Chapter 18: Roots

Wil had never been grateful to go so fast. Although the foot traffic was heavier than normal, Wil flew ten feet above them, twisting and turning to hug the path as he flew the Thunderhawk home. It was only a stone’s throw to his house in the center of town, but it was enough for Wil’s imagination to run wild.

Immediately it went to her moving on and finding someone else. It made perfect sense. After so long without word, it would’ve been easier to accept Wil either wasn’t coming back, or that she couldn’t forgive him for the absence. By the time he got home, he had a half-rehearsed apology ready to go.

He landed next to the front door and hopped off. Wil tried the door, but it was locked. Swearing under his breath, he forced it open with a burst of force and went in.

“Darlene?” He called out.

A few seconds later, Darlene’s disbelief shone through. “Wil? I’m upstairs!”

He bolted up the steps, heart going a mile a minute. “I’m so sorry I’ve been gone this long. I swear, I’ll make up for it if you give me a…chance.” He stopped at the landing of the second floor. Right outside the door of the guest room, she stood there in her nightgown.

Incredibly pregnant. Wil swallowed hard, looking up from her stomach to her face. Darlene smiled weakly. “Surprise,” she said, wiggling her hands on either side of her bump. “I would’ve told you, but…”

Wil’s knees wobbled beneath him. He clutched the railing for support, repeatedly swallowing a lump that wouldn’t go down. “I…If I had known, I would’ve…How?”

Darlene raised an eyebrow. “Do I really need to explain the mechanics to you? You were there.”

That shook Wil back to normal. Mostly. “No, I get that, I just mean…We were so careful, weren’t we?”

She laughed. “You were the one casting the spell, so I kind of had to trust you. So either you aren’t as adept at preventative magic as I though you were, or it happened in Faerie. During that time neither of us would’ve remembered to be careful.”

The hobgoblin’s party instantly came to mind. Three days of partying so thoroughly that they couldn’t remember most of what happened. But the more time passed, the more bits and pieces returned to Wil. He remembered part their last night there.

“Oh.”

“Oh,” Darlene echoed, crossing her arms over her chest. “And then you disappear for four months. What was that about?”

Wil winced. “I am so, so sorry,” he said. Heat flooded his cheeks. His thoughts scrambled away from him, and he had to fight to find the words. “I shouldn’t have been that long, but they kept me until I was willing to give in. I’m back home to study leylines to keep my ass out of the fire. If I’d given in earlier…”

Darlene’s expression softened. “Then you wouldn’t be your usual stubborn self. For better or worse, that’s how I prefer you. But did you learn a lesson about how big you are compared to the full force of the government?”

“Yeah,” said Wil. “I learned I need to grow bigger so I can swing back harder.”

She stared at him for a second before she burst out laughing. “Get over here you jerk.”

Wil took a few tentative steps forward, his desire to hug his girlfriend at odds with his continued shock at her condition. And then she was in his arms and he hugged her tight, careful not to crush her. She gripped him tightly, and then the tears started from both of them.

Grief at the time lost, relief at being back together, and the shock of an uncertain future. Wil held his girlfriend and the two lost themselves in one tight, vulnerable embrace. It was at least a couple minutes later when Wil whispered, “If I’d have known, I would’ve been back. They wouldn't have been able to do anything to keep me.”

“I know,” Darlene said. She broke away and rubbed her eyes. “You’d think they would’ve loved to tell you this, to put a fire under your ass.”

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“You’d think,” Wil laughed breathlessly. “They’re a hammer and think we’re all nails. I…I need a drink.”

“Me too,” Darlene deadpanned. “But thanks to you, I’m stuck drinking tea if I want anything more than water. Even lemonade makes me uncomfortable. Well, it makes her uncomfortable.”

It brought her condition right back into focus. Wil swallowed hard. “Then let’s…let’s get you some tea and talk.”

“Okay,” said Darlene. She punched his arm, “But you better believe you’re making the tea and spoiling me for the next forever.”

Wil smiled. “Gladly.”

He helped her downstairs and made some sweet tea. The entire time, he told Darlene everything he could about being stuck in Cloverton, and the hearing from hell. It was easier to focus on the past than the scary new future.

