Since I've met April I have discovered more and more what a strong woman she is. I didn't want to believe Cal when he first told me, but seeing her over the past few weeks... From the way she handles Cal, to the way she handled my sudden appearance in their lives, everything that happened with her first husband, and even what happened before him that I only have a vague idea about from Theo... it has all made it abundantly clear.

And still, I am completely blown away by the poise and calmness she's embodied since our talk in the bathroom. Looking at her, you'd never know that she was just about pulling her hair out before I somehow managed to talk her down.

I hardly even remember what I said. I just started rambling, and I hugged her, and then suddenly she was holding her head high and dabbing at her eyes and asking me if I was ready to join the others again.

She's a fucking legend.

As my eyes notice Theo coming toward me, a smile pulls at my lips. I guess April's legendary status makes sense considering who her brother is.

The same man who was trying to speak to me earlier, before I excused myself to follow April, is once again standing to my left. "Emilia, right?" he asks with a kind voice.

I nod and look up at his handsome face, framed with curly blond hair, but before I can say anything else, Theo steps in between us.

"Trevor," he greets the man. His smile says 'hi' while his eyes all but shout 'step aside'. He hands me a cup of coffee, brushing his fingers lightly against mine as I take it from him.

Oh. Feeling territorial, are we, big guy?

"Hey, everyone," a familiar, sweet voice breaks its way into my thoughts as Megan joins the circle. She squeezes in between Trevor and Theo and leans into Theo's side, and now it's not just Theo feeling like his territory is being moved in on.

"Hey, Megs." Theo gives her a wider smile than he greeted Trevor with and wraps one of his arms around her in a quick side hug.

"Hey, Teddy." She grins up at him.

Teddy. I almost roll my eyes. His name is fucking Theo, not Teddy.

Would it be inappropriate to climb him and shove my tongue down his throat while we're still in church? ... Probably. But damn, how I want to mark him as mine in front of this bitch.

Just you wait, Theodore. Next Sunday, you're showing up with a hickey...

"Do you want to come over for lunch today? I may or may not have made lasagna again," Megan asks him in a sing-song voice.

Every part of me tenses. I debate on throwing my cup of coffee at her, but before my jealousy causes me to completely overreact, Theo presses a hand against my lower back and shakes his head.

"I can't, Megan."

My spirits lift as her face falls but then Theo tacts on, "How about I come over for coffee though?" and Megan eagerly agrees.

He turns to me and searches my eyes. "Mind getting a ride back with Cal and April?" his voice comes out softly. "I won't be long."

I can feel my face turning red with rage. I glance across the circle to where Cal and April are standing, unaware of our conversation since they're busy talking to other people. "Fine. Let them know I'll be waiting by their van."

I don't bother with any polite goodbyes and take off across the room to get to the parking lot, fully aware that Theo is hot on my heels.

"Emilia, slow down a minute," he speaks through clenched teeth, trying to get my attention without making a scene as we step outside.

When I keep walking away from him, his fingers circle my wrist, and he carefully pulls back on my arm to steer me in another direction. He leads me around the side of the building, where we are out of sight from anyone else except for perhaps any people on the far side of the parking lot. After a quick scan, there doesn't seem to be anyone over there.

"What's wrong?" he asks when he witnesses me throw my disposable cup of coffee to the ground.

"Nothing," I bite out and lean against the brick wall.

"Right," he replies, not sounding convinced, "I'll just be on my way to Megan's then..." But rather than walk away, he continues to stand in front of me.

"Yeah, fine," I snap back, "go fuck your ex one last time."

He lets out a tired sigh and briefly closes his eyes. "Emilia, please. Don't."

"Well?" I cross my arms over my chest. "Why else do you need to go there?"

"I haven't slept with Megan in over six years, Milia, but we've always remained friends. We've gone out for dinner and had lunches together... nothing romantic, and I'm sure I've made it clear to her that I wasn't looking for that..."

He pauses and runs a hand over his face. "That's why I need to go talk to her. I've been giving her the it's not you, it's me all this time, and I wasn't lying. I didn't want a relationship with anyone. But maybe she thought if she waited it out long enough I'd change my mind... But that wasn't the case."

He pauses again and gives me a small smile. "But with you... I don't seem to have a choice. And she's going to see or hear about the time I'm spending with you, and I don't want her to feel blindsided or like she just wasn't good enough 'cause she is a great person... She's just not the person that I can't help but want to be with."

