Page 36 of The Summer We Kept Secrets (The Destin Diaries #4)

“A blessing,” he said, suddenly understanding the meaning of the word in a way he never had. “That’s what you are, Atlas Lawson. I thought I was broken, you know? But I’m not and you’re not. We’re part of a family that is absolutely amazing and blessed.”

“You certainly are.”

Jonah jerked his head up to see his father standing in the doorway, his face streaked with tears. He wore nothing but sleep pants, holding the small monitor receiver over his bare chest. He raised the device and gave a sleepy smile.

“It was my night to be backup, remember?” he said in a thick voice. “So…I had the monitor.”

“And heard everything.”

Eli stepped into the room and reached out both arms, enveloping Jonah and Atlas in a hug.

“Everything,” he confirmed. “And, no surprise, she said it better than I ever could. The woman had a way with words, didn’t she?”

Jonah managed a soft laugh. “She sure gave me the right ones tonight.”

Eli patted his shoulder and inched back to look Jonah in the eye.

“She’s right, you know. We—you and Atlas and all of us—are blessed.

I’m not afraid of Carly’s parents or imagined curses or whatever the future holds.

I’m completely confident we’re on the right side of this story and it’s going to be a good one. ”

Jonah let out a sound that was half sigh, half moan, with no desire to argue. In his arms, Atlas nestled closer and opened his mouth.

“He agrees,” Jonah said. “And he’s about to make sure everyone knows.”

Eli chuckled. “Let’s go get him his three o’clock bottle.”

“You take him up,” Jonah said, handing the baby over. “I just need a minute.”

“You got it.” Dad took Atlas, cooing soft words to him as they walked out and up the stairs.

Jonah took a few seconds to gather himself, trying to fully understand what just happened. Something, everything, had changed. The world shifted. His heart felt…different. Renewed and reborn and different.

With an exhale, he scooped up the Bible, not really sure why. Maybe because he wanted to read Mom’s prayer again, this time with Dad. Maybe he just wanted to talk about this book that obviously meant so much to both his parents.

Holding it against his chest, he took the steps two at a time, reaching the main floor just as a shadow moved on the stairs.

“Jonah?”

He turned at his sister’s voice, seeing her padding down barefoot. “Everything okay?”

“It’s so okay, I don’t even know what to say.” As she reached the bottom step, he held out both arms, the Bible in one hand. “C’mere, Mer Bear.”

“Seriously?” She gave a sleepy laugh at the nickname he was sure he hadn’t used since before their mother died. “What’s going on?” she asked groggily. “Where’s the baby? Is that a Bible? Are you crying?”

“Too many questions. Come on. Dad’s in the kitchen with Atlas. Let’s have a family hang.”

She gave him a face like he’d lost his mind—and he kind of had, in a good way.

“Dad?” she whispered as they joined their father, who held Atlas in one arm and warmed a bottle with the other.

“Meredith? Why are you up?”

“I understand there’s a family hang .” She threw a look at one man, then the other, her expression darkening. “Why are you two crying?”

Dad didn’t say anything as he tested the temperature, giving Jonah a look that said the moment was his to share or not.

“Look at this, Meredith,” Jonah said, flipping open the Bible. “Just read this.”

She scowled. “I can’t see a thing.”

“I installed undercounter lighting just for moments like this,” Dad said, tapping a switch and giving the room a golden glow. “Well, maybe not this,” he added, whispering to the baby in his arms. “But life does have a way of surprising you, doesn’t it, young Atlas?”

Meredith and Jonah shared a look and a smile, then he went back to the Bible, flipping madly. “Let me see…Joshua, Kings, Job—where do I go, Dad?”

“Two more books. Psalms, then Proverbs. It was Number 17. The one about grandchildren.”

“Grand… What is going on?” Meredith asked, her voice sounding a little tense.

“Just look.” Jonah frantically searched, then found the beautiful writing next to a few words he’d never, ever forget.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

He was a parent now!

“Look what Mom wrote.” He turned the book and nudged her closer. “And, Mer, you better have a girl.”

“What?” Her head shot up with a gasp and even in the dim glow, he could see her face go pale.

“Just read Mom’s prayer,” he said. “Read it and weep,” he added. “I sure as heck did.”

Silent, she leaned over and squinted at the words he was already thinking about having made into a work of art. Could he find someone to do calligraphy of her prayer and hang it in?—

“Oh.” Meredith straightened and put her hand on her chest.

“I know, right?” Jonah asked on a laugh. “Blessing.”

“Are you all right, honey?” Dad came around the island, the bottle already nestled into Atlas’s tiny mouth, held in place by his father’s capable hand.

“Yes, I’m…”

“Overwhelmed,” Jonah supplied. “I was, too. But her words, her prayer, it changed everything for me. And she wants you to have a girl.” He snorted a laugh. “You better get out of the office and on the dating apps or something, ’cause?—”

She silenced him with a raised hand, her face as white as the quartz countertop she gripped as though she needed stability.

“Mer?”

“Honey?” Dad inched closer. “What’s wrong?”

She swallowed visibly and took a step back, her lower lip quivering like it did when she was a little girl and about to give in to a rare bout of crying. Very rare—Meredith was made of tough stuff.

But right now, she looked like she was a house of cards, about to collapse.

She took a slow, deep breath and pressed both hands on her chest. “I’m…” She wet her lips and looked like she might sway.

Instinctively, Jonah reached for her arm. “What’s going on with you?”

She sighed and closed her eyes. “I have to tell you…something.”