Sirens

Chapter 44

When I get back to the island, Aurabella is waiting for me.

As soon as I step foot on land, she approaches me with a smile on her face.

"So?" she asks. "How'd it go?"

I smile and brush my hair out of my face. 

"Really well, actually. He's very excited to be a father."

Aurabella grins and hugs me. "That's awesome, Harper!"

I hug her back, and say, "I know. I think I'm excited too."

Aurabella pulls back and laughs. "As you should be." Then she reaches into her cloak and pulls out a box. "I got a little something for you."

I take the box from her and open it. Inside it is a little snowglobe.

I place a hand over my mouth. "Is this . . . ?"

"A new house. I figured you'd need a new one since you're expecting soon."

Happy tears start to build up. "Thank you so much," I sniffle as I hug her again.

"Of course. Now, let's get you inside. I know your thighs are cramping."

THREE MONTHS LATER

Calix sits on the couch on the opposite end from me, massaging my feet in his lap. 

Cynthia sits on Henry's lap in one of the dining chairs, his arms wrapped around her stomach. The marks on their wrists are on proud display for everyone to see. 

Aurabella sits on the floor in front of the fireplace, her legs crossed and hands folded in her lap. 

Calix's thumb presses against a particular sore spot on my foot and I wince.

"Ow," I whine and nudge him in the ribs. "That hurt."

"That hurt too," he says with a scowl as he rubs his rib.

I wiggle my toes and Calix sighs as he goes back to rubbing my feet.

"You got lucky," Aurabella comments as she stands up and cracks her back.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"To get some liquor. Both of you are acting too cutesy for me."

"I got rid of all the alcohol when I first came over after I found out she was pregnant," Calix admits. 

"Seriously?"

"It's bad for the babies."

"Fine."

"Hey Aurabella, could you grab the two boxes on the counter?" I ask, pointing to the two baby blue gift boxes with white ribbon. 

She hands me the two boxes and I hand one back to her and toss the other one to Cynthia and Henry, who catches it.

"What's this for?" Cynthia asks as Henry hands her the box.

"Open it up," I say with a smile. 

Both women tug at the ribbons and take the lid off the top. 

"No way!" Aurabella exclaims as she sees what's inside. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Cynthia's hand is over her mouth as she pulls out the knife engraved with a star pattern from the box.

Calix smiles at me. We both know we made a good decision. "We decided that both of you would be the best people to be the moonparents for our children."