Chapter 6
ISLA
I’m the first to arrive at Hadley and Connor’s house for Christmas dinner.
Funnily enough, I was on wine duty. Not that I can have any, but I think I picked up a few excellent bottles.
Quickly excusing myself after trying some cheese from the charcuterie board, I went upstairs to change, as I was still in my yoga pants and sweatshirt to conquer this winter day.
Now, I just want to change into something cute.
Instead, I’m sitting on the edge of the bed in the guest room and a waterfall of tears hits me.
I didn’t tell Vaughn. I’m pregnant, and nobody knows. It will be a while until I show, although the array of emotions and nausea just seems to hit me in full force.
Sniffling away a tear, it’s hopeless, as a fresh one hits my cheek.
“Isla?” I hear Hadley’s voice. Just great, ruin the host’s gathering.
The door that was slightly ajar opens with a little bit of hesitation, and Hadley finds me a hot mess on the bed.
“What’s wrong?” She sounds concerned.
What the hell, I need someone right now. I thought I could do this all, alone or with Vaughn as co-parents. I’m unraveling, and in ten minutes I need to be downstairs to smile at everyone while we stare in awe at April, Hadley’s mom’s cooking that she’s bringing over.
“Hadley, I need to tell you something,” I cry. “I can’t keep it in anymore.”
“You’re scaring me,” she tells me as she comes to sit next to me. Hadley touches my arm in comfort. “It’s okay. If you don’t like my attempt at a charcuterie board, you can tell me. Is that what it is?”
I have to smile through my tears at her statement. “It’s delicious, just my stomach didn’t agree.”
Hadley frowns. “Oh gosh, I can’t afford to poison people, not when a hockey team is relying on two of the guys at dinner tonight.”
“They’ll be fine. It’s me. All me… I’m pregnant.” Whoosh, there, I said it.
Her eyes survey my body as if she’s checking that I’m not joking, then it turns to shock. “What?”
“Well, ten weeks to be exact.”
“Huh?” She can’t formulate words. “How?”
“A hurricane,” I hiccup as I swipe another tear away.
Her eyes swim side to side as she registers my timeline. “As in…”
I blow out a long breath. “Nobody knows. Not even…” It’s difficult to say Vaughn’s name now, and I’m not sure if that’s because I feel guilt for not telling him or sadness that he so clearly has no interest in having a family of his own anytime soon.
“Vaughn Madden,” she croaks out.
I nod and grab a throw pillow to hug. “Isn’t this a fun Christmas,” I say sarcastically.
Hadley’s hand travels up to my shoulder. “Why doesn’t he know?”
“I haven’t told him. First because I thought he was with someone, and then last night he said a few things that make it clear he would have no interest in this development.” I glance down at my belly, still the same as ten weeks ago.
“He has a right to know, even if he doesn’t want to be involved. Don’t you think?”
I swallow and feel ashamed, even though that’s not her intention. “You can’t tell anyone, not even Connor. You promise?”
She nods. “It’s not my information to share. I promise… but I think you should tell Vaughn.”
“It wasn’t the right moment. He said it himself that he only wants to focus on his last season without distraction.”
“This is a little more than a distraction, it’s a baby.”
“I’m aware. I just got scared. Trust me, I wanted to tell him, but what’s the point of making his life a mess?”
She massages my shoulder. “Is that what you think this is? A mess?”
Glancing to my side, a beaming smile hits me. “No, actually it’s great. I think that I can really do this.” I grab my phone lying by my side and swipe to show her the ultrasound photos. “Isn’t he or she cute?”
“For sure.” She examines the photo, and when her face goes slightly crooked, I have to laugh.
“You don’t see it, do you?” I ask.
“Sorry, I’m trying.”
I point with my index finger to the circle on the scan and outline the shape of a bean.
Her face brightens. “Wow, this is awesome. If you’re happy, then so am I. Everyone will help you, anything you need. I know my mom will want to plan a baby shower. I would, but I rely on my mom for actual decent food.”
