In Pieces

by Gia Riley

  She nods her head, clearly wondering what’s gotten into my mom. “Yes,” she finally says.

  “Good. Open the bag! I was shopping on my lunch break.”

  Kinsley sticks her hand in and pulls the tissue paper out. She peeks inside and her eyes are wide when she pulls out a light blue box. “Tiffany’s?”

  I glance at mom, and she’s watching with her hands clasped together. I can’t believe she did all this for her.

  Kinsley gasps when she pulls the lid off the top of the box. Her eyes shift to my mom and then back to the gift. Her tears start to fall, and she swipes at them, like she’s embarrassed for crying in front of us. “It’s so pretty. This is really for me?”

  Mom stands behind her and helps her take it out of the box. She places the necklace on her neck and fastens it for her. “It’s for you and my grandbaby.”

  Now that it’s hanging around her neck, I see it’s a silver heart pendant with a tiny key dangling next to it.

  Kinsley fingers it on her chest, and smiles. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Taylor.”

  “I’m glad you like it. Once that baby is born, it’ll be like you’re walking around with your heart outside of your body—there’s really no other way to explain it. The key represents the future, and all the doors you still have to unlock. This baby might seem like the end to all the dreams you’ve made for yourself, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There’s still so much more to come, I promise.”

  Kinsley hangs her head, focusing on the cookie in front of her. “I’m not going to Parsons.”

  “Rhett told me. I have some friends working at The Art Institute. It’s only about twenty minutes from here. They have a wonderful interior design and fashion marketing program. I showed them some of your work, and they’d love to have you.”

  Her eyes are wide when she hears the news. “You did?” Mom mentioned it once, but I didn’t think she was serious about it. I figured it was just her trying to push us in opposite directions.

  Mom nods her head. “Kinsley, you might have to scale back your original plan a little bit, but you’re so talented. I’d love to have you work for me. When you’re a designer, the job can be very flexible. You’d be able to be with the baby a lot and still use the talent you’ve been blessed with.”

  “A job? Really?”

  “Take some time to think about it. Rhett made some decisions of his own, and once you talk about them, I’m positive we can work out an arrangement.”

  She looks to me, and already I can tell she’s worried about my choices more than her own. Since day one, it was always about me giving up what I wanted. But she doesn’t realize my priorities have shifted now that I’m going to be a dad. What I wanted a few months ago, isn’t what I want now.

  I take her hand, helping her out of the chair. “Lets go upstairs and talk.”

  She grabs her bag before walking up the stairs in front of me. I keep my hands on her waist the entire time, wanting her to know this is a good conversation, even if I’m not sure how she’s going to take it.

  Once we’re in my room, she stands in the center, staring at the wall above my desk. I forgot I hung it up. “Do you like it?” I ask her.

  “It’s beautiful, but it’s huge.”

  I stand behind her, my chin resting on the top of her head. “She is beautiful, isn’t she?”

  I blew up the picture I used for my photography project at the beginning of the year—the inspiration picture of Kinsley. Mom framed it for me, and now it’s the focal point of my room.

  Kinsley turns around in my arms, a perplexed look on her face. “What’s going on? I feel like I walked into the Twilight Zone.”

  “We had a lot of time to talk while you were in the hospital and then stuck in bed. It shouldn’t have, but I think once my parents saw we could lose the baby, they realized how much it would hurt if we actually did.”

  “I was so scared.”

  “We all were—even her. Every night since, she’s talked to me about the future. She’s finally hearing me. They want me to do what makes me happy—and what’s best for the both of us. I’m not going to take the scholarship to play football next year. I’m staying here and going to school locally.”

  “You can’t do that! This is a once in a lifetime experience, Rhett. You’ll regret it.”

  I shake my head, expecting this kind of reaction from her. She’s always selfless. Always thinking of me and what I want, but she’s my top priority now—not a stupid football game. “You and this baby are once in a lifetime, Sunny. I’d regret leaving you.”

  “But your scholarship.”

