Page 49 of Hot Mess
“Your parents must be so happy.”
“Yeah, they are.”
“So, what are you naming her?” Summer grinned at me, pleased that she wasn’t missing out on this moment.
“Emma,” Elle said. “Emma Cecilia Brothers.”
Summer gasped a bit. “You’re giving her Seth’s last name?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Sorry for the gasp. I totally wasn’t expecting that.”
“It’s okay.” Elle smiled. “We talked about it a lot. But the fact is it means more to him. I have a family and we all share a name. There have always been Delacroixs in my life, and there always will be. But Seth has pretty much no one. This little girl is all he’s got.”
“He’s got you, babe,” Summer reminded her.
“Yeah. And me. I want his daughter to have his last name, though. I just think it’s the best gift I can ever give him.”
“Uh, I think you’re holding that in your arms right now,” Summer pointed out.
“Oh… yeah,” Elle said, like that had never occurred to her before.
I cleared my throat. “It’s a great name, Elle.”
Elle looked at me, and she softened. She seemed relieved that I was taking this all so well. That I wasn’t being a dick about any of it.
That I wasn’t angry anymore.
“Thank you for coming to meet her,” she said.
“Yeah, well. Dylan would’ve skinned me alive if I didn’t.”
She smiled a little.
“Speaking of which,” I said, pulling out my phone. “He’s demanded that I send a photo, so…”
Elle smiled bigger and held little Emma up close to her face, and I took a photo.
Then, while Summer and Elle chatted, I sent the pic to everyone in the Dirty family—most of whom were overseas and couldn’t be here like I was right now.
And suddenly I knew how to feel, instead of jealous or bitter or uncomfortable.
I felt grateful that I had such good friends.
That they wanted me to be a part of this.
* * *
After that, we didn’t stay much longer. Visiting hours were almost over.
On the way out, I paused to talk to Seth. He was just coming back with Elle’s mom, and as she went to check on Elle and the baby, Seth and I stood by the door.
He knew I was heading to England to play DreamWarp festival with Dirty in like ten days, and he wished me well at the show. Said he was sorry to miss it, and we shook hands again. Apparently, he was staying in Vancouver for at least a couple of months, to be with Elle and their new daughter, before heading back out on the road.
Yeah; I liked Seth. Which now seemed like a good thing.
At least I knew Elle was in good hands. When I saw the way he looked at her and their baby when he walked into the room, how could I wish them anything but well?
