Page 117 of Rebound
Tamara
“Look at that ring, my god,” Millie squeals as she stares at the flashiest piece of jewellery I’ve ever owned.
“This is better than ‘dicked you down good’ flowers,” Vera adds and everyone laughs.
We’re sitting on the floor of the guest room in my childhood home, drinks and snacks scattered around us. After Patrick proposed and our family and friends piled into the house, there was a proper celebration. I’d have loved for us to be alone so I could show my future husband how happy I am. But having my favourite people under one roof is pretty incredible. It helps that the roof is the same one where I spent the first six years of my life.
“I can’t believe he did all this,” I say wistfully, tossing more popcorn into my mouth.
“In case it wasn’t clear yet, he loves you. Like a lot.”
I smile at Krys and then look around at my girlfriends with so much love in my heart. It’s always been the four of us against the world and I don’t think there’s anyone who would struggle when they have people like this on their side. I was convinced after Kabir I’d have a hard time meeting someone. That my hopes of one day building a family would be dashed. Hell, being close to forty meant my chances of getting pregnant were also low. Then Patrick returned and changed everything.
Now he’s found us the house, asked me to marry him and is planning the perfect future for our kid.
Was I worried when he said he was going to retire from professional hockey? Of course. It’s been his bread and butter, his claim to fame, his thing for years. But I can see the sport doesn’t bring him joy like it used to. He hasn’t publicly announced it yet, but the day is coming.
“So….are we planning two weddings next year?”
“Maybe even combine it?”
Vera and I share a grin. We’ve talked about doing exactly that. But I’m not in a hurry to get married. Right now, my entire focus is on making sure this baby is born without any problems. I know Vera isn’t rushing either, especially since it’s only been a month or so since Elias popped the question. Unlike Patrick, he proposed in private. We didn’t know about it until two days later when Vera surfaced from their fuck fest and sent us a picture of her ring.
To think both of us were swearing off relationships and men only for these Joseph boys to come waltzing in and say hell no.
I’ve already told Vera that when she’s ready, I’ll be right there by her side planning the heck out of her wedding. She insists she’s not rushing and it’s going to be small, but we know the family matriarchs won’t agree. I don’t blame them. The first of their children to get married is a huge deal. Especially since Vera put a stop to her hunt for a husband before Elias came along. But I’m so happy for her. My cousin deserves the love of someone like Elias Joseph. He worships the ground she walks on, and takes the time and effort to be there for her. He definitely thinks the sun shines out of her ass and that’s exactly what Vera needs.
“Okay, someone needs to help me up,” I say, grunting and groaning as I stretch my legs and lift my arms. All three of them stand and hoist me up. “I’m ready for this baby to be born.”
Krys laughs and rubs my stomach. “This isn’t even the biggest you’re going to be.”
“That’s not helpful!”
She continues to laugh, wrapping her arms around me. Then the other two do the same and we’re in a cuddle huddle and I close my eyes to enjoy it. Being on maternity leave—mostly by force—has made me moodier than necessary. I spend most of my time drawing and researching baby rooms, and waiting for Patrick to get home. The rest of the time I’m eating junk and sleeping. I can barely masturbate and video sex wasn’t as exciting the second time around.
“I wanna show you three something.”
The hug breaks and I waddle down the long hallway to my childhood bedroom. I took Patrick on a tour while everyone was downstairs and when I stepped inside, I instantly knew it would be the nursery. Even though I was six when my parents died, I have vivid memories of sitting on the window seat and staring out at the garden, sticking glow in the dark stars on the ceiling while perched on my father’s shoulders. But my memories of them are not as clear and even when I look at pictures of us in this house, I don’t remember those moments.
I push the door open and walk in, while my friends hover outside. My heart is full as I put my hands over my belly and take in the space. The slanting roof, the large window on one side, the built-in wardrobe on the other, the little dressing room area in one corner that leads to the bathroom—this was my slice of heaven.
“I would love for the three of you to help me turn this into the nursery,” I whisper through fresh tears and they nod, still standing outside. I know why they haven’t moved—they understand the importance of this room. So much of my childhood was ripped away from me and now I get to have some of it back. A tear drops to the hand on my stomach and I blow out a shaky breath.
“Rainbows,” Millie says and takes a step in, her hands sweeping over the walls. “Bright, hopeful, joyful rainbows everywhere.”
I grin and nod, already picturing them curving and looping across the surfaces.
“Bookshelves filled with all our favourites over here,” Vera adds and points to the corner perfect for shelving.
“And photographs of everyone who loves them,” Krys says as she blinks back tears.
I nod, smiling so wide, my face might split. I stand in the middle of the room and admire the space, then my friends. I hope when my kid is born, they find their friends the way I did. And they hold onto them so tight it might be suffocating sometimes, but it’ll be worth it. I wipe my tears and hold out my hands. We stand in a circle, fingers linked and smile at each other.
“Thank you for being my family. For being you,” I whisper through my tears and three of them swear at me for making them cry, before we’re hugging again. Their hands land on my belly and I sigh happily. This is what it’s always meant to be.
“If you’re done performing whatever witchcraft, I’d like to spend some time with my wife.”
We scream at the deep voice and turn to Patrick leaning against the doorframe, grinning at us.
