Page 110 of No Place Like Home

I noticed Juliet looking at me, probably wondering, but too scared to ask.

“I didn’t.” I told them the truth. Part of it, I kept to myself because I didn’t want to tell them before Quincy. “It wasn’t a good day, and I was triggered. I’m just glad he followed me that day before I made a mistake. I can’t picture my life without Quinny.”

They seemed to know where I was going. Emma’s face got sad, and she looked toward the door.

“I’m glad he was there. He was the perfect person.” Ems smiled, and I was a little bit creeped out by it.

“Me too,” Freya whispered.

“I can’t believe you’re a mom,” Juliet hissed, and I thought she was going to start crying.

“You fucking cry, Juliet, and I’ll punch you,” Freya said, sounding about the same.

I needed to lighten the conversation.

“So, what did I miss?” I asked them. “I have no idea what has been going on here.”

I genuinely wanted to know, but I was also avoiding the Quincy topic.

Freya took a sip of her wine before answering me. “Jana is pregnant, and Rusty is hoping for a boy. I’m trying to convince her Pratt makes a good boy name.”

Emma rolled her eyes, and Juliet took a sip from her cup.

“That’s a shit name,” I told her.

“Shut up. Your child is basically a junior.” She pointed her finger at me.

“What about you? What about naming your kid Pratt?”

Freya smiled sadly at me, and I regretted asking her that question.

“I can’t have them,” she stated matter-of-factly.

I was about to open my mouth to apologize, but she didn’t let me.

“We’ve known for a while. It’s nothing new. I mean, someone had to be the hot, rich aunt.” She raised her cup in a mock toast.

I still didn’t know what to say, and it made me feel a bit insensitive for what I almost did.

“Hey.” Freya snapped her fingers.

“It has nothing to do with what you did or didn’t do. We all have our own crosses to bear. I’m so incredibly lucky that I get to be surrounded by family. I get to wake up every day next to the man I love.”

She got up, and her gaze turned serious.

“Life isn’t worth living if you’re just trying to survive it. You have to live.”

I didn’t have a response. She was right, and I now could see how right she was.

She and Emma said their goodbyes and left me.

I was alone with Jake and Juliet.

“And Prescott?” I asked as I began to clean.

“He left,” Jake walked up to me and gave me another hug. “The Carsons weren’t the same without their Jess. No one does Thanksgiving speeches like you.”

Shit. He wanted to make me cry, didn’t he?

---