Page 88 of Resisting Isaac

Not possibly.

Notlet’swait a few days and try again.

She’s having a baby.

We’re having a baby.

She’s havingmybaby.

And this—this—is a moment she’s going to remember.

My reaction.

I force a steady breath, plant my boots on the ground to anchor us both.

“All right,” I say, calm as I can manage. “That is big news. Thank you for telling me.”

A pause.

She’s waiting for more. Probably for the panic. For the man-shaped exit hole in the door.

But I don’t run.

I lean in. Wipe the tear tracks on her face with my thumbs.

“It’s going to be okay,” I tell her. “Whatever you decide, whatever you need, we got this.”

She lets out a shaky laugh. “We do notgotthis, Isaac. You are way too calm. It’s unsettling.”

I exhale slowly. I know her well enough to know her walls are about to go up and the claws are likely coming out. “I’m trying really hard not to say the wrong thing.”

“And what would the wrong thing be?”

“Anything that doesn’t start and end withwhatever you need, I got you.”

She smiles, well, it’s a fraction of a smile. But it’s not nothing.

Before I can pull her into my arms, we both jump at a knock at the front door. I glance over my shoulder then back at her.

“Expecting someone?”

She points to her stomach. “Well, I amnow.”

I don’t dare laugh, but God, I fucking love her. I love that she made a joke when I know she wants to break down.

Maybe that’s how we do this, we have each other’s back and make each other laugh. I’d like to think this is my influence as she wasn’t particularly funny when we met.

“Stay put and I’ll see who it is,” I tell her.

Her eyes go wide. “And how are you going to explain what you’re doing here? What if it’s Wes or Darren?”

I can’t help the grin that escapes. “Baby, respectfully, we’ve got bigger issues at the moment.”

She still looks nervous, so I try again. “I’ll tell them my mom sent me to check in on you since you weren’t feeling well.”

She nods, which I take as permission to head to the door.

On the other side of it is my mom.