21. Mia
Mia
The couch orgasm got me through getting ready and the majority of the way to my parents’ house, but about ten minutes away the panic started to creep back in, and my leg bounces as we pull through the gated driveway.
I’ve repeated the words I want to say to my parents over and over again. My only hesitation is when to say it. If I do it first thing, then we have more time to talk about it, which could be a good or a bad thing.
Adam takes my hand and places a kiss on the back of it. “It’s going to be okay.”
I nod, but feel like I could just crawl out of my skin. What a duality… Arguably, Adam and I are more than equipped to raise this baby. Our conversation this morning was the extra reassurance I needed.
Our relationship may be extremely fresh, but the way we feel about each other is strong. We’re both responsible and realistic. We can financially support this baby and each other. We haven’t said “I love you” yet, but I’d like to think that’s not too far off.
Hell, I’m rationalizing with myself again. Save it for your parents, Mia.
When Adam puts the car in park, I take two deep breaths.
Looking out the window, the grand Victorian home taunts me. I never thought my parents’ perfect life was intimidating until now. At the end of the day, having this baby isn’t the end of the world, but I don’t know if that will exactly connect with my parents.
To be fair, it’s still settling for myself—I’m just trying to focus on the positives.
“You ready?” Adam squeezes my thigh.
“Are you?”
He chuckles. “No, but it doesn’t really matter.”
It really doesn’t.
Adam opens my door, and before even making it up the porch, my mom is hurrying out to greet us.
“Hi, you’re here.” She wraps me in a hug. “I’m so happy you called and finally brought Adam.”
My mom moves to him and thankfully sticks out her hand instead of going in for a big hug off the bat. “I’m Lynn. Mia’s told us a bit about you, but she’s not a big sharer.”
Adam smiles, taking my mom’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” His eyes drift to me. “You have a pretty incredible daughter.”
Despite my anxiety, that one gets me to smile.
My mom, however, eats it up to the max. “Oh, Mia, I love him already. He’s such a charmer.” She clasps her hands together and looks at us in complete and utter awe.
I hate how that look is most likely about to be crushed. I do want my parents’ support, but I also want them to like Adam.
I want them to see how much I like him too.
“Should we go in? Where’s Dad?”
Mom blinks out of her trance. “I guess we should get started. It’s a lovely spring day so we decided to have brunch on the terrace. Your dad’s waiting for us out there.”
When she spins on her heels to walk inside, I know I have to follow, but my legs feel broken.
Adam must feel my hesitation because his hand comes to my lower back, and he kisses my temple. “It’s going to be okay, honey.”
I want to believe that’s true, because I want the best-case scenario here.
Adam follows close behind me, and once we reach the back door to the terrace, I reach for his hand and squeeze.
Mom walks out first and makes a big show. “Look who I found out front!”
Dad laughs. “What are the odds? You’ve only been staring out the window for ten minutes.”
Yeah, that doesn’t surprise me.
“Hi, darling, you look beautiful today.”
“Thank you.” A small bit of my stress eases in his hug, but I pull back and turn to Adam. “Dad, this is—”
“Adam Reyer,” my dad finishes for me as he steps up to shake Adam’s hand. “I’ve been a Blues fan since I was a kid, but I have to admit I haven’t seen games as enjoyable as this last season in a long while.”
“Thank you, sir.” Adam nods. “That’s good to hear. Olsson’s really turned the whole program around.”
“I can tell.” My dad turns as my mom comes to his side. “And please, call me Patrick. We’re so glad you both could make brunch.”
Boy, are we about to make him regret those words.
My mom leans into my dad—they are the epitome of a perfect couple. “We really are. It’s so nice to see our Mia so happy. She has this glow to her.”
Bile climbs up my throat. I don’t know if I can actually do this.
I thought telling our friends first would help, but I was wrong.
Of course, they were supportive—it’s Adam; his team is his family.
But this is mine, and I’m about to burst their bubble of the daughter who was taught all things socially acceptable and the weight of responsibility.
Adam’s hand comes to the small of my back. I’m not even sure I have the capacity to make it to my seat.
“I’m pregnant.”
Silence.
We got it with the team too, but an argument could be made that I’ve shocked the birds in our backyard into silence as well.
My mom sputters a weak laugh. “Ta-ha, Mia, dear, you’ve never really been one for pranks, so if this is your first, I don’t think it’s your style.”
