Milo sucks in a breath. “Look at me,” he says.
As much as I’m not excited about eye contact at the moment, I force myself to meet his gaze. “Listen. I’m not going anywhere. Pregnant or not. If you’re pregnant, then we have a baby. Together. Do you want to keep it if you’re pregnant? Don’t think, what does your gut say?”
I sigh. “My gut says I want to have a baby with you,” I blurt out, surprising even myself.
Milo pulls me in close. “Then I’ll be here to get lost in the woods and change diapers with you. You just make sure you navigate. Because that’s what you are. You’re my navigator.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I have a man who loves me and barely bats an eyelash when finding out he might be having a baby in nine months.
“I’m going to have to learn how to change diapers, I guess,” I say, instantly regretting bringing up diapers while we’re both naked in bed together.
“I’ll do the dirty work.”
I make a dismissive noise. “How long is that going to last? I’ll have to develop some skills with babies.”
Milo grips me close, and though I hear the confidence in his voice, I can tell he’s also shaken by what’s happening.
“Always,” he says. “You’ll always be my navigator. I’m lost without you, Cecily.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Milo
Ten months later
Minnie came into the world with an attitude, just like her mother. I wouldn’t have it any other way, as they’re both the lights of my life.
After the initial pregnancy shock wore off, Cecily and I adjusted our plans. I rented a condo in Uptown, knowing that she would want to live near her family for the foreseeable future.
Her sister Cherise stayed with her while I fulfilled my much-delayed book tour obligations. I decided now was a bad time to torpedo my career. Cecily wanted to come with me, but I argued that she should not give up her last semester for me when she was so close to earning her degree. Secondly, there was also no way I would let her travel out of the country while pregnant. She countered that several of her sisters regularly leave the country while pregnant, seeing as her oldest now lives in the U.K. But I had to put my foot down.
I returned a few weeks later to find my Cecily, Cherise, and the entire family had prepped the condo for the baby’s arrival. The third bedroom was transformed into a nursery, and there were safety locks, gates, and bumpers everywhere.
I pressed pause on any future restaurant openings or travel vlogs. While no one was happy about that, being close to Cecily has been the best decision of my life. Being close to her has also taught me to say “fuck you” to anyone who doesn’t like my choices.
Our choices, that is. Turns out I’m pretty adaptable to making decisions with a family in mind.
Even with all the support, time off, and a fully outfitted condo, Minnie turned our lives upside down in the beginning. I thought I was ready, having babysat my nephews and nieces. But nothing prepared me for having my own. I went from a moderately happy bachelor to a blissfully delighted and exhausted dad and partner.
We chose to wait to marry until after the baby was born, despite the eagerness of her parents and all her family. “I want time to plan. And, I want to drink champagne and eat a massive charcuterie at my wedding,” Cecily had said. “And not bubbly grape juice and overcooked meat.”
&
nbsp; Who’s going to argue with that?
And if anyone had any misgivings about the wedding’s timing, those thoughts go right out of everyone’s minds as soon as Minnie makes her appearance on the big day.
She coos from her custom, festively decorated pram, all of her cousins quietly fighting to take turns pushing the pram down the aisle. Oh god, I think. So very many cousins.
I scoop Minnie up and hold her in my arms as we wait for Cecily to join us. As soon as Minnie sees the bride, she begins to wail. I worry that Cecily will be upset over this moment being ruined by a baby crying. Instead, Cecily hikes up her wedding gown, kisses her dad on the cheek, and rushes up the aisle to cradle Minnie in her arms.
I wince at all the commotion. “Sorry. I tried,” I say.
As if we don’t have an entire crowd of people at this vineyard watching us, Cecily replies, “Sorry for what? She’s a baby.”
Cecily hugs the comforted Minnie to her chest while we say our vows. In the middle of an awkward exchange of rings, we hear the dreaded noise.
“Okay, folks, let’s get on with it. We might have a situation here,” Cecily says, rocking Minnie back and forth. The judge obliges by rushing through to the “husband and wife” part.