He looked worried.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s not like that anymore. I see the therapist a lot. She said we could use SSRIs, but I was really iffy about the effect on the baby. I mean, the only one that people are sure is safe is Prozac, but it’s got weird side effects, and… anyway, so I just go see her every day.” She shrugged. “And, um, it’s kind of like sometimes I get really scared, and then other times, I’m really excited. I just try to focus on the baby part and not my body, so much. But the good thing is that I know deep down that it’s… it’s a phobia, you know? It’s irrational. So, it’s okay that I’m facing it. It’s going to make me stronger.” She touched Silas on the arm. “It’s like Silas here. He’s the king of handling scary stuff by just barreling in there and dealing with it.”
“Me?” said Silas.
“Yeah,” she said. “You’re the one who told me to say, ‘So what if that happens?’ You remember that?”
He grinned. “I guess so.”
“And that’s what I do,” she said. “I think about how I’m going to get really fat and gross and stretched out and look like a monster. And I get scared. And then I think, ‘So what if I do?’ And, for some reason, it helps.”
I hugged her. “I’m glad. I’m glad you’re able to do this.”
She held me close, and when we broke away, her eyes were shining. “Oh my God, ever since I got pregnant, I just cry all the time.”
I grinned.
She looked at all of us. “You know, before I met Griffin, I really didn’t have a family. And now I can’t imagine my life without any of you guys. I know that we’ve been a little estranged the past few years, but I think we all realize we were being stupid. Right?”
Everyone was nodding. Even Axel. He put his arm around me, and I leaned close.
“So,” she said, “Griffin and I were talking, and we want to make sure that our baby knows all of you. Really, really well. So…”
“We want to start a tradition of seeing each other more often,” said Griffin. “All of us together. At least four or five times a year. Do you guys think that’s doable?”
“Definitely,” said Christa.
“Yeah,” said Axel.
I just smiled at Silas, and he smiled back at me.
“All right, then,” said Silas. “Let’s seal this agreement for a new tradition with beer. Come on, everybody, pour yourself some.”
I looked up at Axel. “See?” I whispered. “It is better this time.”
And he kissed me.
Thanks so much for coming along with me on this journey through the lives of Griffin, Leigh, Silas, Christa, Sloane, and Axel!
I appreciate all of the support I get from readers more than I can say. Thank you, thank you. So much.
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