  “What about yours? You didn’t ask for any of this to happen. I did this to you.”

  She walks over to the window, staring out at the pool in the backyard. “I’ve given up dreams before. Why should we both throw it all away? I’ll be a good mother and I’ll tell the baby all about you. She’ll always know where she came from.”

  The way she’s talking, it sounds like she’s leaving me. For a minute I panic. “I don’t want to miss out on her. I love you so much. We can be a family—together.”

  When she turns around, there’s a new resolve in her eyes. “What do you want? Not your parents, not me, just you.”

  “You. Our baby.”

  She blows out a breath, obviously trying to wrap her head around all this. And then it hits her—I finally get through to her. Her tears start slow, but within seconds, she’s sobbing into her hands. “You’re really giving up your dreams for us?”

  I wrap my arms around her, rocking us back and forth like we’re dancing without music. She’s soaking my shirt with her tears, but I let her get them all out. I rub her back, needing her close. “I love you, Kinsley West—I think I always have. But I have a new dream now. I want to stay here and raise our baby together.”

  She pulls away from me for a second, walking over to her bag, and reaching inside for an envelope. She hands it to me with her trembling hand. “Open it.”

  I slide my finger under the lip of the envelope, and pull out a black and white photograph of her—with her hands covering her bare baby bump in the shape of a heart. “You took this today?” This is what she was trying so hard to hide in class this morning, and now I know why.

  “Do you like it?”

  I look up from the picture, where my eyes are entranced. My whole world captured in a single picture. It all started with the one hanging on my wall, and now it’s ending with the one in my hand. Pieced together, they form our story. “It’s perfect.”

  I stare into her beautiful brown eyes, pleading one last time. “Let me take care of my family, Sunny.”

  “I want that so bad, but I’m scared you’ll regret it someday.”

  I hold up the picture, showing her where my heart is. “I can’t regret this—I just can’t.”

  “You’re sure? You want us forever?”

  “Baby, we did this together. This is ours.”

  The Fourth of July

  “IF I GET any bigger, you’re going to have to roll me down this hill to get me home.”

  To say Kinsley’s tired of being pregnant, would be an understatement. She’s so excited for the baby to come, but these last few weeks have been tough. Between the ninety degree weather, her ankles swelling, and her blood pressure getting a little on the high side, she hasn’t been able to do much of anything.

  Bringing her to the fireworks show in the park was supposed to make her happy, but as I lay our blanket on the ground, the one she made during one of her late night sewing sessions in the spare bedroom, she stretches her back and groans. I wish I could make it better for her—but I can’t.

  I’ve been doing everything I can to take care of her now that she’s living with me. She actually moved into my parent’s house as soon as school ended. Now that we’re high school graduates, and about to be first time parents, they felt it was a good time to make the switch. Once we’re settled, and a little less dependent on my parents, we plan to move into a place of
our own.

  Now that Kate’s found a new job in Philadelphia, she’s finally moving in with her fiancé. They got engaged on New Year’s Eve and have been making wedding plans ever since. Kinsley’s going to miss having her sister around, but the two and half hour drive isn’t going to keep them apart for long. We’ll be able to make some trips once the baby gets a little older.

  As for Wyatt and Becca, they’re still together. Becca’s over at the house a lot, helping Kinsley and my mom prepare the perfect nursery for the baby. I’m pretty sure they bought out most of Pottery Barn and Babies R Us this summer. I never realized little people need so much stuff.

  We finally got around to packing the hospital bag last night, and even that turned into two bags instead of one. I didn’t even get any clothes of my own put in either of the bags.

  “Rhett, help me sit.”

  From the back, you’d never know Kinsley was even pregnant, but once she turns around, it looks like she ate a basketball. And maybe she did because my girl can eat. The same girl who used to push her lettuce around on her plate at lunch would probably eat the plate itself if she was hungry enough.

  I reach up, grabbing her around the waist, and setting her on my lap. “I’m too heavy. I’m going to make your legs fall asleep again.”