“Well, I’m glad you made a new friend,” said Darlene after hearing about Thomas and the Thunderhawk they built together. “You need more business minded people in your life, reminding you when you make decisions that cost you money.”

“Apparently. Seems like the only way out is to give in. If you can’t beat them, join them, right? If it’ll block the charges and keep me in the president’s good graces, then maybe I should lean in that direction a little.” He drank his coffee, wishing desperately to pour some whiskey in it.

But no, he had to face this with only his own courage. He couldn’t avoid the elephant in the room. “Are…Are you okay?” Wil asked after the silence stopped being comfortable. “I know it must’ve been hard without me, but like…are you doing okay?”

Darlene rolled her eyes. She settled in her chair, cradling her stomach. “I swear, everyone’s acting like there’s something wrong with me. I’m fine, Wil. I’m just pregnant. Thanks a lot, by the way.”

“Anytime,” said Wil. He chuckled weakly, but Darlene didn’t join him. He looked down, staring directly at her bump. “I don’t know how to react to this.”

“It was a nasty shock to me too,” she said, amused. “But at least I’ve had some time to get used to the idea. I guess the real question is, what do you plan on doing?”

The question struck him in the heart. “What do you mean, what do I plan on doing? I’m pretty sure we have to get married now, and -- “

“Oh, we have to? Way to make the prospect sound appealing,” Darlene scoffed. “I’ll marry when I’m good and ready and not a second earlier. I don’t care what some of the old biddies say about me. I’m young, my business is doing well, and I can take care of this baby with or without help and still do my job.”

There was that fire he loved about her. Not once did Wil ever doubt a thing she said. If she wanted to raise their kid alone, she’d excel at it. But the thought of it distressed him worse than he expected.

“It’ll be with me,” he said. The next thought had his throat drying up and tightening. “If you’ll have me, I mean. I don’t think I’ll ever be dragged away like this again. I plan on sticking around.”

Darlene smiled, shaking her head. “Of course I’ll have you. We already had the fun, so you might as well have to help me take care of the consequences. And I’m not…” She paused. “I’m still mad, but it’s not at you, understand?”

Wil nodded. He reached over the table and covered her hand with his. It was strange. Everything was, but especially seeing Darlene so changed, and yet the same. She looked more tired, and was obviously rounder, but she had more of a spark in her before. A wave of affection threatened to bowl him over.

“Darlene, I promise I’ll…I can’t believe I’m saying this. I’m too young to be saying this.”

“Wasn’t your dad only a year or two older than you when Jeb was born?” Darlene countered.

Wil snickered. “And you saw what happened with him. But I promise I’ll be around, and I’ll be the best father I can be. And I will follow your lead on this. The more I think about it, the more I think I want it. I really want it.”

“Well, that sure beats the alternative,” said Darlene, shaking her head fondly. “So you’ve got three months to pull your ass out of the fire and produce some results for Cloverton. Do you have any ideas on how you’re going to do things?”

Wil shrugged. “By the seat of my pants and a lot of luck. But I’ve got no doubt that with the three of us, we’ll make it happen.”

“Bram’s going to be so happy you’re back,” said Darlene. “I think he’s been struggling more than I have. He’s done everything he can to fill your shoes, you know. People rely on him now.”

“Bram? That’s fantastic.” Wil beamed, and more of the burden of the last four months faded away. “I’m going to need his help more than anyone's, I think. Thomas thinks that the key to making this work will be enchanting, and Bram’s got a memory like a bear trap. I think it’s time…”

“You don’t mean!” Darlene played along, rolling her eyes.

“I do,” said Wil. “It’s time to go over to Bram’s place and hold an immediate business meeting.”

“Okay,” said Darlene. “But let’s grab lunch along the way. If I held anything against you it’s how damned hungry I’ve been.”

Wil laughed, and his anxiety flared again, but only for a second. The future was scary and uncertain, and he’d never expected to be a father so young, but…If the past four months had taught him anything, it was that life was unpredictable. You could either try to resist it, or go along with it. Wil knew what he’d choose.