“It’s way too early for all of that. I have bigger fish to fry.” I grab my dress from the bag at my feet. God, I wish I could stay like this and not dress up. I’m fairly confident that I’ll need a nap in about an hour.
“Bigger fish, as in…?”
“My brother,” I answer.
She offers me a sympathetic look.
Sitting at the counter in my brother’s house, I fear the next five minutes.
I decided that I wanted to wait until after New Year’s to break the news.
He’s still in the early days with Ivy, the woman that he has spent months trying to win over.
I wanted him to enjoy his victory, and they’re good together.
Plus, the last week, the only thing that I wanted to do was focus on work and sleep.
They say it gets better once you head out of the first trimester, but that’s just not happening.
Briggs offers me a glass of water and joins me at the kitchen island. He seems content and relaxed, even though he had a game on New Year’s Eve.
“How is your new girlfriend?” I smile at him and nudge his arm with my own.
He couldn’t hide his grin if he tried. “It’s going well. I think she could be the one. She’s good for me.”
I like Ivy a lot. His interpretation of her being good for him is spot-on. I’m also fairly confident she figured out that I’m pregnant already at the team holiday party yet hasn’t told him, so she automatically gets another point from me.
“Enough about me. How are you? You seemed kind of off at Christmas, well, the last few weeks really. Quieter than normal. I wanted to press, but you seemed like you need a little space.” He examines me the way he always has when he feels that brother bear needs to come out of hibernation.
It’s why telling him seems easier than informing Vaughn. Briggs won’t leave me no matter what, I’ll always be his sister. Whereas Vaughn is free to walk away.
“Yeah, that’s kind of why I’m here,” I reply and look down at my fingers twiddling together. When I look up, his nose is slightly flared, and he seems angry, as though he should be worried.
“What’s going on? What haven’t you told me?” Pure concern is apparent in his voice.
I touch the top of his hand that rests on the counter and pause for a second to gather my courage. “The thing is… I’m pregnant.”
His face falls, and shock hits him at record speed. He croaks out a sound but can’t gather words. Until he does. “W-what?”
I roll my eyes as I wait for him to digest the news. “A baby. You know, those little humans that cry and giggle, plus wear cute little socks. There is a baby growing inside of me.”
“How?” He’s in disbelief.
“Really? We need to go over a biology lesson right now?” I’m cynical.
A hardened look hits him. “Who? Who the fuck do I need to talk to? You don’t have a boyfriend, so who is it?”
I rub my face in aggravation. In truth, I was kind of prepared for this. “Should we rewind and you ask how your only sister is doing?”
Briggs’s face shades to a sweeter smile. “I’m sorry. How are you?”
“Healthy. Although nauseous and tired.”
“Shit, that’s not great… Now, who is it?” His hunt to kill returns.
I gently shake my head, annoyed. “It doesn’t matter. I’m doing this on my own, so accept that. Do this one thing for me and don’t push for more info. I’m happy with my choice and this surprise.” I’m adamant and stern with my voice.
He takes a moment to reflect then rolls his lips in. “Okay… I don’t like it, but okay. If that’s what you need.”
“It is. I don’t want you to be disappointed in me. I really am excited for this.”
Briggs gives me his signature warm smile that lights up the room. “I know you can do this. I’ll be there for you. I’m just a little taken aback, but I won’t leave you hanging. Anything you need, okay?”
“That’s what I wanted to hear. It’s still a ways to go, and I need to find a new place with a bit more room, not to mention stock up on supplies. But it just feels right.”
He pulls me into a hug, exactly what I need right now. It gives me strength. It means the world to me that Briggs is on my team.
I’m not na?ve, I’m aware at some point he will circle back to who the father is. But I’ll hold off as long as I can, because I know there will be repercussions when he discovers the truth.
And I’m still undecided if I’ll change my mind and tell Vaughn.