  “Just relax. I’m fine.”

  “I’m so hot.”

  “I know, Sunny. You’re smokin’.”

  She smacks me with the back of her hand. “Behave for five minutes, please.”

  “I’ll try, but we still have ten minutes until the fireworks start. And it’s pretty dark back here.”

  She shakes her head. “I’m not doing anything here, Rhett. People are everywhere.”

  “You can kiss me.”

  She turns her body sideways, and I shift her in my lap. Her belly rubs against my chest and I feel the baby kick as I’m kissing her. Total mood killer.

  I pull away, and she frowns. “What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t make out with you when she’s watching.”

  “Who? Becca’s not even paying attention to us.”

  “The baby.”

  “The baby? Rhett, I still have two weeks until my due date. I can’t go that long without kissing you.”

  I hold her close, kissing her temple and resting my hand on her stomach. The baby kicks me a few times, and I push back, waiting for her to do it again. “She’s really angry.”

  “She’s probably hot, too. It’s like a thousand degrees out here.”

  “What are we going to do if it’s not a girl? I’m so used to saying, ‘she.”

  Kinsley shrugs her shoulders. “Start saying, ‘he”?

  I laugh at her puzzled expression. “Okay, Captain Obvious.”

  Before she has a chance to smack me again, the first fireworks light up the sky. Just as the first loud boom rumbles overheard, we both jump at the same time, looking down at the blanket. “Rhett, what did you do?”

  “Nothing. Did you just pee on my leg?”

  And then it hits us. Her water broke. I help her scramble to her feet, and she looks like she’s about to cry. “I’m all wet. Everyone’s going to think I peed my pants.”

  “It’s okay. It’s dark out. Here.” I fold the blanket in half and wrap it around her waist. “Hold onto the ends so it doesn’t fall down.”

  She does as I tell her, and I smack Wyatt on the back of the head. “Dude, come up for air. We’re going to the hospital. Can you swing by my house and get the bag?”

  “The bag?” And then it registers. “Shit, Kinny are you okay?”

  Kinsley’s still walking, not bothering to wait for me or talk to her brother. “Her water broke. Oh, and grab me a change of clothes while you’re at it.”

  “Yeah, okay. Holy shit. I’m going to be an uncle.”

  Before I get a step closer to Kinsley, Wyatt’s hand reaches out and grabs my arm. “Take care of my sister. She’s pretty important to me.”

  “Me too, Wyatt.”

  I have to run to catch up to my girl. For someone nine months pregnant, she can still haul ass. “Sunny, slow down.”

  “I’m afraid it’s going to start to hurt, so I want to keep moving.”

  “Does it hurt yet?”

  “Not really. I feel like I have cramps.”

  By the time we get to the hospital, she’s in a little more pain. They get us into a room pretty fast, but once she takes a look at all the monitors and the baby warmer, I can tell she’s getting scared. We took the baby classes, we read all the baby books, and we even toured the maternity wing. Still, nothing could have prepared us for this moment.

  “Rhett, I don’t have my music.”

  “I’ll text your brother. He’s already stopping at the house.” I fire off a text to Wyatt, hoping he can remember everything. I’ll do anything to make her worry less. All she should be focused on is the baby.

  “I have to pee.”

  I help her into our private bathroom, and while she does her business, I make sure to text everyone and tell them where we are.

  “Rhett!”

  I turn around, almost knocking into the IV pole they haven’t used yet. “What’s wrong, Sunny?”

  She starts to cry, and when I bend down in front of her, I see some blood on her legs. Her chin quivers as she says, “I don’t know.”

  I let go of her hand, and run into the hallway. “We need help in here!”

  The heads of a couple nurses whip in our direction, and one look at my panicked expression, and they come running. “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s bleeding on the toilet.”

  I end up catching the attention of one of the doctors, and even though he’s not Kinsley’s doctor, he comes in the room anyway. She has three people all stuffed in her bathroom, checking out what’s going on. All I can do is pace while they talk to her and ask her questions. I don’t even know what half of it means.