He leans closer to me and lightly brushes his lips against my cheekbone, then murmurs softly, "That's you. In case I'm not making myself clear."

I laugh softly, feeling my frustration slowly melting away.

"So, please," he starts again, staying close to me while he looks down into my eyes, "I'm asking you to trust me enough to be okay with this so that I can have a private conversation with her. If you can't, I'll just talk to her here, but I was hoping to do it in a place where she doesn't have to put on a brave face if she's feeling hurt."

"Fine," I answer with a small pout, but when Theo mimics my pout and tickles my side I can't hold back a giggle and a smile.

"Thank you. I'm really glad that you can trust me, Milia." He smiles down at me and bends his head to kiss me, then adds in a quick mumble, "Plus, Megs always has the best baking to serve along with coffee, and I really didn't want to miss out on that."

I whack his chest with both my hands to push him away from me, and he laughs loudly and steals another quick kiss. "I'll see you soon, sweetheart. I love you."

"Yeah, yeah. Go stuff your face with Megan's cookies. I hope you make her cry."

He chuckles while he tucks some of my hair behind my ear. "No, you don't. I don't believe that. I know how kind your heart truly is." He stoops down to pick up my discarded coffee cup and then offers me his other hand. "Here, let me walk you back inside to find Cal and April."

"Fine," I admit begrudgingly as we walk back toward the church entrance, "Maybe I don't want her to cry... But I do hope there aren't any damn cookies."

He laughs again and pulls me into his side. "Okay, well that I can believe."

----------

I'm sitting in the back of a minivan. A couple of weeks ago, I could have never pictured this. Then again, when I first stood on the sidewalk in front of Cal and April's home, I never would have imagined any of the events that have taken place since then.

Emily once again went to her friend Avery's house for lunch, and I could kick Theo for sending me home with April and Cal... Not that it's at all his fault. He has no idea that right now could have been the perfect time for April to talk to Cal if I wasn't tagging along in their backseat.

April turns in her seat to look at me. "Do you want to join us for lunch? I don't think Theo will be long, and he can join us too."

I'm about to turn her down when I notice the pleading expression on her face. I get the feeling she's not ready to talk to Cal just yet and is looking for any excuse to hold off a little longer.

Just tell him. I attempt to convey my message without words, and April gives the slightest shake of her head. I can't say that I blame her. The realization that she is pregnant has reminded me of my own secret that I'm keeping from Cal... from everyone, actually. But how can I ever share it now?

"Sure," I answer with a smile when Cal glances in the rearview mirror at me. "Thanks, April."

Cal grins and brings his eyes forward to the road again. I'm sure he loves seeing his wife and I getting along. I'm also sure he'd feel differently if he knew what we were keeping from him...

But it's not like April meant for me to find out first. And technically, she hasn't taken a test yet and doesn't know for sure, so we're not really keeping anything from him. At least, April isn't... And what I'm keeping from him is going to stay buried deep.

When we pull into their driveway, there's a shiny SUV parked next to Cal's rundown car.

Cal groans and looks at April, and she shrugs while letting out a long sigh.

"Don't look at me. I didn't know they were coming either." She unbuckles her seatbelt and slips out of the van to head inside.

Cal thumps his head back against the headrest of his seat and lets out another groan. "Well, this is just freakin' great..."

I frown and unbuckle my own seatbelt. "What's going on? Who's here?"

"April's parents. They think it's cute to show up without warning, and April thought it was a good idea to give them a key a number of years back. Don't get me wrong, I actually don't mind them because they seem to not mind me. But April's already been in a mood, and her mom tends to get under her skin."

April's parents... meaning Theo's mother and father...

Nope. No, thank you. This is my cue to leave.

I open the sliding door of the minivan and get out quickly, but Cal is right behind me before I can retreat to Theo's house next door.

"And where do you think you're going?"

I point in the direction of my safe place, thankful that Theo gave me his house key at the church. "If April's parents are here, shouldn't I—"

"Nuh-uh." Cal's hand lands on my shoulder, steering me toward his front door. "April will want a buffer, and you've already agreed to come over. C'mon. It's time for you to meet the delightful Mr. and Mrs. Morrison."

Theo, you better not be stuffing your face with delicious cookies right now... Get your ass over here.