Page 29 of Worship Him

I nod slowly, wiping my tears away. Jackie’s right—I can’t keep running from this.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

She smiles warmly. “We’re here for you, always.”

We sit on the couch, our conversation flowing easily once I calm down. Drinking our wine, we discuss the joys and trials of motherhood. She cradles Avery, who Barret brought to us after she started fussing, her eyes softening as she gazes at my daughter.

“You know, sometimes I just watch Mimi and Marionette playing and feel like my heart might burst,” she says, a wistful smile on her face. “Motherhood is this strange mix of exhaustion and overwhelming love.”

I nod, taking a sip of my wine. “I get it. Avery’s only a few months old, but she’s already changed everything. I never thought I could love someone this much.”

Jackie chuckles. “Oh, it gets better. Wait until she starts talking back—then it’s a whole new level of love and frustration.”

We both laugh and the warmth of the moment envelops me, making the world outside these walls feel distant and unimportant.

Barrett joins us after a while, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Those kids could probably tire out an Olympic athlete,” he jokes, sinking into an armchair across from us.

“Tell me about it,” Jackie says with a grin. “But you wouldn’t trade it for anything, would you?”

“Not for all the peace and quiet in the world,” he replies, his eyes twinkling with genuine affection. “Seeing them grow up is worth every sleepless night and every gray hair.”

I feel a pang in my chest, a mixture of guilt and longing.

Adam deserves to feel this way about Avery—to experience the sleepless nights and the joy of watching her grow. Instead, he’s been kept in the dark because of my fears.

Barrett seems to sense my turmoil and leans forward slightly. “Destiny, you’re doing an amazing job with Avery. I understand why you’ve made your decisions. But at the risk of repeating myself once again, you know Adam deserves to be part of her life too.”

I swallow hard, feeling tears threaten again. “I know. It’s just... so difficult...”

Jackie reaches out to squeeze my hand. “You’ve got us to support you through this. Whatever happens, you won’t be alone.”

Barrett nods in agreement. “Exactly. We’re here for you, no matter what.”

Their words are comforting, but they also drive home the reality that I can’t keep avoiding this forever.

“I appreciate you both more than you know,” I say softly.

Barrett leans back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. “We appreciate you too. And little Avery. That’s why we want you to take responsibility sooner rather than later.”

The room falls into a comfortable silence for a moment as we all contemplate what lies ahead. The warmth from our conversation lingers, giving me strength I didn’t realize I needed.

Barrett gets up with a groan. "I’ll go put those two to bed while you ladies relax here a bit longer."

Jackie smiles. "Thanks, hon."

"I’ll tell him tomorrow," I say after he left. "I went about this all wrong, and now that he knows about Avery, I have to come clean."

Jackie nods slowly. "It's the right thing to do."

"Yup," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "I just... I need to face him and tell him everything."

She reaches out and squeezes my hand. "You're going to have to be brave."

We sit in silence for a bit, enjoying the wine while Avery plays with a plush toy on the carpet at my feet.

Barrett returns to the room. He raises an eyebrow. "I can almost sense the seriousness in the room. What's going on?"

"I'm going to see Adam tomorrow," I say firmly. "I need to tell him about Avery."

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