Melvin slung an arm around Otis's shoulder, wearing a look of exaggerated disappointment.
"Come on, man, what'd you do to upset her this time? Keep it up and she'll leave you for good!"
"And sis, don't take it personally. My boy here's hopeless with women. Let me set him straight for you!"
Otis shoved him off, his tone sharp. "What are you two doing here?"
His gaze lingered on Vivian for a split second. He was clearly annoyed that Melvin had brought her into the house.
Melvin only faltered for a moment before breaking into a grin.
"I came to share some big news. My wife's pregnant. Three weeks along. Just found out today. You two are the first people I wanted to tell."
I looked at Vivian's flat stomach, and something inside me went cold.
A life was already growing in there. Their child.
And all I could think about was the one I'd lost.
Three months ago, Otis had taken me on a trip. On the way, a drunk driver slammed into us and I ended up in the hospital.
My baby, nine months along, didn't survive. The damage to my uterus was so severe they had to remove it entirely.
I would never be a mother. Not in this lifetime.