Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
M ore than ever, Becca felt excitement and terror at the same time. The fear didn’t come from having to break the news to Christopher, it suddenly hit her that she was going to be a mother. She imagined her fears were no different than other women. She excused her apprehension as a normal reaction to her new reality.
“So why did Mom come over and then leave the minute I got here? My birthday is months away, so you can’t be planning a surprise party for me,” Christopher teased, as he got a bottle of water from the refrigerator.
He joined Becca in the living room and sat next to her on the sofa.
Becca smiled. “Very funny. No. We’re not planning a surprise party, but I do have a surprise for you. So, I’m glad you’re sitting down.”
“Before we talk about that, did you get tested today?”
“What?”
“Emily’s kidney transplant? Remember, you were going to get tested at Tufts? Did you go?”
“No, I didn’t get tested.”
“Becca! I thought we talked about this…you said you’d get tested at work. Time is running out…Emily…”
“I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice steady and firm.
The matter-of-fact tone surprised even her. It wasn’t how she planned to share the news, but she needed to end his constant lectures about the kidney test once and for all. More than anything, she wanted to get to the part where they celebrated the good news.
“What? I thought…”
“That we said we’d wait because of school?”
“Exactly. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Becca shrugged. “It was, at least, before I found out I was pregnant. Now…” She put her hand to her belly. “I couldn’t be happier…a little scared, but happy. What about you?”
Christopher’s face lit up like it was Christmas. “You know this is what I’ve wanted. I didn’t want to push you, but it’s been my dream to be a dad. If you’re happy, then this is the best news. I’m going to be a dad,” he said.
Suddenly, it hit him what was before them. “Wait. What about school?”
“That’s exactly what my first thought was too, and now you know why your mother was here. I freaked out as soon as I took the tests.”
“Tests?”
“I took three different pregnancy tests, because I couldn’t believe it, and I wanted to be sure before I said anything. When the third test came back positive, I was scared to death. I was going to talk to you about my fears, but…well, don’t be offended, but I thought you might freak out too.”
“Geez, thanks a lot. I thought I was your rock.”
Becca laughed. “Well, this was news neither of us had ever been confronted with, and I wasn’t sure how you’d react.”
“When did you take the test?”
“A little over a week ago.”
“You’ve known for over a week? No wonder…”
“No wonder?” she asked.
“Yeah, Lauren thought something was going on with you. I said you were probably just tired from work. I had no idea, but my sister could sense something was off, and she was right. Wait until I tell her.”
“No. Chris, I don’t want the rest of the family to know until I call my dad and brothers. Your mother knows, but I want to tell everyone else later. I think my family should be told first. It will make my dad feel special.”
“Of course. Whatever you want. Let’s call them in the morning.”
“Thanks for understanding, and there’s something else I’d like to do. I want to go home to Captiva for Christmas. It’s going to be a special one this year, and I want to be with my family.”
“Mom will be in heaven having us in Captiva for Christmas. I won’t say anything to her until we talk to your father tomorrow.”
Christopher reached for Becca and pulled her close. Her head rested on his shoulder, and she closed her eyes.
“I can’t believe we’re going to have a baby,” she said.
“It’s a blessing, Becca. This child came to us without us trying to conceive. I believe this baby is a gift.”
“I hadn’t looked at it that way, Chris, but I think you’re right.”
She pulled back and looked him in the eye.
“Could you have believed that first day when I met you on the beach that we’d be having a family of our own one day?”
Christopher shook his head. “I’ll tell you what I can’t believe to this day. That you won that volleyball game.”
“What are you talking about? Your team lost because we outplayed you.”
“Outplayed? I don’t think so. You had a few good shots, but you got lucky.”
“Lucky? That’s what losers always say. It was skill. I was a better player than you and you still can’t take it.”
Becca and Christopher walked into the kitchen to get dinner ready, having the same argument they’d had for years.
“Mom? Where are you?” Kat called out from the side of the building.
“Back here,” he mother answered.
“What are you doing?”
“Pruning roses. What do you think of these?” she asked, proud of her flowers.
“They’re beautiful. How did you get them to grow so fast?”
“Don’t be silly. These were here when I bought the place. They’re mine now so I feel a certain responsibility to make sure they don’t die.”
She lowered her voice and tilted her head in her neighbor’s direction.
“She moved in before I did, but I think my roses look better, don’t you?” her mother whispered.
“Absolutely. What are you doing that she isn’t?”
Her mother took her arm and pulled Kat to the side of the building.
“I use coffee grounds in the soil,” she whispered.
“Mom, your neighbor isn’t anywhere in the vicinity. She can’t hear you.”
Her mother snickered. “Ha! Don’t let the fact that you don’t see her fool you. She’s always looking out the window. I caught her watching me in the garden a couple of weeks ago, so now I go out before the sun comes up and put my morning coffee grounds in. Can you imagine having someone surveil my every move? She’d have to get up pretty early in the morning to get ahead of me.”
