Stay(77)

“What about Serena? I always liked that name.” She grins from the other side of the couch, but Eli and I frown.

“Hard no, Mom.”

“Hard no?” She looks at me with wide eyes. “Did you teach him that?”

“Serena was the mean girl who made fun of me after I peed my pants at school.”

Emmy’s face goes white, and I jump in for a quick save. “I knew a Serena once, and she picked her nose.”

“Oh!” Eli falls back, holding his forehead.

“She ate her boogers, too.”

“No! No!” Eli puts his face on his knees, and I laugh. Even Emmy starts to laugh, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Okay, okay,” she relents, turning to me. “What S name do you like?”

We decided since her mother started the E names after Emmy’s dad, we’d start with S names for me. Clearly, we have not had much luck with a consensus.

“While I do like Stella…” Eli and I do a fist bump. “I’ve always liked the name Selena. It’s like Serena, but it reminds of Ximena. Yes?”

When I look at my beautiful wife, her eyes are flooded with tears. She puts a hand over her mouth and squeaks, “Oh, Stephen! It’s perfect.” She sniffs as a crystal drop hits her cheek. “It’ll be like she’s here with us. I love it.”

Climbing out of my seat, I prop my hands over her and lower myself push-up style to give her a kiss. “Sounds like we found a name for the princess.”

“Yes.” Emmy sniffs again, nodding.

Eli and I exchange a “Jeez with the pregnancy hormones already” look, and I hop over the back of the couch to retrieve a tissue. She bursts into tears at the drop of a hat these days. I think we’ll all be happier once Selena’s on the outside of her sexy mom.

Aunt Rebecca is beside herself with baby prep. She calls every day with the latest details on the christening and the enormous party she’s throwing for her, the latest cashmere baby clothes she’s found… Emmy tells her babies don’t wear cashmere. I tell Emmy just to roll with it.

“We’ll put that disgusting boathouse fiasco behind us and introduce my gorgeous nephew’s beautiful new family to the world without any haters trying to bring us down.” Bex declares it like an actor at the end of A Christmas Carol, and I wonder who taught my aged aunt the word hater.

“Sounds amazing, Bex.” I grin, and Emmy shakes her head. Still, she’s smiling.

As unpleasant as my aunt’s last party for us turned out, her heart was in the right place… and I’d wager a fair sum we won’t have a repeat of that occurrence.

We rejected my aunt’s suggestion to renew our wedding vows and a have big reception after. Emmy and I both agreed our little ceremony at City Hall, as simple as it was, was a deeply significant event for both of us. We don’t want to mess with that memory.

As the day ends, I’m so thankful the most important people in my life are all here, in this big house, in my life, that was so empty without them.



* * *



I said I’d take care of Eli’s registration this morning. Otherwise I’d have stayed in bed and pulled some strings later. It’s snowing again and cold as fuck, but I know if I blow this off, it’ll only fuel Emmy’s worries about sending him back.

On my way out the door, I lift my phone to see it’s only twenty-percent charged? How the hell did that happen? Glancing around, I see someone unplugged the charging plate. With a frustrated sigh, I check the clock. I need to go now so I can get back. This shouldn’t take thirty minutes… The entire house is quietly sleeping…

I make the decision to leave it charging and head out into the cold.

It’ll be fine.

I haven’t gotten five blocks from the house, when I look up and see the man who sets my teeth on edge and my blood boiling.

“Well, if it isn’t Stephen Hastings.” The Dick stands in front of me on the sidewalk.

I’m pleased to see his nose is still slightly crooked from the night he tried to destroy my family. I divert my attention, ready to continue walking, but he steps in my path.

“What? Not even a thank you for not fighting that custody deal?” He’s grinning like he has some news for me.

I wonder if some people are simply born stupid or if they’re made. Nature or nurture? I’m also starting to wonder if Eli might have been immaculately conceived.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know you wanted to fight.” Lifting my chin, I give him my signature scowl. “I’m always glad to beat you, Dick.”

His eyes narrow a fraction before he puffs up his chest again. I’m sure this is when I get to hear whatever shit he’s dying to tell me.

“I didn’t fight you because I’m sick of the bullshit. I did my best to raise Eli right. Teach him how to be a real man. Emmy fought me every step of the way.”

“A real man.” I look around like I’m thinking. “Oh, did you mean like you?”

“Fuck off, Hastings. I always suspected you were a closet queer.”

I guess that’s supposed to offend me? “Looks like you’re as stupid as you are ugly. I’d say ignorant, but it seems like you put a lot of effort into being an imbecile.”

His face reddens, and he steps closer. “Peg’s pregnant. I’ll be too busy with my new family to worry about some old, broken one.”