Cold Hard Courage

[27] - Spring

[Beatrice Eaton]

I pull my shirt down and sit up, exhaling sharply.

"Does Tobias know?" Christina asks.

I shake my head and run a hand through my hair.

"No, not yet. I mean, I'm only six weeks." I say. "And I found out two days ago."

Christina nods and takes my hand.

"You need to tell him, Tris. This is big. He deserves to know." She says.

I nod, smiling over at her.

"I'll tell him when he gets home from the conference. He leaves tonight and I don't want to distract him. This conference is huge and he's been rehearsing so much." I say. "And I don't even know if this one will make it after all that happened last time."

Christina shakes her head, staring up at me.

"Tris, you have to tell him before he goes. You know better than anyone else that we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Tell him." She says.

I nod, pulling my hair back into a low bun.

"Thanks. I've gotta get home and make sure he packed everything anyways. I'll call you later, okay?" I ask.

She nods. I exit the room and walk to the changing lounge and grab my bag. I leave, walking to my car. I climb in and inhale slowly, closing my eyes. I start my car and back out of my parking space. I take the long way home, avoiding the train tracks as much as possible after everything that happened with Graham. I drive a long, quiet car ride home. I drive into the driveway and park, raising an eyebrow. My parents are here. I climb out of the car and walk inside, removing my shoes.

"Tobias?" I ask. "Mom? Dad?"

My mom exits the kitchen with Graham in her arms.

"Hi, honey. We know that Tobias has that flight tonight and we just wanted to make sure that he doesn't have any distractions and can make sure that he has everything he needs." She says

I smile and nod at her. My father exits the kitchen behind her, wiping a green mess off of his hands.

"Graham does not like peas, we've discovered." He says.

I smile and kiss Graham's cheek.

"I'm going to go check on Tobias, make sure he's alright." I say.

I walk upstairs, entering the bedroom where Tobias stands shirtless before his closet, rummaging through it.

"Need some help, handsome?" I ask.

He spins around, smiling at me.

"Hey, love." He says, approaching me. "How was work?"

His arms wrap around my waist and he kisses my lips gingerly.

"Interesting. Boring, but interesting." I say. "There were no fun traumas today."

He laughs and presses our foreheads together.

"I don't want to go," He says. "I mean, I'm excited to give my speech, but I hate to leave you and Graham alone for that long."

I roll my eyes and run a hand through his chocolate hair.

"It's just two days. Graham will hardly notice and I've already taken them off to spend with him." I say.

He raises his eyebrows, then smiles at me.

"Come with me. You and Graham can go sightseeing while I present." He says.

I raise an eyebrow up at my husband, then narrow my eyes, smiling up at him.

"I'm going to go sightseeing in New York City with a nine-month-old?" I ask. "Sounds fun."

He laughs and shakes his head.

"Unless you want to come to the conference. You've already heard the speech a billion times this week, but having you there wouldn't be such a bad thing." He says.\

I smile.

"Do you think there will be an available seat next to you?" I ask.

He smiles and nods.

"It's almost pure fate that Zeke got sick and couldn't make it. His seat is right next to mine too." He says.

I roll my eyes and look up at him.

"Do you really want us to come with?" I ask.

He nods, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear.

"I would love it if you came with. I hate to be alone. You know that." He says.

I nod and smile up at him.

"I'll start packing. But you've gotta go tell my parents." I say.

He nods, kissing me again.

"I knew I married you for a reason." He says.

I roll my eyes again and smile at him.

"Yes, to bare your children and go on airplanes with you." I say sarcastically.

He pulls on a sweater and exits the bedroom. I place a hand on my stomach and exhale shakily. I walk to my closet and grab some clothes, stuffing them into a small suitcase, enough to get me through two or three days of travel, also weather dependent. Tobias returns with Graham in his arms, smiling down at the small boy.

"What should I pack for him?" He asks.

I take Graham from him, kissing his forehead.

"I'll get his stuff packed up, you just make sure that you have everything." I say.

He nods. I exit the bedroom and walk down the hall, laying Graham in his crib. I grab a few clothes, pack the diaper bag full, and grab a few extra pacifiers and bottles. I pack up the portable bassinet and make sure he has everything. I change his diaper and get him dressed in warmer clothes. I lay him back down and walk into the bedroom where Tobias double checks his checklist.

"Tobias, I lied." I state. "Something big did happen at work today."

He raises an eyebrow. I approach him and smile up at him.

"I got some pretty good news today that I think you'll want to hear." I say.

He wraps his arms around my waist, smiling at me.

"Well, lets hear it then." He says.

I exhale.

"I wasn't going to tell you until you got back from New York, but then Christina reminded me that we aren't guaranteed tomorrow." I state.

He raises an eyebrow, looking down at me curiously.

"Did you get a raise? Did you get a promotion?" He asks. "Did you get Fired? What is it?"

I smile, taking his hand in my own.

"I'm pregnant." I whisper.

His eyes grow wide and he looks at me cautiously.

"You aren't joking?" He asks. "This is 100% honest?"

I nod, placing his hand on my flat stomach.

"Honest to God, Tobias." I state.

He wraps his arms around me tightly smiling at me.

"This is the best news I could've received." He says, kissing me. "I love you so much."

Do you want to know the Gender? Or do you want to wait until delivery?
We've already done the waiting once before and it was quite a shock. We'll go with telling us now.
Absolutely positive?
100%.
You're having another little boy.