“I went to the drug store on the way back and got some stuff that might help her.”
She hands me a brown paper bag and takes Alex to sit in the other room with his new toys. He starts playing happily while I glance through the things that Mom has brought, noting all the sickness medications.
“Mom.” I grip onto one box and give her a curious look. “What the hell is this?”
“Well, I just thought it might be an option.” She offers me a half shrug, trying to look innocent.
“You really think this might be why she’s sick? I don’t see how…”
“Are you telling me that you’ve always been careful?” The guilt crosses my face making it absolutely obvious that in the heat of the moment we haven’t always used condoms. “So, pregnancy might be an option.”
I stare at Mia in the bed, everything tilting and shifting as I consider her with my baby growing inside of her.
“What would you think about that?” Mom asks me curiously. “Would it be bad news?”
“No.” I shake my head firmly. “Not for me it wouldn’t. I think it would be awesome.”
Mom claps her hands together happily. “I think Mia would like it too. It might be a big shock but I’m sure she’ll be over the moon. You’ve already seen how good she is with Alex. She will be an awesome Mom.”
I can see Mia with a little bundle of joy in her arms and it’s an awesome sight. I really like it, our family will be complete. I already wanted her to move in with me so this is just the next step.
She might be my wife, the mother of my children, the woman I love forever more. It isn’t a scary image, I actually really like it. It would be the happy ever after I love more than anything else.
“Well, don’t get carried away, she might not be yet, she’s just a possibility.”
“I know, but it’s a good one.” I clutch the pregnancy test to my chest and smile. “An amazing one. Even if she isn’t pregnant now I might suggest it, see how she feels.”
“You better put a ring on it first, son, you need to know how to treat her right.”
“You really do like her, don’t you, Mom?”
She nods and smiles. “You know I do. It takes a lot for me to say that but I do. I think she’s the one.”
24
Mia
I blink my eyes blearily, still feeling terrible as the light fills my eyes. I don’t know where that sickness came from, it hit me so hard and seemed to last forever. I thought a nap would sort me out but now I still feel a bit like hell. I really don’t want my time in Paris to be ruined, I’ve been having such an amazing time.
“Hey,” I growl, my throat in agony as I try to sit up. “Sorry about that.”
Noah gives me a strange look, making me rub my eyes hard. “How are you feeling?”
“I think I’m better.” I take the water gratefully from him and sup it down rapidly. “Now I feel much better.”
“Good, good.” Still he’s giving me that odd look. What the hell is going on?
“Where’s your mom?” I glance around the room. “Did she come back with Alex?”
“She did, and now she’s gone back out again to give us some time…”
“Okay, I have to ask. Why are you looking at me like that? Did something happen?”
He sighs and raises to his feet, pacing the room and rubbing his chin which makes me think that he must be really deep in thought. I sit up even straighter, trying to brace myself for whatever is to come, even though I don’t have a damn clue what the hell is going on here. I’m too worn out to work it all out.
“Noah, you’re freaking me out here,” I warn. “What is going on? What have I missed?”
“Mom went to the drug store while you were asleep and got some things.”