109-Whole Half

**PIPPA**

When we get to his parents’ home, Xaver dismisses the driver. Once we have changed our clothes, he uses George’s SUV to drive us back into the city.

In the waiting room of the hospital, we meet up with Sophia’s parents. Her dad looks frail and her mother seems weighed down with the worry. Carrying for an invalid and the impending birth of a new grandchild probably has her mind spinning.

I leave them talking and walk over to Sophia’s son. I know it is him. His mother had proudly shown me pictures the night we had talked.

Marco, a gorgeous child, is asleep on a chair with his legs dangling over one side. He is covered with a multi-colored blanket that has seen better days.

I had a blanket like that. Mama C said I used to wear it like a cape, my left hand clutching the ends around my neck as I sucked on my right thumb.

My stepfather had gotten rid of all my birth mother’s things and most of mine when Mama C went into the hospital. I only saved the picture Xaver saw because it hid behind the one of Mama C and me.

Sophia is so lucky to have her family around her. I guess I have that too, in a way. I have come to love Xaver’s parents. They have made me feel more than welcome, but I can’t stay much longer.

Company, like fish, eventually stinks.

I sit on a hard stool beside Marco, more than a little weary given the lateness of the hour.

*If I can just close my eyes for a second to get some rest...*

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, it is daytime. Marco, Xaver, and Sophia’s father are no longer in the waiting room. Sophia’s mother sits beside me, reading a book.

“Oh, you are awake. Sorry if I disturbed you. These chairs aren’t the most comfortable.”

I nod, stretching my arms and rotating my head to get the kinks out of my neck.

Xaver has covered me with his jacket. I smile at the gesture.

“Any news?” I ask, straightening all the way in the chair.

“No, not yet. I have just come from Sophia’s room. ”She looks at the gold Timex on her arm. “Oh… not fifteen minutes ago. The doctor had given her the go-ahead to take a shower, and she is busy doing that. The boys have gone to get coffee.”

*I would kill for a coffee right now.*

“Xaver tells me you two are expecting?”

*He did?*

“Uh… yes. Yes, we are.”

“Xaver is *so* excited about becoming a father. Babies are such a blessing.” Her eyes grow misty. I am sure she is thinking about her deceased daughter and grandchild. She confirms it when she says, “I am glad he will have children of his own…now.”

This is the first time I have heard Xaver *wants* to be in our lives.

*Is he afraid I will refuse, if he asks?*

Given my reluctance, he probably can’t help think so.

I take a moment and run through the incidents, the misunderstandings, which crop up in every romantic relationship.

*He had* called me when he was in Japan.

*He had* started our talks.

*He* was the first person to say “I love you”—through Helen, via his mother, but he had said it first.

He was the first to reach out, coming by his parents and asking me to the launch party.

Xaver has constantly come through and moved us forward.

This time, it has to come from me.

___________

**XAVER**

While Pippa, Sophia’s parents, and Marco fuss over baby Brianna getting her first bath, I go to talk to Sophia.

As weak and tired as she is, she confesses, in low tones, how, during a fight she had with Craig, he had told her about Sonia.

At first, she thought it was just his way of hurting her. She didn’t know it was true until she found proof on Craig’s home computer, a year after Sonia’s death.

“They don’t know, Xaver,” she says, tilting her head towards her son and parents. “Don’t tell them. It would kill my dad, and… well, with everything that has happened, Marco dislikes his father enough.”

*Poor little guy. *

That damn Craig sure messed up his life and all because he couldn’t keep his dick in hand and his fists to himself.

I kiss her forehead and tell her not to worry. Her smile is sad, but she looks relieved. I can tell. Her eyes are clear of the tension that held them captive for so long.

When Pippa and I leave the hospital soon after, I glance at my watch. I am surprised to see that it is almost ten in the morning.

I open the passenger door and Pippa slides in. I jog around to the front and slip into the driver’s seat. Taking a deep breath, I ask, “Do you want to get coffee somewhere?”

She turns the full force of her big browns on me. “Xaver, the only thing I want to do, is go home with you.”

I don’t ruin the moment by opening my mouth. It has gotten me in enough trouble. Instead, we just steal glances at each other. We also hold hands.

The whole way* home.*

When we get to the apartment, we head straight for the bedroom. We toe off our shoes, turn off our phones and fully clothed, we slip into bed.

Spooning, we fall asleep.

Five hours later, I wake up. Pippa’s in the shower. The thought to join her springs to my mind.

I don’t. We need to talk first.

Forgoing my workout, I head to my office.

I send off a few emails, in between thanking the heavens for giving me another chance with Pippa. I am not going to waste time rehashing past transgressions...and I hope she won’t either.

She comes in fifteen minutes later looking like an angel in a white top and blue jeans. Pippa plops down on the couch with her e-reader, so at ease, it is like she has never left. After five minutes of comfortable silence, in which all I do is stare, she says, “So, we are about to become parents, huh?”

I stand and come around my desk, my heart beating so hard, it nearly pops from my chest.

The déjà vu of what I’m about to do strikes me hard. So familiar and yet so *different.*

With Sonia, I was doing the right thing. With Pippa, this is right because *she* is my world.

“About that…” I get on one knee and open a box the color of a robin’s egg. “I want you to know, I am doing this because I love you. You *and* the babies.” Clearing my throat from the nerves that clogged it, I bare it all. “To be honest… this is the promise ring I planned to give you on a surprise trip to Paris. It now symbolizes much more. This ring is my promise of forever. Pippa Jean Hofacker… will you marry me?”

She smiles. Then she giggles. And then she laughs. I am transported back to when I had given her a ride to Bene. Back then, I had wondered if I even liked her.

I was so damn obtuse.

“Ms. Hofacker,” I say, in a gruff voice. “You are forever laughing at me.”

She takes my face in her hands and gives me a kiss, full of promise. “*Mr. Sayle,* I will always laugh *with you,* and yes, I will marry you.”

She holds out her left hand.

I slip the ring on her finger. While she admires it, I stand and head to the door.

She giggles when I close and lock it.

***

Pippa greets me by jumping into my arms and planting little kisses all over my face. These last few days with her here, have been amazing. All I could ever hope for.

We have been behaving like two giddy teenagers. Taking our time to explore our love, deep into the night by talking and… *having sex.*

My good news will make things even better.

“Alfonso called,” I say, as Pippa closes my right eye with her kisses. “He has some information. Do you want to hear it?”

She drops her feet to the floor and nods. The slight tremble in her frame lets me know how nervous she is.

“He’s found them.”

“Them?” she says, her eyes wide.

“Your parents. Your mother *and *your father. Alfonso and the detective, Jean-Baptiste located a great aunt.” He shrugs. “Well, a distant cousin of your mother’s, who lives outside of Port Au Prince.” He chuckles. “She first made them eat dinner and then gave them an address and a number to reach your mom in Florida. Turns out they have a home less than thirty minutes from Max.”

“What do you mean, *they?*

“Your parents are together, Pi. You also have a brother.”