Page 81 of Beyond Oblivion

“It is?” I asked.

Trenton looked to me. “It’s not a sure thing, so I didn’t mention it.”

I nodded, then Trenton turned his attention back to Wesley.

Wesley nodded slowly, concern etched across his face. “Good. Because if that was my family, I’d be… well, I’d be on edge, too. And now, if my son were to ever be in your care, itwouldbe… you know, my family.”

“I understand. It makes perfect sense. I wish I could make promises, but best case scenario, she’s gotten the treatment she needs and is thinking more clearly. Worst case, my home is like Fort Knox now. My entire family is aware and on alert. We have a Plan A, Plan B through E, and Plan F.A.F.O., if you know what I mean.”

Raegan laid a comforting hand on Wesley’s arm, squeezing gently. “I told you they’d have it handled. The Maddoxes are as good as a small army.”

Our server returned, and we ordered, each of us picking something different. I chose the grilled salmon, aiming for something light and easy, while Trenton opted for the Short Rib Pappardelle. Once the server left, Trenton turned to Wesley, a curious glint in his eye. “So, Wes, how does it feel knowing you’ll be a dad soon?”

Wesley leaned back, a half-smile tugging at his mouth. “Honestly? It’s like standing in the batter’s box, staring down a fastball, and not having a clue if it’s a strike or coming right at your head. It’s… terrifying, but I’m excited. I think I’m ready.”

Raegan laughed, nudging him playfully. “He bought a bag of flour just to practice diaper changes on. He’s going to be a pro before the baby’s even here.”

Trenton chuckled, giving Wesley a nod. “Flour, huh? Maybe you should name him King Arthur.”

The table erupted in laughter.

“That’s not bad actually…” Wesley mused.

“No,” Raegan said, shaking her head, prompting another round.

Trenton took another sip, then began again. “Sounds like you’re getting things down, though. So, have you guys got everything set up? Nursery, gear… all the stuff? When did you feel like it was the right time to start all of that?”

Raegan’s eyes flickered with a hint of suspicion, her brows furrowed as she studied me.

Wesley’s face was positively lit up, and he leaned in, enthusiasm spilling into his words. “We’re getting there. It’s unbelievable how much there is to do,” he said, shaking his head with a mix of awe and exhaustion. “The crib’s finally up, and Ray got this adorable mobile that plays lullabies. She’s so in love with it, she’ll stand there watching it spin for ages.” He laughed, glancing at Raegan with a softness in his eyes. “But there’s still so much to get done—nightlight, blackout curtains, a diaper station… you’d think we were outfitting a whole house.”

Raegan chimed in, “We haven’t even started on the closet organization yet, but there’s no point in doing that until the baby shower.”

“Oh!” I covered my mouth quickly and then pulled it away.

“No, no, no, don’t you worry about it. His mother would spiral if we let anyone else take over. You’re good.”

“You sure?” I asked, sheepish.

“Yes. Just show up and write things down in that little book thing. We’ll stuff our faces with cake and quietly make fun of the stupid baby shower games everyone secretly hates.”

“Deal,” I said with a smile.

“That’s… a lot,” Trenton said.

Wesley burst into laughter. “Why do you look overwhelmed?” he asked, clapping a hand to his chest a few times. “I’mthe one drowning over here! And I haven’t even scratched the surface.” He shook his head, an amused smile tugging at his lips. “We’re still waiting on the glider rocker Ray custom ordered. Apparently, there wasn’t one in existence that wasjust right.”

“It’s perfect,” she said, beaming up at him, her hand gripping his arm as excitement sparkled in her eyes.

He looked down at her, matching her expression. “It is. It’s absolutely perfect.” He returned his attention to Trenton. “We couldn’t do much until we painted, and we had to do the gender ultrasound before Raegan decided on a color palette. She designed this whole, amazing forest theme—woodland animals, little trees, the works. We’re still waiting on these custom originals of deer and foxes from an artist friend of mine.” He sighed, though there was a hint of pride in his voice. “Every time I think we’re close to being ready, we add three more things to the list.”

Beneath the table, I felt Trenton’s hand tense slightly, and I quickly squeezed his leg, hoping he’d get the message. We needed to tread lightly; Raegan’s intuition was sharper than most, and she’d catch on if we weren’t careful.

Dinner went on, the conversation flowing from baby names to Raegan’s odd cravings to Wesley’s many attempts to decode the endless world of baby gear. By the time dessert arrived, I felt a dread I couldn’t shake, the same feeling as when you’re halfway to the airport and can’t remember if you locked the front door—or anything that you’d walked away from, that if left unchecked, could mean disaster. Being unable to put my finger on it was making me feel suddenly and irrationally irritable. We’d made it through dinner without letting the truth slip, after all, but the effort of holding back left an ache under my ribs, like my secret was pressing from the inside out, desperate to be free.

I’d justified keeping our baby a secret so I wouldn’t have to mourn a miscarriage after finally celebrating a pregnancy, the thought of explaining it to everyone, of seeing their faces fall, feeling their pity—that was almost unbearable. But then it hit me: if the worst did happen, it would mean I’d never get to celebrate this precious, fleeting joy with the people I loved most. The excitement, the thrill of telling them, the hugs and laughter and happy tears, the very conversations we were having at that table—I’d miss it all. I’d be left holding it in the shadows, never getting to feel the kind of happiness that only comes with sharing something so miraculous, even if it was just for a little while.

Wesley insisted on paying the check, and while he walked Raegan to the restroom, Trenton and I lingered just outside the entrance.

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