Chapter 24
It’s been three days since I found out I was pregnant. Grant and I will be parents, and I can’t seem to wrap my mind around it all.
After letting the thought seep into my mind, I finally called my parents, asking them to meet us in the city this weekend. I wanted to tell them, but I felt strongly that they needed to hear the news in person. Grant did the same, and now I’m sitting, pulling the clear polish off my nails, nervous about seeing both my parents and Grant’s mother, Grace.
I don’t see why I’ve got a knot in my belly about this, but I feel like nothing in life has gone as planned. I didn’t see myself starting a journey into motherhood right now, and yet, it feels right. But, no matter what age you are, telling your parents you’re expecting feels strange. Especially because Grant and I have never been a couple in their eyes.
I’m in the middle of my spiral when the doorbell rings, and Grant walks from the kitchen to the front door while I slowly get up off the couch.
Smoothing out my jeans, which in no way need smoothing, I walk toward the foyer to see Grace walking through the threshold with Rick behind her. She’s got the same smile as Becca, welcoming and kind, and I feel at peace seeing her happiness radiating off her.
The way she looks at Grant, I can see the love she holds for her child. To think I will soon have my own child and look at them in such a way really is something I look forward to. She finishes hugging Grant, then spots me and moves toward me with her arms outstretched.
“Oh, Laney. You look amazing. You’re radiating. Winter seems to agree with you while I’m feeling like my hands are drier than snakes, and my old lady muscles are more sore by the hour.” She chuckles, and I smile at her comments.
Much like Becca, Grace Stanley is someone who has taken life’s hardships and made the best of them. They are both fun to be around and extremely nurturing. I give Grace a lot of credit for how Becca brought me under her wing. I know that the way Grace cared for Becca impacted the way Grant’s older sister cared for those around her when they needed it most.
I pull away, and the smile on my face grows.
“I guess it does. My parents aren’t here yet. How was the train ride?”
“Oh, easy. I started a new book, and it felt like no time passed, and we were already in the city.” She begins to pull on her scarf while Rick makes his way inside and greets me with a quick hug.
“Why don’t we grab a quick snack while we wait for Laney’s parents. They should be here shortly, right Lane?” Grant asks.
“Yeah. She said her Uber was close when she last texted.” Grant’s mom and Rick went to Becca’s place to see the twins real quickly, dropping off their bags.
“Wonderful. I spoke to your mom earlier, and she assured me you’re both okay, so my curiosity is piqued as to why we were summoned,” Grace says as she grabs some coffee from the Nespresso machine.
“You weren’t summoned, Mom. We simply wanted everyone together. It’s been a while.” Grant is horrible at lying, and this is a true example of that.
“Right, because the few weeks since the holidays feel like a lifetime ago. Plus, that week you just spent at my house really wasn’t a lot of bonding time, right, Son?” Grace deadpans, knowing her son is full of crap.
Rick laughs, knowing we are up to something, yet I doubt a pregnancy is on their radars.
We sit at the kitchen table, the house quiet as Ellie and the kids are out—Tyler with his girlfriend and her girls at a birthday party. Ellie will be back shortly after she drops them off. Hopefully, by the time she returns, we will have filled the parents in on everything we recently found out.
Chatting about Grant’s next trip for work, which he will be leaving for in a few days despite him trying to back out of it, we hear about all the photographs he’s planning to take on his next adventure. Pulling out his phone, he’s sharing photos of the resort where he’s staying, explaining where he’ll be and how far he’ll be from the locations he needs to photograph.
Grant was able to postpone his departure date, but I didn’t let him fully back out of his commitment to this project. He’s been waiting forever to work with this company and showcase his work for them, so it’s an opportunity I couldn’t allow him to step away from. Luckily, after I explained I was fine here with my sister and his, he finally relented and will go for the needed days to get his work done.
Grant’s in a discussion about the cuisine he heard about at a local restaurant he’ll be near when the front door opens, and my mother calls out for us.
I head to the front and find both my parents removing their layers of clothes and putting their bags by the door. Their trip here will be for a few days, then they’re heading out to Florida to see some friends who moved there recently. My mom said she’s ready for some warm weather because the Nebraska winter has been harsh this year.
