CHAPTER30
NOVA
Thethwackof the magazine in front of me silences the entire table. My eyes are frozen open, and my jaw clenched tight.
“I knew there was something familiar about you,” Del says, jabbing her finger on the cover. Her voice has an undertone of amusement, and a hint of astonishment, maybe, or relief. Like she’s been trying to figure it out this whole time.
Everyone looks over at the spread of Mom’s house in Nashville and the little images of me going about my life in Tennessee. The only movement I’m capable of is to glance at Zeke, also still as a statue in the doorway, presumably waiting to get a sense of how his sisters will react to this.
“That’s your house?” Millie points to the image. “You have a pool?”
There’s so much innocence in her voice and words that it breaks the tension at the table and gives me the courage I need to confront this. I’m in it with both feet now.
“That’s my mama’s house. It does have a pool.”
Tabby, Del, and Pris are hunched over the article. Cade and Briggs exchange a look, but beyond that, they give no indication that they already knew.
“What does your mom do to have a house like that?” Millie breaths. Xan and Jet have joined the conversation, pulling up their chairs, and my cheeks heat at being put on the spot like this.
I’m immediately soothed by Zeke’s hands on my shoulders, his thumbs digging into my muscle.
“She runs a country music label in Nashville,” I say, looking to my hands in my lap.
“That’s so cool,” Tabby breathes, and I glance up to meet her big, infectious smile. “Anyone we’d know?”
I pick at my thumb and try to choose someone that would be known internationally. It’s throwing me that they aren’t upset or demanding more from me. Zeke knew right away there was more.
“Quintin Thompson?” He’s known worldwide, but mostly because he is notorious for landing himself in tabloids and blogs.
Del and Tabby brighten at his name. Pris’s eyebrows pull low, and she sits back in her chair.
“He was at the Festival this year, right?” Jet asks Pris, who scowls.
“Why are you asking me?” She nods to her sisters. “They’re the obsessed ones.”
“What is he like? Do you know him?” Tabby continues, and I shrug.
“He’s like you’d expect him to be. Arrogant and a total player. Kinda dumb.” I chuckle slightly because it’s true. I’ve only met him a couple of times, but I remember being less than impressed by his professionalism.
Pris stands suddenly, and everyone startles. “Tabitha, should we get dinner served? I think Millie wants to open her presents.”
Millie gasps in agreement, and Tabby follows Pris into the kitchen. I’m still stunned by the swift change in topic, but in this family, I’m learning to just roll with it.
“Can I help?” I ask, starting to stand, and Tab shakes her head.
“We got it, mama. You just relax,” Del says, and I sit down in my chair as everyone else gets up to help. She claps Zeke on the shoulder and gestures for him to stay with me.
Mama. The word moves through me and I look up at Zeke, who’s still standing behind me. He has this soft, airy look, like he, too, sees me differently in this situation. I’ve never actually said the word before. I’m going to be a mom. I am a mom right now.
Slowly, my eyes dry out from the lack of blinking and the force of this realization.
“I’m a mama,” I say to him, and he quickly moves to sit next to me, his arm draped over the back of my chair. He leans forward and kisses me with a softness that layers in all the things I want to say but can’t. When he sits back, I touch his face and wipe my lipstick from his lips with my thumb.
The privateness of the moment amid Christmas chaos settles my heart. Zeke glances to the window, his brows knitting.
“Are you okay?” I ask, and he whips back to me with a smile.
“I’m great,” he says, leaning in again, but I giggle and lean back.