Page 20 of Finding Hope

Some of Malcolm’s anxiety eased. “Crazy, huh?” He raised an eyebrow. “You know what Erin would say if she heard you use that word.”

“She’s been getting on me more and more about it,” Celia said, but her smile wouldn’t hold. “It’s so strange. Passing on my mother’s genes was always something I didn’t want. But the moment my mind wrapped around the idea of Trenton and I making a life together, I felt…”

Malcolm wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. He still didn’t have the right words, but Celia didn’t always need words. He held her as the first sob escaped.

Celia tried to muffle it against his shirt. “This is… crazy.” She gasped against him. “I’m… happy.”

Malcolm’s arm tightened around her.

She pulled away from him, wiping at her eyes before looking up.

Trenton stood in the doorway, an unappetizing green smoothie in each of his hands. Malcolm had seen his friend cry, but the silent track of tears wasn’t grief. “Did you say you’re happy?” Trenton asked, the words thick as they came out.

Celia covered her face with her hands. “I know. It’s weird!”

Malcolm stood, giving his friend room as the two glasses clicked against the coffee table.

“After everything I said too. This stupid crazy gene,” she muttered, a scowl forming beneath her hands. “I make no sense!”

Trenton lowered beside her, his arms enfolding her. Celia’s head fit perfectly in the crook of his friend’s neck, Malcolm noticed.

“You want to keep the baby,” Trenton said. There was no question in the phrase.

“At the hospital, the doctor said the OB will check the heartbeat when we go. It already has a heartbeat.” She curled in tighter against Trenton, as if she didn’t want to see his face. “And it’s half you. I don’t think I can kill it, even with the risks.”

Trenton’s eyes met Malcolm’s over her head. The fear there punched Malcolm in the stomach. “Okay,” was all his friend said, the agreement husky. Trenton pressed a kiss against her hair.

Malcolm cleared his throat. “You know, most women don’t call the baby they’re carrying an ‘it.’”

Celia’s head popped up, her eyes wide. “Well, I mean, it’s too early to find out whether it’s a he or a she.”

“There she goes again,” Malcolm teased, relieved when some of the tension eased out of Trenton’s face.

“There will be a lot to learn,” he said.

Helping Trenton research what was normal and not normal in a pregnancy would be the best thing he could do to help his lawyer friend settle. The tradeoff? All the details Malcolm had been avoiding learning about his sister’s changing body were soon going to be glaringly known to him.

Malcolm stared down Celia, ready to cut off her protest. “No coming back to work yet.”

“Definitely not,” Trenton agreed, adding his own look.

Celia crossed her arms, her chin rising. “The doctor said I wasn’t on bed rest yet.”

Trenton reached out, snagging the smoothies. “Let’s wait and see what the OB says.” He handed one to her.

Celia sighed when she took it. “You’re both going to be impossible the whole pregnancy, aren’t you?”

“Bet on it.” Malcolm forced a smile her way. He still didn’t feel calm enough for it to sit naturally. There was a lot of unknown ahead.

Trenton stared at the green menace in his own glass. “I wonder if I can add prenatal vitamins to this.”

Malcolm met Celia’s gaze before shrugging. “You’re the one who agreed to marry this guy.”

Her smile wasn’t forced as she settled her hand over her stomach again and sipped at the smoothie.

Malcolmhadforgottenitwas ribs night at the tavern, and the usual slow time had come and gone without him finding a break. He texted Jami, not willing to ghost her again. After he made another round of the tables, he scowled down at her ‘don’t worry about me’ response on his way to the kitchen.

“Whoa, watch the face,” Reggie said, putting plates in the window. “Need me to run the next ones out?”

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