She smiles when she sees me.
“You must be feeling better,” I say.
“I am. I thought maybe since you were already dressed up, we could go out to celebrate.”
“That sounds great.” Though, there won’t be much celebrating if she signs the papers and chooses to end this fully.She’s not going to do that. I keep telling myself that and yet my stress hasn’t lessened.
She giggles softly. “You’re not going to ask me what we’re celebrating?”
My brows furrow. “I assume your brother and Noah making it to the final.”
“No, silly.” She pushes her makeup bag out of her way. “We’re?—”
“Hold on.” I raise my hand that’s not holding the papers. “Before you say anything, I need to get this off my chest.”
“Oh.” Her face falls, happiness replaced by worry. “What?”
I take a deep breath, but it does little to calm my nerves. “Our six months is up. A little past, actually,” I mumble.
She frowns. “Yeah, I know. I thought?—”
I continue, undeterred, because if I don’t, I’ll never get this out. “These are for you.” I hand her the papers. “I signed them.”
Her face is ashen. “You what?”
“Fuck,” I curse, running my hands through my hair. “I’m doing this all wrong, baby. Forgive me.” Another deep breath and then I let loose the words. “I want this to be your choice. I promised you a divorce if that’s what you wanted so that’s what I’m doing. We can divorce and just date if that’s what you want. Or if you want to end this and never see me again it’ll kill me, but I’ll respect your decision. And if you want to stay married to methen we’ll tear those papers up right this second. But I refuse to not give you the say in this matter that I promised you.”
She looks down at the papers, shaking her head. “Fisher…”
“And if you want to stay married but have a big real wedding one day then I’ll give you that. Whatever you want, it’s yours, just like I always have been.”
She stands, laughing. “You ridiculous, silly man. I appreciate what you’re doing, I really do, but it’s not necessary. I love you. I want you. I choose you.”
“You want to stay married to me?”
She nods enthusiastically. “I’m not letting you go so easily this time. I’m pretty sure our baby wouldn’t want me to do that either.”
“Our…” I process her words. For a moment, I think she’s talking about Grace, but as tears pool in her eyes and she mouths, “Yes,” I realize she’s not talking about Grace but instead her sibling.
“I’m pregnant,” she clarifies. “Turns out it’s not the flu.”
I go slack-jawed as I stare at her. “Preg—you’re pregnant?”
“Apparently you’re really good at getting me pregnant when we’re not even trying.”
My hands go to her stomach and then I sink to my knees, wrapping my arms around Ebba’s body.
“Hi, baby,” I say into her stomach. “Daddy’s here.”
I tilt my head back and look up at her. “Grace is going to be a big sister?”
Tears burst out of her. “Yeah, she is.”
Standing, I wrap my arms around Ebba and swing her around.
“Whoa.” She taps my shoulder. “You better put me down unless you want me to throw up all over you.”
“Sorry.” I let her feet touch the floor and keep my hands on her flat tummy.