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She blubbers into my neck about how she missed me and how she begged Ruby to let her visit. I can’t even think straight enough to form independent thoughts. I have to piggyback off all her sentiments. Everything she says, I add “me too.”
This hug feels like home. This little girl feels like a promise. I am never letting her go again.
Claire pulls away before I’m ready. She has to push hard against my shoulders to put any space between us. Silently, she wrestles out the long chain from underneath her shirt. The heavy, heart-shaped locket swings like a pendulum in her hand. She shows me proudly. “I kept it safe.” I duck my head and Claire loops the chain over my neck. “You can have it back now.”
The words of my promise to her from years ago echo through my mind.
I wouldn’t give it up without being sure I’ll get it back. Keep it safe for me. I want it back when you come home.
“You’re home now, Claire. They can’t keep us apart anymore.”
She wraps her arms around my neck and squeezes tightly. “Home,” is all she murmurs, over and over again. “Home,home,home.”
49
Spencer
Two months later
I feel Nathan’s eyes on me as I stare into the cage. “What do you mean, ‘how did this happen?’” I ask.
“I mean two days ago, there were two pigs in this cage. Now, how are there seven?”
I glance at him like he’s dim-witted. “Nathan, please tell me I don’t need to explain basic biology to you.”
“Pregnancy isninemonths, Spence. We’ve had both of them for two months now.”
We’re standing in the “guinea pig room” as we’ve dubbed it. Babe and Spike need so much space, I talked Nathan into giving them an entire room all to themselves. We built quite the spectacle. They have their shared home. Spike has a man cave. Babe has a she-shed. These piggies are living the good life.
I stare at the new babies, squealing at the top of their lungs, begging for mama’s milk. Two of them look exactly like Spike. Only one of them is caramel colored with a white mark on its head like his mom. One is albino, and there’s one all-black guinea pig that I already named Onyx.God, they’re cute.The symphony of squeals will get old really quick, but there’ssomething so uniquely precious about seeing a family of piggies together like this. The babies have created a cuddle circle, only breaking free to take turns at Babe’s milk.
“We have to get rid of them before the girls see.”
He’s not wrong. Claire and Charlie are going to fight tooth and nail to keep every single baby. Not happening.
“Hey, know what we should do?”
He pretends like he’s put off by the sight, but Nathan wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me tightly against his side. He presses his lips against my temple. “What’s that, baby?”
“We should host trivia at the party tonight, and the winners get a guinea pig.”
To my surprise, Nathan nods in agreement. “Fantastic idea. Worst party favor ever. It will guarantee we never have to host an event like this again.”
I chuckle heftily.
After months of searching for a nice venue to host the rehearsal dinner, we settled on Nathan’s estate. A venue would’ve been easier. It’s taking a team of thirty to prepare his mansion for his dad’s dinner tonight. I’m thrilled, on the other hand. It’s a black-tie affair, and this time I have a dress that actually fits me. Charlie is performing a full set. A mini stage with professional acoustics is being installed by the pool so she can wow the whole crowd with her angelic voice. I even wrote a speech for Nathan to share tonight. Touchy-feely stuff isn’t his forte, so I gallantly stepped in to write all the beautiful words I know he’s feeling.
“Can we keep one?” I ask.
“We can keep two,” Nathan says. “The mom and the dad. The rest have to go.”
“Oh, Nathan…please.Let me keep Onyx.”
“Woman,” he says, flashing me a stern look. “You didnotalready start naming them.”
“Of course not.Snickers,Mars Bar,Biscuit,Ghost, andOnyx.” I hurry out their names under my breath.
“You’re worse than our girls.”