Luc
Twelve
I’ve called Addison every night for the last two weeks.
Not too early or too late. Just a consistent check-in framed as concern, and I’m honest enough that I don’t pretend it’s casual. She always answers. Tonight, though, I have a particular purpose. We were finally able to get a lab appointment a couple days ago.
“I just got the results,” I tell her when she picks up this evening, skipping anything that might sound like preamble. There’s no point pretending this is small. “I’m the father.”
There’s a pause on the line. Not shock or relief. Just space, like she’s letting the truth land without rushing it. “I always knew,” she says eventually.
“I appreciate you letting me confirm. We used a condom. I don’t understand how this happened.”
She sighs. “I said the same thing when I found out. But at least we’re on the same page.”
We are. And what comes over me isn’t just relief. She’s never tried to shift this somewhere else or hide it. She could have said the baby was someone else’s if she wanted me off her case. She didn’t.
I knew this was the likely outcome, rationally. The timing made sense. The math always worked. But knowing something and believing it aren’t the same. “I wanted you to hear it from me,” I explain.
“I’m glad you called,” she replies.
“Also, my cousin invited me to Paradise Hill’s crush party tomorrow. I was wondering if you’d like to join me.”
Earlier today, Elise caught me between appointments and extended the invite. I asked if Addison could be my guest, and she loved the idea. I did warn her that if Addison comes, it’ll be our first official outing together. And not to scare her away.
Addison doesn’t answer.
“I know what that place represents,” I add before she can decline. “For your family, I mean. It’s a party, and it’s public. But I thought we could have an outing together.”
I shift my weight. This isn’t casual. Pretending otherwise would be an insult. “Ginny will be there,” I continue. “And Ric. I’m not asking you to walk into a room where you don’t know anyone. But I realize that I am asking you to walk into a room where people will see us together.”
She’s still silent. Have I overstepped?
“If you’d rather not, I understand. Completely. I’m not trying to make a point or prove anything. I just—” I force myself to stop rambling. “I just wanted to ask. I thought it might be fun.”
“People will talk,” she says finally.
“Yes,” I say just as simply.
“My pregnancy isn’t invisible anymore,” she says. “Everyone’s going to wonder if we’re together. They won’t think it’s your baby. They’ll more likely think you’re seeing me out of pity.”
“I don’t care what they think.” I scoff. “And we’ll tell people I’m the father when we decide we want them to know.”
She’s quiet for a beat. “Okay, I’ll go with you,” she says.
That takes the breath from my lungs for a moment. It feels momentous, even though I’ve just worked to convince her it isn’t. “Can I pick you up after lunch tomorrow?”
“Sure. I’ll see you then,” she says. “And I’m looking forward to it.”
I can feel myself smiling as we say goodbye. Me too. More than I probably should.
The party at Paradise Hill is already in full swing when we arrive the next afternoon.
Cars line the gravel drive in loose, careless rows. Elise gave me directions to the family house and suggested we park there. Now, I can see why. There are a lot of people here.
We follow the sound of live music toward a giant barn, and as we get closer, we find people of every shape, size, and color, but they all have wine glasses in their hands.
Addison’s beside me, the space between us deliberate, as we start toward the lights.
“Are you okay?” I ask. I can’t tell exactly what her energy is.
“Oh yes.” She nods as she looks around. “I know most of the people here, and I’ll do my best to introduce you around.” She takes a deep breath.
There’s a shift as we reach the doors. It’s subtle. Not a hush. Not the room going quiet. Just a shift when we enter the barn space. A few conversations trail off. A few looks last a second too long before turning away.
Then my cousin Elise rushes over with her fiancé behind her. “You made it!” She pulls me into a tight hug and then hugs Addison as well.
Kingston shakes my hand and nods at Addison.
“When I told Sadie you were coming, she made me promise to introduce you. She put this party together. Tarryn and I would be lost without her.” Elise scans the crowd. “There she is.”
We follow her, Addison taking my hand in a steel grip.
“Trace, Vicky,” Addison says as we approach the group. “Thanks so much for including me today.”
Vicky opens her arms and pulls her in. “You’re welcome anytime.”
Trace nods, and all the Paradise clan joins in. Seems like they’re all here and full of hugs. No one asks about Addison’s pregnancy, though. I can’t decide if that’s weird, or maybe they already know?
“I saw what you did for Fire Engine wines,” Sadie says after a moment. “Would you be open to doing notecards for Paradise Hill?”
