Page 132 of Clinically Bewitched
“Oh my Goddess,” I said, but I was laughing.
Everyone was laughing. Even Julien, after a moment, started laughing too.
And I thought:This is it. This is what the universe wanted.
Not perfection. Not control. Not careful planning and color-coded systems.
Just... this.
Love and chaos and laughter, and family. The beautiful, messy, unpredictable reality of life.
“Okay,” Morrison said, still grinning. “I think we should probably let the happy couple have some privacy.”
“But we’re having so much fun,” Hayden protested.
“Out,” I said.
“Fine, fine.” Hayden headed for the door. “But I’m checking back in an hour to see if he’s made that spreadsheet.”
“I’m not making a spreadsheet!” Julien called after him.
“Yes, you are!” Hayden called back.
One by one, his colleagues filed out, each of them offering congratulations, making jokes, and promising to check in later. My parents were the last to leave.
“We’re so happy for you both,” my mom said, kissing my forehead. “So, so happy.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Call us if you need anything,” my dad said. “Anything at all.”
“We will.”
They left, closing the door behind them, and suddenly it was just me and Julien.
Alone. In a hospital room. After finding out we were going to be parents.
“So,” I said.
“So,” he echoed.
“That was a lot.”
“That was everything.”
“Are you okay?”
He was quiet for a moment, then moved from his bed to mine, carefully settling beside me. “I’m terrified,” he said honestly. “I have no idea how to be a father. I don’t know how to take care of a baby. I don’t know how to—”
“Julien,” I interrupted gently. “Nobody knows how to do it until they do it.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“It’s honest.”
He pulled me closer, and I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’m going to mess this up,” he said quietly.
“Probably,” I agreed. “We both will. That’s part of it.”
