July 1st
Keeps on giving.
Ainsley
Upon my arrival at the resort, I’m ecstatic when given the key to one of the guest cottages. The bellman takes my bags while I take a golf cart to visit the resort doctor.
Fortunately, he’s not busy, so I get in right away.
“Hello, Ainsley. What brings you here today?” he asks me.
“Doctor, my seeing you is confidential, right?”
“Oh dear,” he says, “is it itchy?”
“Is what itchy?” I wonder, but then I realize he’s talking about a common problem at the hotel. I don’t know why people don’t read the signs, stay on the paths, and out of the woods. “Oh, no. I didn’t come in contact with any poison ivy. This is something else.”
“The something else is what I meant,” he says. “It seems some of the crew have been having unprotected sex, and there have been some unexpected consequences.”
As in other people are getting pregnant too? “Um—” I start to say.
“To answer your question, it is confidential.”
“Even from my uncle?” Because I need to verify this.
“Of course,” he says, looking concerned.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.
“Oh. That is not what’s going around,” he says, looking surprised. And then I realize he was referring to a sexually transmitted disease.
He recovers quickly.
“You did a test, and it turned positive, I take it?” he asks.
“Yes, sir.”
“How far along are you?”
“I think, like, seven weeks,” I reply.
“Well, congratulations. Why don’t you give me a urine sample?”
He hands me a cup, and I go use the restroom.
A few minutes later, he confirms what I already knew.
“When was the first day of your last period?” he asks.
After I tell him, he looks at a chart and says, “That will put your due date on February the twenty-second.”
My mind goes back to Damon telling me about his number eleven being an angel number. And I know that twenty-two is considered a double angel number. Which makes me feel like it was meant to be.
Just like I’m meant to be with Damon.
I think.
“That means conception would have occurred around June the first,” he says.
“I know you’re not an obstetrician, but I’m hoping I can see you while I’m here for the summer.”
“I have a better idea. I’ll consult with one of my colleagues and have him come here for your appointments. And I can refer you to an OB-GYN for when you’re back at school.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“A few more things. With you working outside, it’s going to be very important that you’re careful. Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated. Try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Have you had any morning sickness?”
“I felt nauseous based on a strong smell one time, but I haven’t gotten sick. I’ve been a little tired, but other than that, I’m doing well.”
“All right. Let me get in contact with my colleague, and I’ll let you know when he will be here.”
“Thank you,” I tell him, then head to my cottage.
Since I’m going to be here for almost two months, I unpack fully and get settled. Then I go to the kitchen and open the refrigerator, hoping to find a bottle of water while thinking that I should run to the grocery store.
I’m pleasantly surprised to find it fully stocked with a bunch of my favorite foods. There are prepared meals, fruit and veggies, and a variety of drinks.
I grab a bottle of water and an apple and decide to eat it on the screened porch and take in the view of the lake.
I’m shocked to discover that I’m in the cottage closest to where Damon and I had our picnic. Where we shared I love yous.
Which means I have to call him.
“You’ll never guess where I am,” I say when he answers.
“Fort Worth still, I assume?”
“No, my internship is over. I tried to call you the other day, but you didn’t answer, and you didn’t call or text me back. What’s up with that?”
“Yeah, sorry. I literally just left the store with a new phone. No calls or texts were coming through. You know though, if you’re ever worried, just text Chase.”
“And seem like a jealous girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” he says. “I thought you decided that was too juvenile, my future wife.”
“Fine. I didn’t want to seem like a jealous future wife.”
“So, where are you?” he asks.
I press the video button on my phone. “Why don’t I show you?”
“Look at you, all sunny and bright,” he says when he sees me. Then his voice softens. “You look gorgeous, Ainsley.”
“That’s because I’m having a moment. Look!” I flip the phone around so he can see the spot. “The butterflies are here!”
“I bet they showed up because of you,” he counters with a grin.
“Well, if they did, they’re going to be disappointed that you aren’t here with me.”
“I miss you,” he says.
“I miss you too. But guess what else. Usually, when I’m here all summer, I live in the staff accommodations.
And I don’t know if it’s because my schedule was different coming mid-season or if Uncle Tripp set it up, but I’m staying in one of the guest cottages.
By myself. And the fact that I’m in the one closest to our spot has me feeling all romantic and happy.