Kat smiled at her mother’s efforts, seeing the humor in the playful competition. She couldn’t help but laugh at the image of her mother sneaking out in the pre-dawn light, determined to win a silent battle of wits.
“Speaking of coffee, do you have a few minutes to have a cup with me?” Kat asked.
“You want coffee? I was just thinking of making a pot of tea. Which would you prefer?”
“Oh, tea would be great.”
Her mother bent down to pick up her scissors and basket, but Kat stopped her.
“Mom, let me get those.”
“Thank you, Kat.”
“Leave that outside on the bench so I can get it when I go back outside. Come in the kitchen and have a seat. I’ll get the tea started.”
Kat did as her mother instructed, and then walked around the living room before joining her in the kitchen.
“Whatever happened to your Hummels? I remember you had tons of them inside the hutch.”
“Yard sale! I got rid of everything. No one collects those things anymore, and the grandkids didn’t want them. Just as well…less for me to dust.”
“I should follow your lead on that. I’ve got too much clutter at my house.”
“Wait until you throw that stuff out. It’s very freeing.”
Her mother sat across from her and looked her in the eye. “So, you want to tell me why you’re here? You and your sister don’t usually stop by just for a cup of tea.”
“In all fairness, Mom, I don’t live here.”
“You know what I mean. Am I right? Do you have something on your mind?”
The tea kettle whistled, and her mother got up to pour the water into the teapot. Letting it steep, she returned to the table.
“I’m not sure if you knew this, but Nolan came to Captiva to see me.”
“That sounds like progress to me. How did that go?”
Kat nodded. “It was good. I’m glad he came. We talked about some things and then went parasailing.”
“Parasailing? Isn’t that the thing where you go up in the sky while the boat pulls you? Are you crazy?”
“I have to say it was somewhere between terrifying and exhilarating.”
“So, where do the two of you stand now? Are you going back home?”
“No. Nolan left and I’m staying here for a while.”
Kat waited for her mother’s reaction, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, her mother went to the counter and continued preparing the tea.
“Mom, I told Nolan that I needed to stay here a bit longer to figure out why I’m feeling the way I do. I thought you and I might spend more time together while I’m here. You and I have hardly talked in years. I’d like us to hang out together…maybe go shopping, or to the movies. Maybe even sit on the beach and talk. We can ask Maggie to join us when she gets back.”
She felt nervous and awkward talking to her mother this way, but if things were going to change in her life, she needed to have a different relationship with her mother and sister.
Her mother nodded. “I’d like that, Kat. You’re not going to blame your childhood or that I was a bad mother for the problems in your marriage, are you?”
Kat smiled and shook her head. “No, Mom. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t take the blame anyway.”
“Good. How about a cookie? My neighbor Debra made them. They’re not as good as mine, but they’ll do in a pinch.”
Becca couldn’t wait to call her father. Crawford Powell, her step-mother, Ciara, and her brothers, Luke, Joshua and Finn, meant everything to her. She knew they’d be excited to hear the news that she was going to have a baby.
Although early in the morning, she and Christopher decided to call before Powell Water Sports opened for the day. Once the tourists entered the store, it would be impossible to pull them away from the customers,
She decided to text them first, so that they could all join the video call. When everyone was ready, she placed the call.
“Hey honey. How’s my best girl?” her father asked.
“I’m doing great,” she answered.
“Is Chris with you?”
“I’m here!”
“Hey, Chris!” Luke and Joshua yelled from the background.
“Dad, I’ll have to call Finn later. He texted me and said he couldn’t make it.”
“So, tell us what’s going on? It must be something big for you to call this early.”
Becca smiled at Christopher and then looked at the screen. “Chris and I are going to have a baby. I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Crawford said. “My baby is having a baby?”
Luke and Joshua screamed in the background. “Congratulations, you guys. Is it a boy? We’re asking because we need more boys in this family,” Luke teased.
“I’m thrilled for you, sweetie, but what about school? How are you going to handle that?”
Becca shrugged. “We’re just going to take it day by day. I’m not putting school off. I’ve waited so long to go to medical school, but I’m also excited for the baby.”
“We don’t know how her pregnancy will be, but she’s not alone. My family will take good care of her.”
“Nothing like becoming a mom before I’m a pediatrician,” Becca joked.
“You got that right. Listen, honey, you’re a strong woman. I know you’ll do just fine. You both know that you can call me if you need anything, right?”
Becca and Chris both nodded. “We know. Thanks, Dad. Oh, by the way. We’re going to have Thanksgiving here but plan to come down to Captiva for Christmas this year.”
“Fantastic. I’m so glad. This will be a special Christmas for all of us.”
“I’ve got to go, Dad. I’ve got to get to the hospital, and I better call Finn. We love you guys.”
“Love you both,” Crawford responded, with Luke and Joshua giving them a thumbs up behind their father.
Whatever anxieties Becca had in the days leading up to calling her father were gone for good. There was nothing more to do, but call her brother Finn, and then let Christopher’s family know.
The latter would have to wait a few more days, just long enough to get the results on everyone’s tests. No matter how things played out, their family could use some good news.