Page 108 of Pinch

I watch as she spoons thick, dark gravy over the meat. I think about my parents and their love, my mom and her dreams. I always wanted to be like her—confident, sure, in control all the time, saving lives…

“I know I disappointed you with all the pageant stuff.”

“My goodness, Haddy.” She closes the lid and walks over to take my hand. “I’ve been proud of you every day of your life.”

“But I know you don’t like all that.” I look down at my hand in hers, so similar. “I just wanted to show you I could stand on my own, too. The way you did.”

“I stood on my own with a major assist from your dad.” She huffs a laugh. “Once he knew about you, he did a lot to help me.” She pulls me into a hug, kissing my head. “I didn’t want you to be hurt is all. I have a lot of bad memories associated with that world, and I wanted to spare you from them. But I support you, Hayden.”

Her voice lowers, and I know she’s thinking of her own mom, who didn’t provide the same encouragement when she was a girl. I’ve heard it was a lot worse for my mom.

“I love you, Mom.” I hug her back. “And I don’t want any distance between us, especially now.”

She smiles, wrinkling her nose and smoothing my hairback. “Why now? Did you bring Gavin Knight here to tell us something big?”

“Yes…” My heart beats faster, and I lick my bottom lip.

I inhale slowly, like they trained us to do when stage fright hits, then I take a step back, unbuttoning my coat.

“I’m going to have a baby.”

Her eyes widen, and her lips part. Clasping her hands, she lifts them as her eyes fill with tears. I’m holding my breath, trying to discern if they’re happy tears, when she jumps forward with a shriek and pulls me into a hug.

“Haddy!” Her laughter echoes in the kitchen, and tears heat my eyes. “A baby? Is it Gavin’s?”

“I mean, yeah, that’s why he’s here.”

“Are you getting married?”

My brow furrows, and I think about the question. “He suggested it in the beginning, but it wasn’t a good idea. The timing was wrong. We didn’t know each other at all, and… I didn’t love him yet.”

Mom’s brown eyes warm as she cups my face in her hands before moving them to my shoulders. “And now?”

Butterflies swirl through my chest, and I can’t keep the smile from splitting my cheeks. “Now, if he asked… I’d say yes.”

“Hendrix, get in here!” Mom cries.

She helps me remove my coat, and I’m laughing now, too, touching the tears out of my own eyes.

“I don’t know why I was so afraid to tell you.”

“I don’t either!” She puts both hands on the sides of my stomach. “This is the best news!”

I hear the guys enter the room behind us. Dad’s slapping Gav on the shoulder like they’re old pals. For his part, Gavin looks way less stressed than he did when we parted ways in the living room. He actually has a smug grin on his face.

“They’re pregnant, Hen!” Mom reaches for my dad’s arm, pulling him to us. “Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Look at you!” Dad wraps his muscular arm around me, kissing the top of my head. “You look healthy and happy. That’s all I want for my girls.”

A massive weight lifts off my chest, and I lean into him. “Gavin’s been so much help to me, Dad. He goes with me to all my appointments, he gets me ice cream when I’m craving it, even first thing in the morning…”

“Are you having weird cravings?” Mom’s expression turns to problem-solving. “They say it can signal a vitamin deficiency.”

“Not really. I’ve been craving a lot of spicy food, but Mav has us covered there.” I do not mention how horny I’ve been, or how Gav is very good at taking care of that particular need as well.

My cheeks heat, and I glance up at him. He’s still got that smile on his face like this is all going how he expected.

“Which is hilarious, considering how Dylan was when she was pregnant with him,” Mom continues. “She couldn’t eat a thing, and her cooking was awful. Her taste buds were all messed up.”