Page 51 of Might as Well

She sighs heavily as if I’m the most exhausting person on the planet right now, and then stands. “I’m tired and I want to lie down.”

Violet stands and I follow suit. She tries to walk around me, but I snag her elbow and pull her flush against me. Whether she means to or not, she leans into me as her arms dangle by her side.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, hoping she can hear the honesty in my tone. “I overreacted. I let my past interfere with my judgment when I knew better. I let fear of what you might tell me keep me from calling you. Can you please forgive me?”

Instead of answering me, she mumbles into my chest, “My parents are out of prison.”

My heart stalls. So I not only left before she could explain, wasn’t here when she found out she’s pregnant, but also wasn’t here when her parents showed up?

“Jesus, I’m a fucking asshole,” I mutter.

Violet laughs and presses her face into my chest. But then I feel her shaky inhale and she says, “Can you tell me just this once everything will be okay? With the baby and us, I mean?”

“Everything will be fine,” I say. “You’re forgetting something, Violet. Life gave you a shit hand and yousurvived. Maybe you didn’t conquer it the way you wish you could, but you still fighttooth and nail to claw your way to the dream that terrifies you. You’re a survivor, Violet. You’re strong and our baby will be too.”

I dip my head to press my forehead against hers, hating her watery eyes. “I’m fucking thrilled, babe,” I tells her softly. With my words, she melts into me.

Violet, being Violet, reminds me, “It’s my fault. Went off the deep end and didn’t take my pills like I should’ve.”

I shrug. I don’t care how it happened. “I’m sorry,” I tell her again, but she only nods. “Can I lie down with you?”

“Sure.”

Once we’re settled in bed, I relax as Violet lets me hold her. She’s upset and won’t say she forgives me, but this is enough.

“You’re honestly happy?” she whispers a few minutes later.

I gently grab her chin between my thumb and forefinger and lift her head so she looks at me. “Never been happier, Vi.” She relaxes into me even more and I add, “Our baby’s a boy.”

“You don’t know that,” she says with a laugh, settling her head back on my chest.

“Yes, I do,” I retort with certainty. “It’s science. There’s a long line of men on my side of the family with only a few women sprinkled in. The odds that this is a girl are slim to none, basically.”

“Do you already know what you want to name him too?” she teases.

“Jon Thomas Landry.”

She lifts her head with shock. “Seriously? You know?”

“You don’t? I thought you’ve been dreaming about a family all this time. You didn’t think about names?”

Her cheeks redden. “I didn’t think it would happen, so no,” she replies softly.

“Well, it’s time to start thinking. Dreaming of your future.”

Violet ignores that and instead says, “Your mom is going to flip.”

I laugh. “Oh yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if she uproots Dad and moves here to be closer.” I want to ask about her parents, but she said she was tired. I tug her even closer and kiss the top of her head. “Get some rest.”

Things have been tense today and I figured we should get out of the house, so we’re catching a game. I can’t even explain how much I’m looking forward to watching a game with Violet. The doorbell rings and I step out of our bedroom to answer so she can finish getting ready.

A couple stands on the other side.

“Hey. Can I help you?”

“We’re Violet’s parents. Is she home?” the woman asks.

“We’re actually just about to leave and?—”

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