“My Laney, sweetie. How are you?” My mom hugs me and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek. The moment I feel her arms around me, I close my eyes and soak in her love. Something about my mother’s embrace brings a calm to my nerves.
“Hey, quit hogging my daughter. I need to say hi too.” My dad practically pushes his way through, this being a part of their regular banter when they see either of their daughters.
“Oh, hush, Kirk. You’ll get time with her. Let me say my hellos, and you can have your time with her.” She smiles; my parents never lose that playful side with one another.
Once my dad gives me a huge hug, lifting me off the ground like he did when I was still a little girl, we make our way into the kitchen. The moment everyone greets one another, it dawns on me that the time has come, and we have to tell them our big news.
Grant must sense my anxiety and comes over to pull a chair out for me to sit. He sits next to me and puts his palm on my thigh, a quick squeeze indicating he’s here for me and we’ll be okay. At least, that’s how I’m interpreting his physical touch at the moment.
Grant clears his throat, taking the lead for me as I feel like I’ve lost my voice all of a sudden.
“Thanks for coming over on such short notice, everyone. Laney and I appreciate it.”
At those words, my mom takes a huge intake of breath and looks over at Grace, both of their smiles sneaking across their faces.
I hear one of them whisper, “Here we go,” and they grab onto one another’s hand over the table, then bring their gazes back to us.
I internally roll my eyes. Since we were in diapers, these two have been waiting for this day. I guess we’ll be giving them more than us dating—we’re giving them a grandchild too.
I hear Grant chuckle, probably having the same train of thought. “As I was saying, we appreciate you being here. Laney and I have some news.” He pauses, and I can feel the crimson wave of color splashing across my cheeks.
“I’M PREGNANT!” I yell.
I can see Grant’s head whip in my direction. Yeah, I sort of went off-script just now. The nerves got the best of me. I look over at him apologetically as I know we hadn’t planned for it to come out that way, but I couldn’t take the way everyone was holding their breath. We had planned on easing them into the news, first sharing that we were dating and then moving toward the pregnancy announcement. I was adamant I needed to ease them into news, yet I caved so quickly.
The moment the words are out, I hear the scrape of the chairs against the wood flooring, and both mothers are jumping up and down, screaming. I hear a lot of, “OH MY GOD! ARE YOU SERIOUS? A BABY?” being thrown out and echoing off the kitchen walls.
My father, the carefree, lovable guy I’m used to seeing, is looking at Grant with an expression I can’t read. Oh no, he’s mad. That’s all I can think of.
“Kirk, sweetie, we’re going to be grandparents again! Isn’t that amazing?” My mother can’t contain her excitement.
“It’s definitely something, Jana, that’s for sure.” His gaze is more like a glare at Grant right now, and I’m not sure how to react. I am thirty years old, and I think I can make my own decisions and take my life in whatever direction I find fit. This can’t be that surprising.
Both mothers are making their way over toward us, each one embracing us and saying how excited they are. Tears are flowing down their cheeks, and it’s hard not to have the same reaction. My hormones have been all over the place, and it’s difficult to suppress any emotions I’m having anymore.
Finally, the mothers settle down, and Rick makes his way over, shaking Grant’s hand in congratulations and giving me a hug that takes only a little of the edge off, with my father still not giving us much of a reaction.
Once everyone calms down, all focus goes to my father, who is sitting and looking at us, mostly staring at Grant still with an expression I can’t quite get a feel for.
He finally stands and walks over toward us. I stand quietly, waiting to see what he says.
“My baby is having a baby?” he says, unshed tears in his eyes.
I feel the lump in my throat and can’t seem to get past it, so I nod, a smile gracing my features because I can’t help but feel so much love for this little being inside me right now.
He’s holding my shoulders and looking me in the eyes, really taking in my emotions. We look at one another, matching eyes soaking in this moment. “Are you happy, Laney?”
He almost whispers this to me, and I nod, finally finding my voice, and respond, “Very much so. Yes.”
