Chapter 69
The sting is sharp, settling low in my chest. He can’t even fake it. Not even here. Not even in front of his own daughter. It hurts, but I push that hurt aside. It doesn’t matter.
“Grandpa, what is pegnancy?” Nova’s sweet, curious voice cuts through the chatter like a bell.
Uncle Rowan smiles at her. “It means Sierra is carrying a baby, honey p>
Nova swivels to me, her grey eyes widening as she studies me. “Where? I don’t see the baby p>
“In her belly,” Aunt Ava answers gently.
Nova’s mouth falls open as her gaze drops straight to my stomach. “There’s a baby in there?” she asks, pointing in pure disbelief. “How did it get there p>
The whole table goes still. I’ve been around my aunts long enough to know this question is inevitable. Every kid asks it once they learn someone’s pregnant. It was awkward then, and it’s awkward now. I finally understand why my aunts used to stumble through answers or change the subject. How do you explain to a five–year–old how babies are made?
“Well,” Iris begins carefully, until Aunt Ava shoots her a sharp warning look, no doubt afraid she’ll blurt out the truth. Iris clears her throat and switches gears. “When a baby is chosen to come into the world, a fairy visits at night. She sprinkles pixie dust on the mommy’s belly while she’s asleep, and that’s how the baby starts growing p>
Not bad. Actually… brilliant. Clever, magical, and simple enough. I’m filing that one away for the day my own child asks me.
Aunt Ava exhales in relief. I can’t help but smile.
“Really?” Nova gasps, turning to me with shining eyes. “A fairy really visited you p>
“Yes, sweetheart p>
“Just like the tooth fairy p>
“Exactly. Only instead of leaving money, the baby fairy left me with a baby p>
Nova lets out a shriek so loud Nolan slaps his hands over his ears, groaning at the piercing sound.
“That’s so cool!” she beams, grinning ear to ear. “So when I grow up, the baby fairy will visit me too, right p>
I open my mouth to answer, but Noah cuts in, his voice sharp. “Let’s not ever talk about you and babies in the same sentence.” A hard frown mars his beautiful features.
The sting burns deeper this time, but I force a smile for Nova’s sake.
Uncle Rowan chuckles knowingly, shaking his head. Of course, he understands. No father is ever ready to imagine his little girl growing up, let alone having babies of her own,
“Why?” Nova asks innocently.
Before Noah can answer, Nolan cuts in. “Probably because the baby fairy is a lie p>
“No, it’s not!” Nova frowns, her little brows pinching together. “If it were a lie, how come the tooth fairy left me a dollar p>
“It wasn’t the tooth fairy, it was Dad,” Nolan mutters, bored, like he can’t believe she hasn’t figured it out yet.
“You’re lying! Fairies are real p>
“No, they’re not p>
“Yes, they are p>
“Stop it, you two.” Noah’s voice cracks like a whip, leaving no room for argument. Both kids fall silent–at least until Nova blinks up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears.
“Daddy… Nolan is lying, right?” Her small voice trembles. “Fairies are real p>
Noah opens his mouth, then shuts it again, torn. I can see it in his face, he’s torn. He knows Nolan is telling the truth, but he can’t bring himself to crush his daughter’s heart.
Before I can think better of it, I reach across and pull Nova into my arms. The ease with which I move, the natural instinct to comfort her, surprises even me.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” I whisper, rubbing her back as she sniffles against me. “It doesn’t matter if the boys don’t believe us, right? We girls know we have a special connection with fairies p>
Her watery eyes lift to mine, a fragile hope glimmering there. “Yes. All girls believe in fairies p>
“Exactly.” I smile, brushing her hair back. “So don’t you worry. The rest of us girls will back you up, because we all believe in their magic p>
Her tears vanish as quickly as they came. “Can I come visit you when the baby comes?” she asks, brightening again. “I want to see how the baby the fairies gave you looks. Maybe she’ll have pink hair like the one from Storks p>
My breath hitches. I didn’t think this through. What am I supposed to say to that? The question lands heavy, twisting the knife because this isn’t just some fairy–tale baby. This is her sibling.
“We’ll see, darling,” I manage, forcing lightness into my tone. Before she can ask again, I dive in with the only distraction I can think of tickling her sides until she squeals.
Her giggles burst out in loud, bubbling laughter, her tiny hands pushing at mine as she cries out for me to stop. I don’t. I tickle harder, then pepper her face with playful kisses until she’s laughing so hard she can barely breathe.
By the time I stop, she’s a happy puddle, curled against my chest, calm and content.
When I glance up, I find every pair of eyes at the table on us. Everyone is smiling. Everyone except Noah. His expression is anything but soft. He’s looking at me like he could strangle me right here at the dinner table.