38. Opal
THIRTY-EIGHT
Opal
I want to crawl back into bed and hide from the world, but I have too much nervous energy pent up inside me. Mamaw still isn’t awake, thank goodness, because I would feel very weird trying to hide my emotions from her. Plus, she’s so intuitive she would probably know that something is wrong immediately.
I grab my phone and walk outside. The birds are singing and the sun is shining. Despite the fact that my entire life has just monumentally changed, it looks like a totally normal day.
As I anxiously pace the length of my front yard, I tap on Maisie’s name in my contacts and hold the phone up to my ear, praying that she’s awake already. She’s notorious for sleeping in.
“Good morning, bestie!” Maisie greets me with a sing-songy tone after only one ring.
“Hey,” is all I can manage to get out in response.
“What’s wrong?”
I let out a deep breath. I’m afraid to say it out loud, like somehow that’ll make it too real.
“Opal? Are you okay?”
“I’m pregnant.” The words feel weird coming out of my mouth, but somehow I say them plain as day.
Stunned silence meets me on the other end of the line, and I can just imagine her with her pouty lips hanging open. “What?! How? When? I’m gonna have to pull over for this conversation.” Another pause. “Tell me everything, immediately.”
“Not much to tell,” I shrug.
“Are you crazy? When did you find out?”
“About ten minutes ago.”
“Holy shit. Opal!” I hear Sophia mumbling in the background and Maisie tells her to hang on. “What are you going to do? Were you trying?”
“Of course not,” I roll my eyes. She should know better than anyone that these things happen. “I don’t even know how it happened. We used a condom.”
“Do you…want to have the baby?”
I fold my lips together as if I’m considering the question, even though I really don’t have to think about it. “I do.”
“Ahh!” I hear her clapping her hands and I can’t help but grin. “I’m gonna be an auntie. I’ve been waiting for this day. Didn’t think it’d come this soon, but I’m not mad. Oh my god, Sophia will have a cousin!”
I chuckle. “Yeah. I’m scared, but…I’ve always dreamed of being a mom.”
“So, did you tell Ian yet?”
My breath catches in my throat. “Well, no.”
“Tell him! He’s a good guy, he’ll do the right thing.”
I gulp, closing my eyes and bracing for impact. “It’s not Ian’s.”
“Huh?” She’s silent for a moment, probably doing the math in her head. “Shit…”
“Yeah,” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“I knew it!” I don’t say anything, but my silence speaks for itself. “Holy crap. Dude, you’re having Alex’s baby?”
“Don’t sound too excited about it,” I say sarcastically.
“You need to tell him.”
I groan. “I will, but I don’t want to yet.”
“Why not? What if he decides to skip town again and go on another tour? You need to tell him.”
My stomach gurgles in protest, and I’m not sure if it’s more morning sickness or just anxiety. What if she’s right? Oh god.
“I don’t know what to say. I don’t even have his number.”
“Isn’t he staying at his dad’s house? Walk fifty feet and knock on his door.”
“That doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“Yeah, well, neither was getting you pregnant by accident, but here we are.”
A giggle escapes me despite how twisted up I feel.
“Go do it. Seriously, you should do it today, get it off your chest.”
“You think?”
“Yes. I’d come with you, but I’m bringing Sophia to a doctor’s appointment right now.”
I look up at the sky. “Ugh. I can’t believe this is actually happening.”
“I know, it’s fucking terrifying, but I’m a strong believer that stuff happens for a reason.”
Easy for her to say. She was born into a wealthy family that spoils the heck out of her and Sophia. And I love that for her, truly, but my situation isn’t quite the same.
“Okay, I’ll do it. I guess,” I groan.
“Call me as soon as you get back home. I gotta go, I love you.”
“Love you, too.”