“Your happiness has always been my priority since you were little, but especially since that day many years ago. All I want is to see you happy. If Grant is that piece of happiness, then that’s all I can ask for.”
I feel a tear escape and fall down my left cheek as I hear my father’s words make their way into my heart. I don’t need his permission, but I think as his youngest child, I feel like I need to know he’s happy for me.
He pulls me in for a hug, and it feels like a blanket surrounding me. I give him an extra squeeze, then he pulls away, his focus on Grant this time.
“You’ve always felt like a son to me, Grant. I hope you know that I have been rooting for your success as much as my own children. You’re going to be an amazing father, and I feel blessed to stand by and watch you grow into that role.”
I know my father’s words are ones that Grant holds close to his heart. He’s grown up with no father of his own, and having my father’s blessing feels like an immense win.
Grant wipes away a tear and then pulls my father into a hug. My dad doesn’t hesitate to embrace him with all his might, knowing this is something Grant needs as well.
“Thank you, Sir. It means a lot to hear that,” Grant finally speaks, and my dad chuckles.
“Grant, I’ve seen you run through the yard naked. I think calling me ‘Sir’ after all this time is senseless, no? Call me Kirk like I’ve asked of you before.” My dad smiles then asks, his voice a little more stern, “You love my daughter?”
Grant nods his head, “Very much, si–Kirk. I do, very much. For most of my life, I have,” Grant says, no hesitation in his voice.
“That’s all I can ask for from the person who will be by her side. Now,” my dad claps his hands together, “what’s the plan moving forward?”
“Dad, if you are asking about marriage, that’s not something we have discussed yet. We just found out about the baby, and we wanted to make sure everything was okay before saying anything to you guys.”
“Nope, not asking about that, although that is something that is on my mind, but from the glare your mother is giving me, I suppose I can’t ask about it further.” He moves across the kitchen to grab coffee. “What I mean is, what is Grant’s plan regarding his job? He’s gone more than he’s around, and I think it’s a fair question.”
“Dad, she won’t be alone.” I hadn’t even heard my sister come through the door, but there she is, coming in like the supportive person she has been in my life. She makes her way around the room, giving everyone a hug and giving them her big, happy smile.
Once she reaches our father, she hugs him and continues, “What am I? Chopped liver? I have raised a few kids of my own. I can help where Laney needs it.” She looks over and gives me a quick wink.
“Um, if I can chime in,” Grant begins, “Laney and I still have a lot to discuss regarding how things will look moving forward, but after this next assignment, I will be taking a break. I think she and I need to sit down and see how things will fall into place. I appreciate the support, Ellie, but I also think we need to figure out our lives together. We promise to keep everyone in the loop so that you’re aware of what our plan is. Does that sound reasonable?”
For most of our lives, our parents have played a key role in ensuring we’re all cared for. I know it comes from a good place, but Grant’s right. We need to discuss this first. I know with my income alone I cannot afford my current lifestyle in the city. This is something we will need to figure out together to ensure we are making the best decision for our little family.
I smile at Grant, and he grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. On autopilot, I lean in and give him a kiss, a small peck on the lips, but it still is the most affection our parents have ever seen us show in front of them.
I immediately hear my mother sigh, and I know she’s probably got hearts in her eyes.
My sister is keeping busy, something she does when she’s nervous or anxious; however, I don’t see what this situation is doing to provoke that reaction. She keeps looking at her phone, and I wonder what it is she’s checking on.
As much as she’s been a single parent for a handful of years now, she never hovers over her phone in this manner, even when her kids are out, and my senses tell me there’s more to her little life than she’s letting on right now. I bet it has something to do with a certain retired hockey player.
Grant breaks the silence and stares from both our mothers by bringing the focus back to the baby.
“Would anyone like to see pictures?” The moment he asks this, everyone starts jumping up and yelling their excitement. I can’t help but sit back in my chair and embrace this moment of change that’s happening in our lives. This is a joyous time, the sounds not setting off any moments of fear or post-traumatic stress for me. The loud voices and hollers from our families are an indication that something magical is happening, and it’s almost like all the pieces that felt so far from fitting have finally found a place in my future.