Page 156 of Through the Storm

“I’m nervous about the draft,” I continue. “I know it’s his dream, and I really want that for him. I just—” I swallow. “I don’t want to leave you. Or Declan. Or Grandma Patty. Or… this.”

Ella’s expression softens. “Hey.” She reaches out and squeezes my knee. “You’re not getting rid of us that easily. I already told you. We’ll visit all the time.”

“But what if we have to move far away?” I ask. “What if it’s across the country?”

“I don’t care, we’ll still go.” She leans in. “And we’ll FaceTime. We’ll still show up for you.”

I smile weakly. “You say that like it’s easy.”

“Maybe it won’t be.” She meets my eyes. “But we won’t mind.”

I look at my son. At Danny’s chest rising and falling under him. At the life we’ve built in this little apartment.

“I just… finally feel like this is our home.”

Ella nods. “I know. But you can do it all over again. I promise we’ll all help you.”

Danny snores softly. The baby shifts but doesn’t wake.

Ella grins. “Also, for the record? Wherever you go, Danny will also have to visit.”

I laugh. “Obviously.”

The baby sighs again, completely content, and Danny’s tail gives a single, lazy thump.

Ella watches them for a beat longer, then slowly turns to me with that look—the one that means she’s about to ask something invasive.

“So…” She tilts her head. “What did the doctor say? Were you cleared?”

I blink. “Cleared?”

She raises an eyebrow. “To resume fun activities.”

I groan, already blushing. “Ella.”

“What?” She grins. “This is important medical information.”

I glance at her, at her judgement-free heart. “Yes,” I admit. “I was cleared.”

Ella’s face lights up. “Okay, good.” Then, without missing a beat, she asks, “Did they give you an IUD?”

I choke on absolutely nothing. “Ella.”

She grins. “That’s a yes.”

I press my lips together, cheeks warm. “Yeah.”

Ella sits up a little straighter. “Wow. Look at you. Very responsible.”

“I already have one child,” I say. “I’m learning.”

Her expression softens. “We all are.”

I nod, looking back at my son. “It felt like another step. Like we’re not just surviving anymore.”

Ella leans back against the couch. “You’re planning now.”

I swallow. “Yeah.”