Page 95 of What Comes After

Even now, with her hair pulled back away from her face and an apron covering her body, I thought the same.

“I need you to try this,” she declared. “I think I finally have it.”

I moved toward the island where she was standing, pulled out a stool, and sat down. Devyn slid the plate over to me before she clasped her hands in front of her mouth, her excitement and anticipation consuming her.

“Well, it certainly smells like you’ve got it right.”

Surprise washed over her. “Do you really think so?”

I nodded. “I do, baby.”

Bouncing on her toes, she waved her hand toward the plate. “Okay. Try it, then tell me what you think.”

God, I loved her. I loved seeing her like this, and I was relieved she’d finally accepted my offer to send her to culinary school. She shut down her cleaning business and focused all of her spare time and effort on learning.

It was paying off for me in a very big way, because she was constantly cooking in the kitchen. But the meal she’d just made was one I hadn’t expected she’d ever make.

Mac and cheese and brisket.

Devyn had said she couldn’t bring herself to make that meal if she wasn’t going to do it justice. I loved that she now had the confidence to at least try to make it. If she didn’t think it was going to live up to the recipes her parents had used, she never would have allowed me to try it.

I plunged my fork into the pasta and brought it up to my mouth. Rich and creamy, it was divine. Before revealing my thoughts, I moved to the brisket. Perfection.

After I swallowed, Devyn asked hopefully, “Well?”

“The last thing I’d ever want to do is break your heart, baby, but I can’t lie to you,” I started. The color drained from her face as the shock she felt over my words registered. I quickly continued, “This is exquisite, and I have to tell you that I think it’s just a touch better than what your mom and dad made.”

She blinked her eyes rapidly. “You think so?”

“I promise. It’s incredible.”

Devyn moved around the counter and made her way to me. Once I wrapped an arm around her waist, she said, “I wanted it to be like Mom and Dad’s.”

“It is,” I assured her. “But I think for me, there’s something even more special about it, because you made it.”

Tears filled her eyes. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“I have one more question,” she said.

“What is it?”

“Do you think our baby will want it for his or her birthday meal just like I did?” she asked.

For a brief moment, I stared at her. A feeling of hope surged through my body, but I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. “Well, I can’t see why not. I’m going to want it for mine. But I’m curious why you’re asking that question.”

She smiled at me and rasped, “Because I’m pregnant, Theo. We’re going to be parents.”

There was no way to describe the feeling of utter joy that moved through me. “Are you serious?”

Devyn nodded.

“When did you find out?” I asked.

“I took a test this morning.”

Pregnant.

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