I’m really sorry that I had to leave early, Damon. ”
“I know you are. And it wasn’t the same without you. Do you start work today?”
“No, I’m going to take a few days off, then work on the Fourth since that’s a huge day here and the resort is always sold out. What are you doing for the holiday weekend? Are you staying at school or going home?”
“Chase and I are driving home this afternoon. The lake we live on always does a golf cart and bike parade, an ice cream social, and a fireworks show. And since Chase’s dad retired, he’s really gotten into smoking meat, so we’re looking forward to ribs and pork butts.
I wish my phone had been working. I didn’t realize you were done with your internship so soon. ”
“The end date got moved up because I started early. And the lake with your family and fireworks sounds fun. You’ll have to tell everyone hi for me.”
“I will. Dani’s flight from LA lands tomorrow afternoon, so the whole family will be there.”
“How did her internship go?”
“She absolutely loved it. She’ll spend the weekend in Kansas City, fly to Connecticut on Monday, then finish the internship at their corporate headquarters.”
“I bet Chase can’t wait to see her.”
“It’s all he’s been talking about. Speaking of that, I need to see you soon.”
“Any chance you have a break in your schedule and could come down here?”
He grins at me. “Yeah, maybe later this month.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” I tease.
After we say goodbye, I think about the first time we had sex.
Being with Damon was amazing. I felt so loved.
So cared for. And he made me feel really beautiful.
I mean, it doesn’t hurt that he’s smoking hot, but I just love his tender side.
And I will admit, watching the way he handled my dad, with both confidence in his ability and respect for my dad, was … well, kinda hot.
It’s also crazy that we probably conceived on his birthday.
Talk about the gift that keeps on giving.
I have a moment of doubt, wondering if I’m doing the right thing by not telling him.
But when a butterfly flits in front of me, I know it will all be okay.
My phone rings in my hand, and I answer quickly, assuming it’s Damon calling me back.
But when a voice from the past says, “Ainsley,” I realize I shouldn’t have just deleted his number. I should have blocked it too.
“Hey, Brad,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Can we talk?” he asks.
“About what?”
“My engagement.”
“What about it?”
“I’m just sort of freaking out, I guess. Seeing you again, um … it affected me. You looked so beautiful. And happy. Does that Damon guy make you happy?”
He’s made me more than happy, I think, then chuckle to myself. “Yeah, he does, Brad.”
“How long have you been dating?”
“A little over a month. Why?”
“I’ve been dating my girlfriend—”
“You mean your fiancée,” I correct.
“Yeah, Bailey. I’m … we broke up. Sorta.”
“Sorta?” I wonder aloud.
“My mom told me that you told her why we broke up,” he says, changing the subject.
“I’m sorry about that. It just sort of slipped out. But I can’t fault you for it. I hadn’t told my mom why either. I was too embarrassed that I hadn’t known you were cheating.”
“Where are you at—like, right now?”
“At my uncle’s resort in the Ozarks. Why?”
“Can I come see you?” he asks.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because you were my best friend for so long,” he says. “I miss you.”
“Oh, Brad. I can tell,” I say with mock sincerity. “After all, it’s only been three years since we’ve spoken, but quite honestly, had we not run into each other, it hopefully would have been longer than that.”
“You’re mad,” he says.
Which is something he always used to say. Anytime I questioned him, he would turn it around on me.
“I’m not mad. I’m actually thankful that you did what you did. It forced me to make decisions about what I wanted out of life. And I couldn’t be happier. And you should be too. Bailey seemed like a lovely girl.”
“I can’t get you out of my head,” he says. “I think there’s a reason why we ran into each other. I think—no, I want us to get back together.”
To this, I let out a laugh. “And have you told Bailey that? Did you actually break up with her?”
“Not exactly. I wanted to see how you felt first.”
“Oh, okay. Well, here goes. How I felt was betrayed. Disgusted. Devastated. We’d dreamed of a life together.
You said you’d always love me. I was angry.
Hurt. And sad. Really, really sad. I also was incredibly embarrassed that I wasn’t smart enough to know that you weren’t faithful.
And the crazy thing is, had you told me you wanted to see other people, I would have been open to that.
We’d discussed it before we went to college.
It wouldn’t have been a surprise. But you chose to go behind my back instead. That’s how I felt.”
He lets out a sigh. “I actually meant, how do you feel about us getting back together? Giving it another shot.”