, a bright breakfast place on the beach. Mom smiles as we approach, and I lean down to kiss her cheek. “Sorry, we’re late.” Her eyes glitter looking between Cordi and me. I pull outCordi’s chair and get her seated before sitting next to my fiancée. Never in a million years did I think I would ever say that word, and I’m still getting used to it.
“Oh, that’s okay,” she says lightly, glancing at Cordi’s finger, missing nothing. I go to put my arm around her chair, but it’s too far away, so I grab the edge of it to pull her closer.
“How was your evening?” Mom asks.
I shrug. “It was fine, though it was hard to sleep.” I glance at Cordi, and she smiles back.
“I’m sure,” she says, and Cordelia snorts into her orange juice, avoiding my stare. Mom leans forward after taking a sip of her coffee, and I tense up. Cordi doesn’t know what I had planned on telling her this morning, and now isn’t the place or the time. Our little bubble will burst, but I want to be the one to pop it because I owe her that.
“So, my darling Cordelia, how are you feeling?” Mom asks. I glance at her.
“I’m doing alright. The morning sickness isn’t so bad. I’m just eating everything in sight now,” Cordi says as she works on a croissant.
“When I was pregnant with this one,” she says, pointing to me, “all I could think about was banana bread. I was either making it or buying it every other day.”
Cordelia grins at me. “That’s funny because he hates bananas,” she says. I lift a shoulder.
Unless they are baked into something.“They’re gross,” I grumble.
Cordi giggles and nudges me.
“I’ve been obsessed with peaches lately. I’m trying to get creative with them, though, instead of eating them raw.”
“That isn’t the worst of cravings. It could be chocolate cake, right?” Mom says.
Cordi nods, grinning. “That does sound good, though.”
Mom lifts a hand, and a waiter comes by. “Please bring us three orders of eggs, bacon, sausage, a plate of Pain au Chocolat, and a slice of chocolate cake.” He dips his head and saunters off. I pour the thermos of hot water into Cordelia’s teacup before drinking my coffee.
“That ring looks beautiful on you, Cordelia,” Mom says quietly.
Cordi looks down at it. “Thank you, and…thank you for giving it to Kai,” she says.
My mother meets my eyes before looking at Cordi. “So then you know what comes with… being a Coldwell,” she says cryptically.
“Mom,” I bite softly. She waves me off and stares at Cordelia.
“I am aware of it, Esmarie, but Kai and I haven’t discussed it yet. That was intentional. I trust that Kai will tell me when the time is right,” she says and rips off a piece of her croissant.
I stare at Cordi in awe. My best friend, my future wife, is loyal, but I’m starting to wonder if her loyalty is overly trusting of me. I haven’t done good things, and I’m willing to tell her all of them so she has a full picture, even if it hurts. But she wanted to wait when we were at the beach, and I couldn’t bring myself to take that from her.
Mom’s expression goes serious for a moment, and Cordi sits up a little straighter. Her hand goes to her stomach and begins rubbing back and forth. I slip my hand under the table and rest it on her stomach. Her hand pauses and slips it under my own.
