“Fine, yes, we should be there in about thirty minutes,” she tells her sister. “Yeah, I'll call Mom. Love you too. Bye.” She ends the call.
“All set?” There is no ne
ed to ask about the call. I know Gabby isn't my biggest fan, at least not anymore. I walk to where she's sitting on the side of the bed.
“Yes, please. I'm ready for a shower and some clean clothes.” She stands, and I place my hand on the small of her back, ready to help her if she needs me.
“We'll get you home, and while you're showering, I'll get you something to eat, both of you.” I place my other hand over her still flat belly.
“I feel fine.”
“Good.” Leaning in, I kiss her temple. “It's my job to make sure it stays that way.” She grumbles and then tries to tell the nurse she's capable of walking and doesn't need a wheelchair. She loses that fight too. Once she's in my truck and has her seat belt fastened, I rush to the driver’s side and climb in. Looking over at her, sitting here with me again, brings a flood of memories rushing back. This woman is my world, and I was a fool to not fight for her. Reaching over, I lace my fingers through hers and rest our hands on her thigh. With one hand, I manage to put the truck in drive and pull out of the lot.
“Looks like you've marked something off your list,” she says softly.
Glancing over, I see she's staring out the window. “What's that?” I wish we were stationary so I could look at her eyes, watch her facial expressions, but I keep my eyes on the road. I have precious cargo on board. No way am I risking either of them.
“Holding my hand in your truck.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Get used to this.” I pull her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“Are you sure about this, Harrison? Are we doing the right thing?”
“Yes.” There is zero hesitation in my answer. “We're doing… well, I’m doing what I should have done a long time ago. I should have fought, Winnie, and this time, I'm going to.”
“I want that,” she says softly.
“Me too, baby. Me too.” The rest of the ride home is silent as we both get lost in our thoughts. For me, I'm forming a plan. A plan to prove to her that I'm worth a second chance. To prove that she and this baby are my number one. I need to make some changes at the gym, and from this day forward, nothing will come before either of them.
Nothing.
“Stay put,” I tell her as soon as we pull into the driveway. I climb out of the truck and rush to her side. Stubborn as she is, she already has her belt off and the door open. Gently, I place my hands on her hips and lift her from the truck. Her feet are on the ground for mere seconds, before I’m lifting her, cradling her in my arms.
“Harrison,” she squeals. “I can walk.”
“I know you can,” I say, my lips next to her ear. “But I can carry you. Let me take care of you, Winnie.”
I know she's given in when she rests her head on my chest and loops her arms around my neck. I slow my gait, wanting to savor this time with her in my arms. It's been too damn long. When we reach the front door, I set her on her feet, but keep my hands on her waist. I'm pushing my luck, but I can't seem to help myself.
Not when it comes to her.
“Head on up to the shower,” I tell her. “I'll make you something to eat. Anything sound good?”
She bites her bottom lip and nods. “Your grilled cheese. No matter how many times I've tried, I can't seem to make them like you do.”
I want to puff out my chest and beat against it with my fist; my girl needs me. Instead, I slide my hand under her hair and cradle the back of her neck. Leaning in, I place a feather-soft kiss on her forehead. “I've got you,” I tell her. I mean more than the grilled cheese, and by the way she's peering up at me, she gets my double meaning. Reluctantly, I drop my hand and watch her walk upstairs to the master bedroom. The one we shared, the one I hope to share with her again soon.
I'm in the kitchen gathering everything I need to make her my famous grilled cheese when her cell rings. Tracing back to the front door, I find her bag sitting on the floor, her cell sticking out of the side pocket. Grabbing it, I see Gabby, my sister-in-law’s name flash on the screen. I'm sure she just wants to make sure she got home okay, and I don't want her to worry, so I answer.
“Hey, Gab,” I greet.
“Harrison. Where's my sister?”
She's not exactly rude, but she's not giving me the warm and fuzzy vibe either. “In the shower. I'm making her something to eat now.” Not that she needed to know that, but I do need her to know I'm capable of taking care of my wife.
“I'm on my way, and you can go.”
“I'm sure she'll be happy to see you, but I'm not going anywhere.” Losing her changed me. I'm not going to put anything before my family, and those who are close to us, they need to know that. The divorce hurt more than just Winnie and me. It hurt our families too.
“What does that mean exactly?” Her voice is hesitant.
“It means that my wife was in a car accident, and I'm taking care of her.”
“Ex-wife,” she counters.
