15. Rhys

As one day blended into another, our little family had settled into a comfortable rhythm. The days were a mix of work, play, and quiet moments that made my life feel complete. Jaxson, Emilia, and I had become a team, each day bringing us closer together.

Today, Jaxson and I were going out on a date. But first, Emilia had a play date of her own with Serenity. We were dropping her off with Sage, who was taking both girls to the library, and then to the park to meet up with his cousin Simon and his kids.

As I buckled Emilia into her car seat, she giggled, her little fingers reaching for the toy dangling above her. “Ready for your big day out, sweetheart?” I asked, kissing her forehead. She babbled in response, her eyes bright with curiosity.

When we arrived, Sage was waiting outside for us. “Hey, guys!”

“Hey Sage. How you’re a brave man!” Jaxson teased.

Sage waved a hand in the air like it was nothing as I unbuckled Emilia’s car seat. He came over to grab her diaper bag and smiled down at my girl. “Ready for a fun day, Emilia?” he asked her, reaching to take her car seat. Serenity was holding onto his leg, a wide smile on her face.

“Thanks for doing this, Sage. I know she’s in good hands.”

“Don’t worry about a thing. We’ll have a great time,” he assured me, balancing both girls with ease. “You and Jaxson enjoy your date.”

I waved goodbye and climbed back to the car, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. It wasn’t often we got time alone, and I wanted today to be perfect.

I looked over at Jaxson, who took my hand. “Now, time for you to focus on me.”

Laughing, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I can definitely do that.”

A short time later, we arrived at the new farm-to-table restaurant that Cooper had invested in. The place had a rustic charm, with wooden beams and large windows that allowed the space to fill with natural light. We were seated at a cozy corner table, the ambiance intimate and warm.

We looked over the menu and placed our order with the server. When she’d returned with our beverages, Jaxson looked across the table at me, his eyes filled with affection. “This is nice,” he said, reaching for my hand. “It’s exactly what we needed.”

“Yeah, it really is,” I agreed, squeezing his hand. “It’s good to get out and just be us for a while.”

We enjoyed freshly baked rolls with sweet locally made honey butter while we waited for our food. Everything was fresh and flavorful, each dish a testament to the restaurant’s and Cooper’s obsessiveness, or what Graham insisted we call his commitment to quality. We talked and laughed, sharing stories and dreams. The time to relax and become us as a couple, not just us as a family of three, allowed our bond to grow stronger with every passing moment.

When we’d finished our desserts, Jaxon pushed his plate away and took my hand on the table. “I’m really glad we did this. Sometimes it feels like we skipped some steps you know? It’s good to just focus on each other and enjoy each other’s company.”

I nodded, squeezing his hand. “I feel the same way. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but moments like this remind me of how lucky I am to have you.”

Jaxson leaned over and kissed me sweetly. “I’m the lucky one to have found you lurking in the bushes.”

I laughed at the memory. “Yeah, I did that.”

After lunch, we decided to walk off all the food we’d eaten with a stroll through the nearby park. The sun was shining, and the air was crisp with the scent of blooming flowers. We walked hand in hand, enjoying the simplicity of being together.

As we neared the playground, I spotted Sage with the kids. Emilia was on a blanket, surrounded by toys, her face lighting up when she saw us. Serenity was on the swings, Simon pushing her and another little girl, a little older than her, gently.

“Hey, look who’s here!” Sage called out, waving us over.

Emilia reached for me as I picked her up, her little hands patting my face. “Did you have fun, sweetheart?” I asked, kissing her cheek.

Sage grinned. “She was a little angel. We had a blast.”

Jaxson bent down to Emilia’s level, his eyes softening as he looked at her. “Did you miss us, Emilia?”

She responded with a happy squeal, one of her hands patting Jaxson’s cheek.

As we stood there, I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the park, watching the kids play and enjoying the company of each other. Of course, Sage had packed snacks and drinks for them, so we just lingered and chatted until the sun began to set.

We gathered up her things and headed to the car, knowing we needed to make a stop on the way home. We were almost out of diapers and a couple of other things. For some reason, it was one of my favorite things to do as a family. It was a simple task, but it felt so domestic and oddly gratifying. Jaxson pushed the cart while I carried Emilia, who was happily babbling away.

As we walked along, I felt a glow in my chest at the visual of my family together.

Making our way down the aisles, I buckled Emilia into the cart’s seat, her tiny hands gripping the handle and her eyes wide with curiosity. I walked beside them, selecting items we needed and added them to the cart. It was these simple moments, just being together, that made everything feel right.

