Page 81 of This Memory
We all decided to meet at the pizza shop in twenty minutes. It was only two blocks away, but Harper had to find Declan, and Aurora needed to return Winnie to Liam. According to Aurora—who heard via Liam—Hope tried to make it to the race but ended up staying home.
Brystol and I got to the pizza shop first and secured a few tables for everyone. Aurora was the first to arrive, with Liam in tow.
“Hey, Liam,” I greeted, standing and reaching for his hand. Then I crouched down and smiled at his daughter. “Hi, Win!”
She blushed and buried her face in her hands.
As I glanced up to Liam. “Shynow?”
He grinned. “Sometimes. Listen, Aurora said you guys were all heading over for lunch. I hope you don’t mind, I asked if I could join in.”
“We don’t mind at all,” Brystol said, leaning down and tickling Winnie on her chin. “Can I get her out of the stroller?”
“Sure, have at it,” Liam said, taking off his jacket and hanging it over a chair.
I watched as Brystol expertly took Winnie out and removed her coat. “Did you enjoy the race, Winnie?”
She bobbed her little head and smiled up at Brystol.
Liam held out Aurora’s chair, and she thanked him as she sat.
Once he sat as well, I asked, “How’s Hope doing?”
He offered a small smile. “She’s doing better. I hoped she’d have the energy to make it out today, but she said she’d rather rest up and be able to play with Winnie later.” Grinning at his daughter, he said, “She took a thirty-minute nap during the race. I guess she was snug as a bug and just crashed, even with all the noise around us.”
“I’m glad to hear Hope’s doing better. Is she still going through treatment?”
Liam nodded, a solemn expression on his face. “She’s had a bit of a break. We go back for scans this coming week. Hopefully, it’s good news. She’s been feeling so much better, but I’m sure it’s because of that break in the chemo.”
“I’ll be thinking about you guys and praying for her.”
Liam’s eyes teared up a bit, but he blinked them away. “Thanks, we appreciate it.”
When I looked over to Brystol, she was staring at me. She smiled, and I returned it.
Before I knew it, the tables were filled, and conversations were happening all over the place. I watched Brystol as she cut up Winnie’s pasta. Now and then, Aurora slipped a tiny piece of pizza on Winnie’s plate, and she smiled as she ate it. I stole a glance in Liam’s direction. He was talking to Kian…and my chest suddenly ached. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to watch the woman you loved struggling like he had for the past year.
When I pulled my gaze from Liam, I caught Brystol’s eye. Winnie was no longer sitting in her lap, but in Cadie’s. She gave me a knowing smile. I wanted to reach across the table and hold her hand, but I simply mouthedI love you.
Of course, everyone at lunch with us knew Brystol was pregnant, except for maybe Liam. And no one said a word, which I knew Brystol appreciated. I couldn’t help but wonder, had Evelyn and Denny been here, if she would have stayed quiet on the subject? Two more weeks and Brystol would be past the first trimester.
“I’m so full!” Cadie said, as she leaned back in her chair and tossed her napkin onto the table.
Brystol let out a long breath. “I needed that stromboli. Or maybe the baby did.”
All eyes turned to Brystol, including Liam’s.
“Did you saybaby?” he asked.
Brystol’s eyes widened as she quickly looked around the restaurant to ensure no one else had heard her.
Liam turned to me and clapped my back. “Congratulations, Gavin! I had no idea.”
“No, um, no…the baby isn’t mine.”
A look of confusion crossed his face before a horrified expression appeared.
Brystol let out an awkward laugh. “No, Liam, um…” Leaning closer to the table, she motioned for Liam to do the same. “I’m a surrogate for Evelyn and Denny McCain.”