“No, I’m not kidding. I’m having a baby.” I look from my stunned parents to Adam. “I’m sorry, it just came out. I don’t think I’ve ever just blurted something out before…”
Especially something this big.
Adam gives me a sympathetic smile. “Nothing to be sorry for.”
“So, you’re having a baby?” my dad parrots, then slowly points to Adam. “His baby?”
“Yes.”
Dad nods with a click of his tongue. “Okay, liking you less now.”
“That’s fair,” Adam agrees, but I sure as hell don’t.
“No, it’s not. Adam and I are both adults. Yes, this is big news, but please let me explain. I had a much better way of telling you, but I panicked.”
My mom tosses her hands up with a small clap. Tears start to well in her eyes as she pulls me in for a hug. “We’re going to have a grandbaby…this is good news, Patrick.” She pulls back, cupping my face. “You really are glowing, my love. It’s almost like I could tell.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, but can only give her a smile in response. I really don’t want to cry. I need to show them I’m confident in my decision to have this baby. I need them to see only their perfect daughter who is ready for everything that’s thrown at her.
My dad steps around to my side. “Of course, this is good news, just also…shocking.”
I huff in amusement. “You’re telling us. Believe me, neither of us expected this to happen. We were…responsible.”
Why does telling people I’m pregnant suck so much? Attention, everyone, we had sex, but it was an accident, I swear. It’s not exactly helping my wish to appear perfect to my parents, but in our defense, we really were safe.
My mom waves her hand. “Oh, let’s not discuss that… Come, sit. Let’s eat and celebrate.”
Celebrate might be a strong word for how this actually feels, but I’ll take her enthusiasm. Although, I’m not entirely convinced it’s going to stay throughout the entire meal.
Taking our seats, my dad hovers behind Mom’s chair that he pulled out. “So, Mia, do you want to talk about your plans moving forward, or is this a shut up and accept it meal?”
My heart sinks. I can handle my mom being upset, but it’s clearly written on my dad’s face that he’s the one not taking this well.
Dammit, of course he’s upset. He just handed over a whole business to me.
I should have prepped for this more. I can handle my mom’s disapproval, but my dad’s… not so much.
“Dad, I know you’re disappointed…”
“What? No, he’s not—” Mom whips her head to him. “He shouldn’t be.”
But he is.
Sighing, he finally takes his seat across from Adam. “I’m sorry, Mia, I just—I have to admit, this is the last thing I expected you to say. You’re always so…”
The gut punch I feel when he trails off is enough to have me tightening my grip on Adam’s hand. Does he really think I was just careless about this? Even if I was, what does it matter? He should know I’m capable of handling it.
“With all due respect, sir,” Adam starts, and my heart rate spikes.
“This genuinely was something neither of us anticipated. I have so much respect for your daughter. I won’t make assumptions for your trailing off on that sentence, but I’ll finish it for you.
Mia is capable of handling every situation she’s put in.
I understand the shock—believe me, I do.
Yes, we were safe. Mia and I have asked every how, when, where, and why question already, but we’re here now.
I will take care of her, but not because she needs me to—because I want to be with her. ”
I can’t bring myself to look away from the man next to me. With every word, my breathing evens, and my heart rate drops back down to normal.
My dad leans back in his chair, shaking his head. “No, now, that’s not fair. You don’t get to have me liking you after telling me you accidentally got my daughter pregnant.” He scoffs, “Have me feeling like I’m the asshole here.”
Folding my lips together, I contain my smile. Mom, however, gives Dad a look, then shrugs. “I mean, you said it, not us.”
Dad wraps his arm around her chair, and I can’t help but see a bit of how Adam looks at me in the way my dad looks at my mom. When his attention comes back to me, I fight to not hold my breath.
God knows fainting here would be catastrophic. I’d never get my mother to give me space after that.
“Look, I’m so proud of you, Mia, and always will be.
It’s not the idea of you having a baby that upsets me either—I know how capable you are, but even with all our resources, our family help, and as hands-on as I was—I know the sacrifices your mom made.
You’re my daughter, and I will always want the very best for you—”
“I personally think this will be a blessing in disguise,” my mom cuts in.
My stomach turns in knots. I know part of her excitement had to have come from the idea that I’d pull back on my business, but that’s not what I want. Yes, sacrifices will be made, but my business won’t suffer, it just may operate a little differently.