  After they help her change into a gown, they get her into bed, and I swear, it’s three minutes tops before they’re wheeling her to the operating room. I follow behind her bed, my heart racing so fast I’m about to throw up. If we make it this far and lose our baby, I don’t think we’ll ever be the same.

  They push her bed through the doors and the nurse holds me up. “You can go in as soon as she’s prepped,” she tells me.

  “I don’t want her to be all alone. She can’t be alone.”

  “She won’t be.” The nurse hands me scrubs, like the ones on all the hospital shows Kate watches on TV, and I slide them on. I even put the lunch lady cap on my head. Once everything’s in place, I look like I’m the one about to go deliver this baby.

  What seems like an eternity later, I’m finally allowed to go to Kinsley. The operating room is freezing, and her teeth are chattering when I get to her. “It’s okay, Sunny. I’m here.”

  “I’m scared, Rhett.”

  I sit in my chair next to her head, and brush my finger across her cheek. And then it hits me, I could lose both of them if something goes wrong. For all I know, something already did go wrong. But I have to pretend like none of this is fazing me. If I panic, she’ll panic.

  “Don’t be scared. We’re about to meet our baby.”

  She smiles and a tear slides down her cheek, soaking the paper under her head. Her eyes close, and she grimaces like she’s in pain. All I can do is kiss her cheek. It’s the only part of her I’m allowed to touch.

  “You’re so strong, Kinsley. I’m so proud of you,” I whisper in her ear, over and over until the cries of a baby fill the room.

  The doctor passes the baby to a team of nurses who huddle around the warmer. I don’t even know what they’re doing, but I’m too scared to take my eyes off Kinsley to check.

  “Go see, Rhett. Go look.”

  I’m hesitant, but I stand up and peek inside the warmer. And for the first time, I see my little girl. She’s just as beautiful as Kinsley. Her tiny hands pump back and forth and her feet kick as they poke at her. She’s angry but she’s
amazing.

  Once she’s cleared, they wrap her up like a little baby burrito. They give her to me like I’m supposed to know what I’m doing with this tiny little person. She’s even smaller than I imagined she’d be. “Hi, princess. I’m your Daddy.”

  She squirms and struggles to open her eyes, but they have so much goop on them she blinks over and over until she finds me. And the first time our eyes meet, I know I’m completely in love. “Your Mommy wants to meet you.”

  I walk her to Kinsley, who’s been watching us the entire time. She cries harder when she sees us getting closer. I sit back down and bring the baby as close to her as I can get. Kinsley kisses her cheek and they lock eyes the same way we did.

  “Your mom was so right, Rhett. I love her so much.”

  “We got our little girl, Sunny. We got her.”

  “Stop hogging the baby,” Becca says, as she leans over Wyatt’s shoulder and smiles at Katey.

  We named her Katheryn Marie Taylor—after both of our mothers and in honor of Kate. I’m pretty sure both Kate and my mom cried for two days once we told them. We made our baby a Taylor, and soon, we hope to make Kinsley a Taylor, too. But no matter what last name Katey has, she’s a little piece of everyone.

  “Wyatt, seriously! Let me hold the baby.”

  Kinsley laughs from the kitchen where she’s helping my mom with some lunch. Wyatt has to go back to school later today, and Kinsley wants to have a little party before he gets busy with football camp.

  Even though he’s been staying with Carson this summer, he’s been over at our house more than he’s been at his own. He can’t seem to get enough of Katey. I can’t say I blame him though, we make cute kids.

  “You’ll be able to see her for like a month before you go to school. This is my last day.”

  Becca nods her head and walks up the stairs toward our bedroom—pissed off.

  “Rhett, can you come take your daughter. I have to go apologize for being a pain in the butt.”

  I laugh at him because those two do more fighting and making up than any couple I’ve ever known. They’re either hot or cold, but when they make up, you don’t see them for days. He told me to use his imagination on that one, but Becca’s practically my sister, so I don’t necessarily want to do that either.