Page 87 of Pieces

Rory and Marlie smile at me.

“So good, right?” Rory says around a mouthful.

And as I take my second bite, I suddenly have a stab of fear shoot through my body at the idea that I’m about to mess this up. I’m pregnant, and it’s not fitting into the perfect day I’m having or this perfect family I’m with. I have no idea how they’re going to react.

Oh no, here I sit with a mouthful of chicken, and I can feel my eyes welling up. Desperate to not lose it, I look over to Hudson, who is also mid-bite when he catches my face and drops the chicken. “Shit,” he whispers, immediately shifting his body closer to me, which just makes me feel even more of an idiot because I’m gonna make a scene.

I shake my head, trying to chew and swallow the bite of chicken as quickly as I can, but the lump in my throat is making it nearly impossible. I feel my chest tightening, the pressure of tears threatening to spill over. Why now?

“Hey,” he says quietly. “What’s wrong? Are you gonna puke?”

I try to speak, but all that comes out is a shaky exhale. My eyes dart to Marlie and Rory, who are now watching with concern, but Hudson stays focused on me, his full attention locked on my face. His hand moves gently to rest on my arm, grounding me without being overwhelming.

“It’s okay,” he murmurs. His tone is so tender it nearly undoes me. “Take your time. I’m right here.”

I manage to shake my head again, desperate to stop the tears. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I look at Marlie and Rory too. “I—I just need a second.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Hudson asks.

The kindness in his offer makes my throat tighten even more. “No, it’s okay,” I whisper. “I won’t be long.”

“Alright,” he says, but his gaze lingers on me as I push back my chair and stand. He doesn’t move, doesn’t call any more attention to it, just watches me with a look so full of care that I have to swallow a sob.

I hurry down the hallway to the bathroom. Once inside, I shut the door and lean against it, my hands trembling as I press them to my face. I’m not sure what’s worse, the fear of what I’m carrying or the weight of how safe I feel when Hudson looks at me like that.

Splashing cold water on my face, I try to slow my breathing. But when I glance at myself in the mirror, I know I’m not fooling anyone. My eyes are red, my chest still tight, and I feel like I’m seconds from falling apart completely.

A soft knock on the door startles me. “It’s me.” Hudson’s voice comes through.

I hesitate for a moment, swallowing hard. But the sincerity in his actions always melts my resolve. Stepping back, I unlock the door, just a crack, and Hudson’s concerned face fills the space. “Can I come in?” he asks gently, so carefully, it makes me want to cry all over again.

With a nod, I step back to let him in. He closes the door behind him and turns to face me, his eyes searching mine. “Talk to me,” he says, keeping his distance but leaning forward slightly, like he’s ready to catch me if I fall.

I hold my breath before I let it all out. “I’m so sorry, I just… Today has been perfect. I need you to know that.” I take his hand in mine, glancing down at my belly and back at him. “And then I panicked about the baby and telling your mom and ruining everything. I… I don’t want her to be mad.” I let out a breath before continuing. “And I’m scared that she could react like my dad did, I don’t want that for you. I know they’re scared, but I am too, and I just didn’t want you to feel that from your mom because she’s amazing.”

Hudson’s eyes soften even more, his shoulders relaxing as he steps closer.

“First of all,” he says, “you don’t need to apologize. Not for how you’re feeling, not for needing a moment, and definitely not for worrying about this. You’re carrying a lot, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”

I blink up at him through the tears streaming down my face. He moves closer, his hands lifting to hold my face in a way that’s so intimate, more tears fall. “Second,” he continues, “my mom already loves you. Like, genuinely loves you. I see the way she looks at you, how she talks to you. There’s no way she’s going to be mad. If anything, she’ll probably start knitting baby clothes before we even finish telling her.”

Despite myself, I let out a shaky laugh, and Hudson smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that way that always makes me feel warm inside.

“And third,” he says, using his thumbs to wipe my tears, his tone turning a little more serious, “I hate that you’re holding on to your dad’s reaction like this. I know it’s impossible not to, but they’re not you. Their fears, their sadness, that’s their stuff to process. You’re allowed to feel however you feel without apologizing for it.”

My chest tightens again, but this time, it’s not from panic, it’s from the weight of his words settling over me. I hadn’t realized just how much I needed to hear that until now.

“And hey.” He dips his head to meet my eyes. “We’re a team, okay? You don’t have to protect me from this, or from how you’re feeling. If you’re scared, tell me. If you’re sad, tell me. I’m not going anywhere, and you don’t have to carry this alone. I’m your two in the morning milkshake guy.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. The tears haven’t stopped, and I’m not sure how to get them to, but they’re different now, less heavy, less suffocating. Hudson’s thumbs continue to brush lightly across my cheeks, wiping them away as they fall.

“You’re amazing, just like your mom,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

“So are you, princess,” he replies. “Now, I’m going to hug you, so try not to feel me up. I know it’ll be hard, but control your urges for a second.”

Genuine and unfiltered laughter bursts out of me, immediately replacing that heavy feeling I was drowning in with something much lighter.

Hudson grins wider, his eyes shining. “There she is,” he says, like the sound of my laughter is all he wanted in the world.

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