Page 152 of All the Forbidden Things

“You bought our house?”

She nods, then shrugs. “Well you couldn’t, and I wasn’t missing out on our dream home because of that bieeeeep …” Billie trails off, attempting to rein in her language around Jay’s girls.

I’m stunned, and it takes me a moment to process.

“You bought a house.”

“Webought a house, it’s ours. Now close your mouth and open the rest. This part, you might not be so happy about.”

I stare at the key and the paperwork a little longer, floored, but also loving the way that Billie tackles life, always going for what she wants. I so hope Layla grows up to be just like her.

I tip the tube up, and a piece of plastic lands in my hand. I think it’s a USB stick at first, and frown as I stare at it.

“Whoa, dude,” Jake says from somewhere beside me. “How many bedrooms you got in that new house? Coz it looks like you’re gonna need them.”

And that’s when it hits me. My head spins. The floor feels like it falls away, and the room disappears around me. When everything rights itself, it’s better, it’s perfect. I look at Billie.

“You’re pregnant?”

She nods. I open my arms for her because I can’t form words. I keep opening my mouth but try as I might, nothing’s coming out. Cheering, back slaps, hand shakes, cuddles and tears ensue, and in the end I crawl on my knees to where Billie sits on the end of the sofa, and I kiss her.

“Thank you,” I whisper against her mouth. She pushes my hair off my face and smiles down at me.

“I told you it would happen if you didn’t buy condoms.”

“And I told you I was never buying condoms again. When’s he due?”

I know he’s a boy. It’s only been minutes since I found out the news, but I know that Billie’s carrying my son. I lean in and kiss her belly as she claws at my scalp through my hair.

“Well that’s the bummer. He’s due early July when you’re on tour.”

I look up at her and smile. “We’ll work it out.”

“We always do,” she grins down at me.

“Now open your present,” I tell her.

I remain on my knees in front of her and watch as Billie pulls at the gold ribbon wrapped around the rectangular box.

She pulls off the paper, and takes off the lid. Removing the tissue she finds the handwritten song sheets I placed in there last night. Unfolding them, she starts to read:

From death you crawled

In pain you found me

Two souls destroyed

Not looking for love

The timing wrong

My heart not open

But you looked at me baby

Like I was god above

Autumn sun