Chapter 29

                                    

                                          
Carina whipped her head back and forth between the two women waiting for one of them to say more. She tried to read their body language, but neither best friend looked particularly happy or sad. "Well?" she yelled, not able to wait any longer.
                          
"You first," Maya said softly. Tears had completely overwhelmed Andy's eyes. Carina and Maya knew her answer before she could even spit his name out. Maya stood up and wrapped her arms around Andy's neck from behind her chair, she rested her head onto her best friend's shoulder and just held her. "It's Ryan, isn't it?"
                          
"Yeah," Andy whispered, "it is." Carina moved over to the two friends and squatted next to them. She stroked the back of Andy's head while Maya still held her tightly. 
                          
Maya broke the silence, "Is this what you hoped for?" Andy lifted her head and glared at Maya. "Sorry, that came out wrong. I know it's not what you wanted. How do you feel?"
                          
Andy wiped away her tears and slowly nodded her head up and down. "He would have been the best dad. I'm going to make sure our baby knows that. If he was still with us, our baby would never doubt his love. If it was Robert's, my child would always be wondering what they did wrong for their dad to leave. I am going to make sure mine and Ryan's child knows how much their dad would have done to stay here with us."
                          
"Andy, that's beautiful," Carina said. "I never knew Ryan, but it is clear the love and admiration you two had for one another was very real. Your baby feels that. Trust me."
                          
Andy looked up at Carina and whispered, 'Thank you." Maya was crying at this point, too. She had known Ryan for several years and had never fully grieved his loss. Now, she was reliving it right alongside her best friend. 
                          
"Bambina, your turn."
                          
Andy added, "Yeah, Bishop, are you my new boss or what?"
                          
Maya ran to the couch and buried her face in the cushions. She laid on her stomach and kicked her legs up and down, very childlike. Andy and Carina looked at each other quizzically before making their way to the living room to get an answer out of her. "Maya?" both women asked in unison.
                          
The blonde took a huge breath before turning over and laying flat on her back and staring at the ceiling. "Sorry," she said. "I just had to let out the anxiety that has been filling me up for the past week and a half."
                          
Andy and Carina didn't question it and joined her on the couch. Maya rested her feet in Andy's lap and her head onto Carina's. The Italian leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Bella, don't keep us waiting anymore."
                          
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "Captain Bishop. It has a nice ring to it."
                          
Andy let out a loud scream before saying, "Thank God! I don't think I could have handled Jack as my boss. I am so proud of you, Maya."
                          
Carina leaned forward and whispered into Maya's ear, "I knew you could do it, bambina." She kissed Maya's lips lightly, saving a deeper and more passionate kiss for later when they were alone.
                          
"Holy shit," Maya breathed out. Reality was finally setting in and the panic started to envelope her. Carina noticed the shift in Maya's body language. She became tense and small beads of sweat started to form on her pale forehead. 
                          
"Maya, breathe," Carina said. She reached for her hand and Maya squeezed it tightly and closed her eyes. 
                          
Carina gave wide eyes to Andy and silently encouraged her to speak up, "Bishop, you got this," Andy reassured her. "You are a leader. We will follow you, we've got your back." Maya slowly blinked her eyes open as her breathing slowed. 
                          
"Let's just enjoy the news tonight and we can talk more about what this means tomorrow once you hear more at work. Okay, bella?" 
                          
Maya turned her body into the couch and nuzzled into Carina's chest. Andy held her legs tightly and leaned into them. "God, life sure has changed these past two months."