Page 114 of The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley 1)
I was making her a cup of cocoa but I stopped at her question.
“No,” I said. “Even though I was scared and nervous, I knew I wanted a baby. I picked out names early on. Rowen for a girl, Coby for a boy. And after that, the baby was real. It was my baby with a name. So no, I never thought of an abortion. It just wasn’t an option for me.”
She pondered what I had said for a few moments, then she smiled. “Coby, I like that. Would you care if I used that name if the baby is a boy?”
I smiled too.
Her life would never be the same. It would be better after she jumped over a few hurdles.
“Not at all,” I said. “Coby Holt. I love it!”
“Me too,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “How do you think it’s going to work? With Everett? If he doesn’t want anything to do with me or the baby, what will happen? It’s not like he can avoid us. We live in Prescott.”
“That’s the million dollar question. He’ll have to come to terms with it. Or else, I guess he won’t. Rowen’s father signed over all of his parental rights. Maybe Everett will do the same. We’ll just have to wait and see,” I said.
“Yeah,” she muttered.
“But don’t fret too much about it now. This is a lot of news for him. Don’t give up yet. You two didn’t work as a couple but you never know. Given some time and thought, he might come around. Turn out to be a better dad than a boyfriend.”
“Yeah,” she muttered again.
“And you have a strong support system. Don’t forget that. You’ve got a great family all living close. And friends. Me. I’ll do whatever I can to help you navigate through this. I’ve been there. It’s not easy but it is so effing worth it,” I said.
“Yeah,” she said again, this time sounding more confident.
“When will you tell your family?”
She took in a deep breath. “Tomorrow, I guess.”
“Good idea,” I said. “Better now than later.”
“Did you tell Jess?” she asked.
“No. And I won’t. Not until you’re okay with people knowing.”
“You can tell him. After tomorrow, everyone that I need to tell in person will know.”
I resumed mixing her cocoa so we could go back to the living room with Felicity and Noelle.
“Gigi? Do you like the name Mabel for a girl?”
I gave her a huge, wide smile. “Love it.”
Jess and I were finally in bed.
The girls had worn themselves out and crashed around midnight. They were all sleeping on the floor of the living room in a “tent.” I’d made a huge canopy over the living room furniture out of some bed sheets and blankets. Then on the floor, we’d piled all of the extra blankets and pillows I could find.
They’d giggled and laughed in their makeshift beds while I sat in the office reading, waiting until I heard the last of their chatter and could come upstairs to Jess.
He had finally emerged from wherever it was he’d been hiding about twenty minutes before his sister and mother took off. Then he’d come upstairs to escape the girl gaggle.
I climbed into bed next to him as he shut off his light.
“Happy New Year’s.” I slid tight into his side and threw my leg over his.
“You too, baby,” he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead.
“Where’d you disappear to tonight?” I asked.