“That's a piece of paper that never should have been filed. I'm taking care of her.”
“How does my sister feel about this?”
“She's okay with it. I'm staying in the spare bedroom. For now,” I add, letting her know my true intentions.
She coughs as if she's choking. “Wow, when you say you're not going anywhere you really mean it.”
“Yep.”
“You hurt her, Harrison.”
“I know. I'm fixing it.” I know that I have my work cut out for me. Not only do I have to prove myself to Winnie but to our families as well. Nothing worth fighting for comes easy.
“That remains to be seen. I'm on my way. If Gwen wants you to go, we'll call the cops if we have to.”
“I'm exactly where we both want me to be.”
“Don't be so sure of yourself.” With that, she hangs up on me.
Sliding Winnie’s phone into my back pocket, I head back to the kitchen to make lunch. I'm just placing our sandwiches on plates when she appears in the doorway of the kitchen.
“Those smell amazing.”
“I made you two. I wasn't sure how hungry you were.”
“Starving,” she says, placing her hand over her belly. My eyes follow the motion.
“It's still hard to believe there is a piece of me, a piece of both of us, growing in there.” I point to her belly.
“I feel different,” she whispers. “I know that sounds crazy; I'm not even showing yet.”
Setting our plates on the island, I go to her, wrapping my arms around her. “Not crazy. I feel it too. This little one is bringing us home, together where we're meant to be.”
“I want to believe that, Harrison. I really do.”
“You will,” I say with conviction. “Here.” I reach into my pocket and hand her the phone. “Gabby called. I answered, not wanting her to worry when she couldn't reach you. She's on her way over.”
“Thanks.”
“Knock, knock,” Gabby says loudly.
Reluctantly, I release Winnie and lead her to the island, pulling out a chair for her. “Water? Milk maybe?”
“Milk, but uh, I think I want chocolate, but I can get it.” She starts to stand, and I hold up my hand, stopping her.
“I've got it. You need to eat.” I busy myself making her a tall glass of chocolate milk. She's not one for the powdered stuff. My girl likes milk and chocolate syrup, a lot of it.
“How are you?” Gabby asks.
Winnie looks up at me, and I nod. I want to shout it to the world that we're having a baby. There is no need for us to hide it from our families. “Good,” she finally says.
“Good? That's all you've got for me? You had to stay in the hospital overnight, Gwendolyn,” she says, concern lacing her voice.
“Here you go, babe.” I set the glass of chocolate milk in front of her and take my seat beside her.
“About that. Turns out you were right.”
“Of course I was right. Wait, right about what?”
Turning to face her sister, she spills our news. “We're pregnant.”
I don't h
ave to see her face to know she's smiling. I can hear it in her voice. And me, well, my smile is wide. We're pregnant.
“Pregnant?” Gabby asks.
“Yeah.” She looks at me over her shoulder. “We're having a baby.”
Not able to resist, I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Peanut,” I whisper. Her answering smile is blinding.
“How did this happen? I mean, I know how it happened. But how did this happen?” Gabby asks, her face scrunched up, trying to work it out in her head.
Winnie looks back at her sister. “We had a moment of… weakness.”
She's not wrong. We were both weak that day. Not from the emotions of the divorce, but the loss of connection, from our bodies being deprived of the other’s touch for so long.
“It's his?” Gabby asks.
“Watch it.” My voice is stern, leaving no room for argument.
“Of course it's his,” Winnie replies snidely.
“Sorry." Gabby holds up her hands in defense. “This is just… not what I was expecting.”
“Us either.” She turns to look at me. “But we're happy about it.”
“What does this mean?”
“It means that Harrison and I are having a baby.”
“For the two of you?” Gabby corrects.
I open my mouth to reply, but Winnie beats me to it. “It means we're working it out. Regardless of where we end up in our relationship, one thing will hold true for the rest of our lives. We share this baby.” She places her hand over her belly.
“Just like that? He knocks you up, so you're just going to take him back, just like that?”
Again, I start to speak to defend us, but my girl beats me to the punch. “The demise of our marriage is not all on Harrison. We were both equal partners in our marriage, and we both did things—” She stops. “Regardless of what you think you know, you don't. Love was never the issue for us. I'm confident we both will love this child unconditionally.”
“Hey,” I say, my voice gruff. Winnie turns to look at me. I cup her face in my hands. “I love you.” Leaning in, I place a kiss on the corner of her mouth. Her eyes are glassy as her tears threaten to bubble over.