BE MY FOREVER

“Could you put the kettle on and see if you can make Lucia a cup of tea? Then give us some space.”

“Sure, Dad.” Regina hesitates. “Is it going to be okay?”

I hope so. I send her a smile as I urge Regina to sit down.

“I’ll be fine. Off you go.”Regina disappears, and Lucia frowns up at me.

“You remember that I prefer tea to coffee?”

“Of course I do. How can I not know when you’ve got teabags all over your apartment.”

“Hey! No, I don’t!”

“Close enough. I do pay attention to these things.”

I sit beside her, and I have no idea what to say for a moment. How do I start this? Maybe with what I heard when I arrived. That would be a good starting point.

“So…” God, I sound like a fool starting this. “You’re pregnant.”

Lucia looks nervous, shifting a little away from me.

“I am,” she mumbles.

“And it’s my baby?”

She doesn’t verbally respond. She nods, and I see the tears in her eyes. I’m about to ask why she’s about to cry when Lucia suddenly starts speaking so fast she’s almost tripping over her