Page 86 of Sparks Still Fly

She stands and bolts to the nearest trash can where she empties whatever she had in her stomach, which can’t have been much. Adam is next to her in the blink of an eye, holding her hair and rubbing her back.

“Raf, get those coffees out of here, please?” Adam’s voice is a perfect mix of stern and kind, and my chest warms at the thought of him using this dad tone on their child. Rafael nods dumbly and pivots out of the room, Charlie on his tail, likely going to dump her tea.

By the time Bon rights herself, Raf and Charlie are back, both looking concerned, but Adam looks… oddly calm.

“Lainey, I think we need to tell them.” He takes her hand and gingerly guides her back to a chair where he sits first, guiding her down onto his lap.

“Tell them?” she asks, seemingly coming back to life. “I haven’t even told you!” She instinctively puts a hand on her stomach, and Owen, Charlie and Raf all gasp at the same time. It’s kind of cute.

“Baby, your body’s changed, you’re tired all the time, and last week you said you didn’t want strawberries because they tasted like blue cheese, which then made you want cheese, and we went to the store and bought eight different kinds. Remember?” Adam remains calm, completely unfazed by what’s happening. Bon’s eyes water, and she lets out a sob.

“I wanted to put a bun in the oven and have you open it as a surprise. It was going to be so cute. I was going to get your reaction on video and everything. It was going to be perfect!” He wipes her tears away, a crooked smile playing on his lips.

“This is perfect. I mean, I hate that you’re sick and so tired, but you’re growing a life, my love. That we made together. What’s more perfect than that? You’re going to be an amazing mom, just like yours.” Adam’s words are sweet and so perfectly the exact thing my bestie needs to hear right now. My own doubts and insecurities about motherhood creep in, slowly, like black smoke infiltrating a bright room.

Owen’s hand moves up along my spine, fingers wrapping around the back of my neck where my muscles have tensed. He leans into me and whispers, “I love you.” And just like that, those nagging feelings evaporate into thin air.

I know that the insecurities, the fear, the guilt, the shame, and whatever nasty sentiment wants to rear its ugly head will be back. I know they’re not gone forever, but I have Owen by my side to help shoo them away. To bring me back to the reality that what we have is wonderful, and that we can lean on each other when things get hard.

Rafael practically jumps out of his skin as Adam whispers something to Bon. She nods, and they both smile.

“We’re having a baby!” Bon jumps up and exclaims, as if we didn’t all already clue into that very fact. But gosh, she’s sweet. Immediately we’re all rushing the happy couple, Rafael going to his best friend and wrapping him in one of his famous bear hugs. Owen hugs them both, and I stand back and take it all in. Their joy, the little bit of fear lingering in their eyes, the excitement buzzing in the air.

50/

if there are no objections…

maeve

Eva came by the hospital to say a quick hello and to give Owen one of her infamous motherly hugs before heading to the house. We managed to convince them all to spend the night there and not at the hospital. Owen and I took turns napping on the rocking chairs in the NICU, holding Julia for skin-to-skin contact to help with her body temperature and just watching her. We hardly slept, but I think I can speak for Owen when I say that we’re just so happy she’s all right, it doesn’t even matter.

Julia's fever finally subsided overnight, and we received the good news that there were no complications from the procedure to remove the blockage in her ear. With the green light to take her back home, we were relieved and grateful. When the doctor declared Julia healthy enough to leave the hospital, we let out a collective sigh of relief. Smiles spread across our faces, and tears of joy glimmered in our eyes as we packed up our belongings and prepared to take the little one home. The feeling of happiness and contentment was almost tangible in the air.

Everyone is waiting for us at Owen’s house when we arrive. We get Julia settled in her Yia-Yia’s arms as our family surrounds us, coming together to make coffee, gather snacks and take care of the precious little girl I hope to call mine one day.

Owen pulls me aside, as his phone rings in his hand. He shows me the screen, and I recognize his lawyer’s name. We lock eyes for a moment, and I smile, communicating to him that it’s okay to take the call, that I’m here and we’re doing this together.

“Hi, John.” He puts the call on speaker as we walk out to the front porch, away from the commotion. “I’ve got you on speaker. Maeve is here.”

“Lovely to finally talk to you, Mrs. James.” His tone is jovial, and I immediately like him. Also, I just really like being called Mrs. James.

“Hello! Given your cheerful tone, I sure hope you have something good to say, otherwise my husband will be firing you.” I mean it, too. If he has bad news after that greeting, he’s done.

John’s response is a throaty laugh. “Just going to cut right to the chase, huh? I like you. Of course I have good news. I know you were a bit worried about what this hospital visit meant for your guardianship, Owen. The social workers have confirmed with the doctors that you couldn’t have known Julia had a blockage in her ear since they didn’t know themselves, and it’s not anyone’s fault that this happened.” He pauses as my heart stops beating. Owen’s grip loosens as he lets out the breath he must have been holding. “Now, the guardianship papers only have Owen’s name on them, and I can put the adoption paperwork through as soon as possible, but I wanted to ask whether anything has changed with that before we continue. Are we adding a name to the paperwo?—”

“Yes!” My answer is loud. Too loud. Owen’s grip on my hand tightens again, and I look up at him. “I mean, yes, please. If that’s okay. If there are no objections. I’d really like to be added to the official paperwork as Julia’s mmm… as Julia’s mm—” Sobbing. I am sobbing. I bury my face in Owen’s chest to muffle the sounds as surely John thinks I’ve lost it.

“As Julia’s mum. Please add Maeve’s name to the paperwork as Julia’s mother, John.” Owen’s steady voice does nothing to help with my crying. In fact, it just makes me cry harder.

A sniffle comes through the phone speaker, and it makes me like John a little more.

“Consider it done. I won’t congratulate you prematurely on the adoption, even though I know it’ll go through with no issues, but let me congratulate you both on taking this step. I’m very happy for you.” Another sniffle. I did not expect John, the lawyer, to be such a softie, but I’m here for it.

I’m still a mess, so Owen takes over. “Thanks John. Talk soon.”

The call ends, and Owen’s arms wrap around me tightly. He kisses the top of my head as his chest moves with a deep breath, and everything suddenly calms. My tears stop and my breathing slows. As I pull away from Owen to wipe at my face, he cradles it in his hands.

“Are you sure, Maevey?” His eyes roam over my face, likely looking for any sign of regret over what I’ve just asked for. “Are you sure this is the life you want? With me? With Julia?”

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