As we reached the frozen foods section, I spotted something that made my heart skip a beat. “Orange Creamsicles!” I exclaimed, grabbing three boxes and dropping them into the cart without a second thought.

Jaxson shot me a playful look, one eyebrow raised. “Three boxes, Rhys? Really?”

I shrugged, grinning sheepishly. “I’ve been having a craving for them lately.”

Jaxson laughed, shaking his head. “You might be pregnant with cravings like that.”

I chuckled, the sound mingling with Emilia’s giggles as she kicked her little feet in delight. “If I start craving pickles and ice cream, we’ll know for sure.”

Still, his joke struck a chord deeper than he realized. I laughed it off, but an uneasy feeling settled in my gut. As we continued shopping, my mind kept drifting back to his comment.

It was these mundane activities, filled with jokes and easy conversation, that made me appreciate how far we’d come. Every laugh, every shared glance, made me feel more connected to Jaxson and Emilia, but his words echoed in my brain.

Could it be possible?

At the checkout, the cashier eyed our stash of Creamsicles with a knowing smile. “Stocking up for a party?”

“Something like that,” Jaxson replied, shooting me a playful glance. “Just satisfying some cravings.”

I laughed, and Emilia mimicked me, her infectious giggle making everyone around us smile.

We loaded the groceries into the car and headed home. The whole time, I couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing at me. Once we got back, we unpacked the groceries together. Jaxson took Emilia into the living room to play while I put away the last few items. I’d spotted a pregnancy test display at the store earlier, and on a whim, I had grabbed one. I had to know, even if it sounded ridiculous. Thankfully, I managed to distract Jaxson while it was being scanned.

I slipped the test into my pocket and headed to the bathroom. My hands shook as I opened the package and followed the instructions. Waiting for the results felt like an eternity. My heart pounded in my chest.

When the results appeared, my breath caught in my throat.

Positive.

I was pregnant.

My mind raced. I had to tell Jaxson, but how? This was huge, and it wasn’t the only secret I’d been keeping. This one kind of made the other one even more important to share. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts. First things first, I had to tell him about the baby.

I walked back into the living room, where Jaxson was making Emilia laugh with silly faces. When he looked up and smiled at me, and I felt a surge of love and fear all at once.

“Jaxson,” I began, my voice trembling slightly. “We need to talk.”

His smile faded, replaced by concern. “What is it, Rhys? Are you okay?”

I took a deep breath and held up the positive test. “You were right. I’m pregnant.”

Jaxson’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re... what?”

“I’m pregnant,” I repeated, my voice steadier this time. “I took a test just now, and it’s positive.”

He stared at me, processing the news. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Rhys, that’s... incredible. Unexpected, but incredible.”

I felt a wave of relief at his reaction, but the weight of my other secret still pressed on me. I needed to tell him everything, but I wasn’t sure how he’d handle it when he realized the implications.

“Jaxson, there’s something else I need to tell you,” I said, my heart pounding again.

He looked at me, his expression serious now. “What is it?”

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. “You know how there’s something I’ve been hesitant to tell you? I don’t know how to say it, but you deserve to know.”

He reached out, taking my hands in his. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. Just tell me, Rhys.”

I nodded, feeling a mix of fear and relief. “I will. But let’s take it one step at a time. Right now, let’s just focus on this new journey we’re about to start.”

It was such a copout, but I deserved to have a happy moment with him, celebrating our family expanding before possibly ripping it apart.

Jaxson pulled me into a hug, his embrace warm and reassuring. “We’ll get through this, Rhys. All of it. Together.”

As I held him, I prayed he was right. I prayed that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.

I prayed that the father of our children, because Emilia was mine too, didn’t run when he knew everything about me.

I needed a breath, so I went to start dinner while Jaxson played with Emilia. They’d both come such a long way, and I loved watching it. Her laughter filled the house, and it was the sweetest sound, a constant reminder of how lucky I was.

After dinner, we put Emilia to bed before gathering on the couch for our now-regular movie night.

I reached for one of the multiple Creamsicles I had brought inside with me. I handed one to Jaxson and kept one for myself, both of us enjoying the cool, refreshing treat.

“Here’s to being right,” he said with a wink.

I laughed, taking a bite of the cold, sweet treat. “Cheers to that.”

As the movie played and the night grew darker, I thought about my life. My arm was around Jaxson, Emilia upstairs, sound asleep. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours.

As I savored the last bite of my ice cream, I said another prayer that I didn’t lose this.