12. Chapter Twelve ~ Emma
Chapter Twelve ~ Emma
Is this all our relationship is going to be now? Just talking about my doctors’ appointments and the family I still haven’t told about any of this?
Is he really not interested in me at all anymore?
Maybe it’s just about the baby and now … now he expects me to be like … a live-in nanny.
The idea definitely doesn’t sound very appealing. Though I have to admit that getting to know him better has been good. But how long until he decides he wants someone else because he no longer wants me?
I sigh and he looks over at me sharply.
“Is everything all right?”
“It’s fine,” I reply, but I stand up as well. I don’t expect him to want sex all the time, though to be honest he always did before I told him I was pregnant. But still. “I’m going to go grab a new book,” I tell him, hurrying back to my room.
Once I’m there I hesitate a moment and wander into the bathroom, slipping off the jeans and top I’m wearing so I can take a closer look at myself.
I don’t look pregnant. At least, I don’t think I do. Maybe I am a little bit softer than normal. Or maybe there’s some puffiness in my face? I can’t quite tell and I’m definitely not the most objective judge. My clothes seem like they fit all right though. So what is it that he doesn’t like anymore?
Maybe it was always just a means to an end.
And as the days go by and he continues to show absolutely no interest I start to wonder, because now my clothes are fitting a little bit differently. I can still wear them but I can also tell that they’re not quite as comfortable. And it’s getting to be time to tell people. At least the ones closest to me. Which is why I’m getting nervous.
“Hey Mom, where are you going?” I ask as I pull up to the house and see her rushing out the door.
“Oh, I forgot to get Leann’s medicine when I was at the store. She’s still got a couple days but I don’t like to let it get too low.”
“Why don’t I grab it?”
“Oh, it’s fine. I’ll run out and you and Leann can catch up a bit until I get home.”
“Sure, yeah,” I agree, but I’m wondering just how I’m going to make small talk with Leann without telling her everything. And I only want to say this once.
Not that I’m going to tell them about the agreement with Chris. Just the things they need to know.
Still, I watch her drive off and head into the house.
“I really am fine staying home alone!” Leann calls from the other room and I walk in with a laugh.
“Well I’m an unpaid babysitter so I guess that’s going to have to do.”
“Emma! Hey, I was wondering when you were going to come by again. It’s been days.” She seems excited to see me and when she looks me over there’s no hint of suspicion or anything; so maybe she can’t tell that I’m pregnant, but Chris obviously can.
The bitter thought makes me frown but I quickly cover that and sink onto the couch where my sister already has a movie playing.
“The Notebook again?”
“Hey, I happen to like it.”
“You don’t care about the movie. You just think Ryan Gosling is hot.”
She grins and shrugs at that but turns back to the movie and I can’t help but laugh. Though I don’t mind too much because I like the movie as well.
“How’s school been?”
“Same as always. I started the process of running for class president. I’ve got some people helping me with a campaign and they’re going to have a debate next week.”
“Are you prepared for it?”
“As prepared as you can be for a debate, I guess,” she agrees.
The store isn’t far from the house so it’s less than an hour before Mom is back and then it’s time to make my announcement. Before I lose my nerve.
“So, I actually came over here for a reason,” I tell them and both look up at me with confusion on their faces.
“Since when do you need a reason?” Mom asks and I draw in a deep breath.
“Just … let me say it, all right?”
“What’s wrong? Are you sick? Are you hurt?” Immediately she’s in Mama Bear mode, like she is with Leann and the general confusion on both their faces turns to concern.
“No. I’m not sick. I’m not hurt. Just let me say what I need to say, okay?”
They look at each other and then back at me but nod silently and I have to steady myself yet again before I can get the words out of my mouth. “I’m pregnant.”
There’s complete silence in response to my words. Both of them stare at me, open-mouthed. But that only lasts a moment before Leann squeals and jumps up, throwing her arms around me in a huge hug that makes me laugh despite myself.
“Pregnant …” Mom repeats the word slowly, still staring. “I didn’t even know you were seeing someone. And for it to be so serious, why did you never tell us you were dating?”
“It … we just …” I wasn’t prepared for this question even though I should have been and I see the way Mom’s lips purse together. “We’ve been together for a little bit now but … we were keeping things kind of … low key,” I manage to get out.
“Low key. So low key that you couldn’t even tell your own mother? And now you’re pregnant so you had to come clean?”
“Well, it is a little sooner than we had intended to tell people,” I reply, though that’s not entirely true. We never really planned out how we were going to tell people.
“You weren’t being safe.” The words aren’t a question. It’s a disapproving statement and I shrug.
“We’re happy with the news.”
“I’m happy with the news, too!” Leann squeals, wrapping me in another hug.
“It’s not that I’m not happy, Emma. I am happy for you I just … I worry that you and this guy have jumped into things too quickly. Having a baby is a big responsibility and I don’t want it to cause problems for you.”
“It’s not,” I reply firmly and she hesitates a moment but then gives a tentative smile.
“Then I’m happy for you. I am.” She gives me a hug and for a moment it feels like everything is right with the world. Now my mother and my sister know, not quite the truth but … they know something about what’s going on at least and that’s a start.
“So, tell me everything about this guy,” Leann says finally, sinking back onto the couch, legs crossed, an eager look on her face.
Mom is sitting back in her chair with an interested gaze as well, though perhaps not quite as eager as Leann. Still, they both want to know and I try to think just what I can say about Chris that won’t give away too much.
“He’s very outspoken, stubborn, kind of intense.”
“Is he cute?”
“He is gorgeous,” I admit and Mom smiles while Leann squeals yet again.
“And he’s smart?” Mom interjects.
“He’s a business owner. A good business. It’s doing pretty well.”
“A business owner sounds good. He makes enough to support you both?”
“I’m still working, Mom,” I protest.
“Of course, but he’s not one of those fly-by-night business owners that could fold any minute?”
“No. He’s a successful business owner. His place makes good money and has been for several years.”
I don’t really know when the club was started, but I know he’s been there at least five years because one of the women that I talk to a lot says she’s been there for five years. And Mom looks more comfortable with the idea that at least he’s successful.
“So, he’s smart, he’s gorgeous, he’s a business owner; when do we get to meet him?” Leann asks and I have to quickly shake my head.
“It’s not a good time, right now. He’s been really busy with work stuff and now the baby … it’s … it’ll be a little while.” Or a long while because, to be honest, I’ll be perfectly fine if the three of them never meet.
Of course, that’s stupid. Because there’s no way to keep them from ever meeting. Especially with a baby on the way.
But I’m still going to stall that meeting as long as I can. Definitely until I’m feeling more certain about just what is actually going on with us; because right now, I don’t know what all of it means.
“You better come up with a time to meet him or I’m going to just show up on your doorstep,” Leann promises and I manage a small smile anyway.
“Right.”
By the time I get back to the house, I’m feeling slightly better from talking to my family. But also more than a little anxious because I know that Chris wonders about them as well. And I don’t really want to tell him, well, anything.
The conditions that my mom and sister live in become even more apparent every time I step foot in this house. And even though I used my first allowance from Chris to pay up their bills (getting everything on time for the first time in ages), it wasn’t enough to also start upgrading the stuff in the house. That will come later.
For now, I rush to my own room to get ready for work tonight. Everything seems to be going okay. I just have to wait and see what’s going to happen next.