Chapter 12 Posy
Posy
It’s been weeks. I haven’t seen Stone for weeks. He took off right after we had sex and every time I call, he talks to me but it’s so damn stilted. Nothing like the teasing man he used to be.
Everyone in town has noticed too. Sly little glances thrown my way and I’m sure they know he was here that night since he had his older brother drive my car home while his cousin stayed to get him.
My cheeks flush in the store and I fight to keep my eyes up. I’ve never been the woman that sleeps around so the little sneers have my heart sinking to my toes.
It might be time to go.
My stomach churns and an unfamiliar gurgle rumbles out, my mouth filling with saliva.
Darting to the bathroom, I slam the door closed just in time to push my head into the toilet and lose my breakfast. Heaving, tears rolling down my cheeks, I groan and lean against the cool tile walls of the bathroom.
The lock rattles and a familiar woman’s voice calls, “Posy? Are you alright?”
Cringing, I holler, “Yeah. I’m good.” I flush the toilet and stagger to my feet, my stomach heaving again. “Oh please,” I mutter. “Stop.”
Washing my hands, I grab the door and pull it open. Stone’s mother stands there, her hands clasped in front of her. “Are you okay, Posy? You looks so pale. I can take you to the doctor. I can get you right in. He owes me a favor. We got him the sweetest little pony for his niece.”
“I’m good. I think I have the flu. I just need to get home.”
My stomach rolls again and I can feel everything sliding around me. “Whoa.”
Stone’s mom catches me and mutters. “You need to see the doctor.”
“I’m good, Stone’s mom. I just need to get home.”
“How long have you been sick?” She puts her palm on my forehead and sighs. “No fever.”
“I probably ate something bad then.”
Her green eyes, so familiar that they make my eyes well with tears, search mine.
“Is it that time of the month? I have bad turns sometimes with those damn things.”
My brain screeches to a halt. I should have had my period last week and I didn’t.
“Oh, honey. You aren’t?” She points at my belly and smiles so big that I’m surprised she can get her lips closed.
“No. NO! I can’t be.”
“You better get a test and check.”
Like a force of nature she drags me to the aisle and grabs me a handful, shoving them at me. “Go take those and I’ll pay for them.”
I stagger back to the restroom and wonder what the hell is happening to me. I was thinking about leaving. I packed my bags last night and turned in my notice. I had it all figured out.
Now I’m peeing on a stack of little sticks and praying that I haven’t totally fucked up my life and Stone’s.
He doesn’t want me. He doesn’t want kids.
This can’t be happening.
But it is. One by one those damn sticks turn into little pink lines of joy and pain.
Leaning on the sink, I let the tears come. I’m having a baby. With a man who take my virginity and then disappeared like a thief in the night.
And that home I was looking for? All it’s going to be now is me and my baby.
“I’m gonna take good care of you,” I whisper. “I don’t care if your daddy doesn’t want me or you. I’m always gonna be here for you.”
Wiping the tears off my cheeks, I grab a piece of toilet paper and clean myself up as well as I can and step out the door right into warm, strong arms.
Tears streak down my cheeks again and I rest my chin on her shoulder.
“Oh honey. I’m so sorry. And so damn happy,” she says, patting my back.
Then she pulls back. “You can call me Sandy. We’re gonna be family.”
More tears streak down my face and her own smile falls. “What did my boy do?”
I just shake my head and cry harder, letting her pat my back and soothe at least some of my worries.
Maybe if I can’t have the man of my dreams, at least my baby can have a wonderful grandma to play with and visit after I leave.