“I did a watercolor of Paradise Hill…” Addison says thoughtfully. She looks over at her sister Ginny and Ryker.
“It’s hanging in our living room,” Ryker volunteers.
“Yes, it’s the view from the Paradise Grill windows,” Addison explains. “That might work.”
Ginny claps her hands and squeezes Sadie’s arm. “It’s perfect. You should come over and see the Paradise Hill and Black Bear watercolors if you’d like.”
Addison blushes. “Yes, and if you want stationery cards made of that painting, I can do that,” she offers. “Otherwise, I’ll need some photos to paint from. And we just missed the window this year to capture the best version of the vines.”
“Let’s talk,” Sadie says. “Vicky and I were thinking about a four-seasons set.”
Addison nods. “I love that idea.”
“I’ll call you later this week.” Sadie reaches for her arm.
“Thank you.” Addison squeezes my hand.
With that, the attention suddenly turns to me. I’ve met most of the Paradise family over the years, but it’s been a while since those childhood summers here.
“Thank you for taking over Dr. Hutchinson’s practice,” Vicky Paradise says.
I nod. “It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Paradise is the perfect size, with plenty of summer and winter activities. Plus I have family here, and I already knew I loved it.”
“We lost Dr. Sommers last year,” Beckett Paradise says. “And his patients are still looking for a home.”
Beckett is a cardiologist in town and married to Sadie, if I remember what Elise told me correctly, and sadly, I’ve heard the story he tells before. The shortage of general practice doctors is felt in every part of the province.
We continue to chat until Sadie needs to take care of something and drags several of the Paradises away with her.
“Wander around,” Trace Paradise, head of the family, tells Addison and me with a smile. “Tarryn and Elise have done a great job around here.”
We thank him and continue into the space. Long tables. Half-filled glasses. People clustered in groups. Most of them have likely known each other for years. I feel their eyes move over us, their curiosity sharper with this opportunity to get a look at Addison and see us together.
But Addison doesn’t falter.
The first person we pass gives me a nod. Another smiles, polite and assessing all at once. Then someone glances at Addison, and then back at me, filing the connection without comment.
I notice myself checking in on Addison, not by asking or touching her, but just by being aware. She’s beside me and, so far, choosing to stay there.
We reach the bar line, and when it’s our turn, I order myself a glass of the Elise. “She’s my cousin. I have to.” I explain with a shrug. Addison smiles as I turn to the bartender. “What non-alcoholic drinks do you have?”
He runs through a list, and Addison’s eyes light up as he describes a lemon and blackberry Italian soda.
So I order that for her, and then we take our drinks and sit down at a table.
“That was a nice surprise about using your paintings on their gift cards, wasn’t it?”
She nods enthusiastically. “I never expect anything. That way I’m not disappointed. But even when I sell my work, I hold the rights for printing. If it pans out, this stationery line should help keep a roof over my head and the baby’s for a while.”
That sinks like a stone in my gut. “We haven’t talked about that. Everything has happened so quickly, but we should talk about logistics soon. I don’t want you carrying that burden alone.”
“You don’t have to worry,” she assures me. “We can stay in my apartment for a few years. No hurry.”
I lean in. “I still care about it. I know I said I wouldn’t ask for much, but putting a roof over your heads and covering at least half the baby’s costs is appropriate. I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to buy you a house—I have a lot of medical school loans—but we can look at some rentals.”
She doesn’t have a chance to respond before her sister Ginny spots us and walks over with Ryker behind her.
“Hey,” she says. “I hope you can work something out with Sadie and Vicky and the notecards, and I’m so glad you came. I remember my first party with Ryker, and it was awkward as hell. Don’t worry. People will get over it.”
Addison shakes her head. “Thank you for the connection. I’m happy to work with them. And the Paradises are always kind.” She leans closer to Ginny. “They’re not Evie.”
Ginny laughs. “No, they’re not.”
“I can go get the painting now,” Ryker offers.
“If you do,” Ginny threatens, “your mother will find a way to put that over the fireplace at her house. Don’t you dare. She can come to the house to see it later.”
Ryker laughs.
“Thank you both for being so supportive,” Addison says.
“There’s a reason some things happen.” Ginny shrugs. “For years, everyone has said how beautiful your work is. The notecards are a phenomenal idea. That’s something you can sell over and over.”
“That’s what I thought too.”
Ginny turns to me next. “Did you pick tonight to come out as a couple on purpose?”