Chapter 41
Victoria
The next couple of days are stressful, but Dad has a successful procedure to put stents in three arteries. They were almost fully blocked, but the team of doctors here are top-notch and he’s getting great care. He’s been a little grumpy, but my mom knows how to manage him.
I’ve been back and forth since I’m too close to graduation to miss a lot of school. Terri has been great about picking up some of my shifts so I can help with both Charlie and my dad, but it’s taking a toll physically. I’m so exhausted I almost fell asleep in class today.
Fighting back a yawn, I get to the hospital with lunch for my mom and the card Ivy helped Charlie make. He’s not allowed in the cardiac ICU so he hasn’t seen him in person, though my mom let them talk on the phone this morning.
“Oh, that smells good.” Mom smiles thankfully when I hand her the bag of burritos, chips, and salsa. “Thank you for picking it up. I had a craving.”
The smell is actually nauseating to me but I just nod. “You’re welcome.”
“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asks when I sit beside her but don’t open my burrito.
“Not really hungry,” I say, hoping my stomach doesn’t betray me.
There’s enough going on—this definitely isn’t the time to tell them about the baby. Besides, I have an appointment with my OBGYN next week, and then I’ll have more detailed information.
Mom glances at me a few times and then frowns.
“Are you sure you’re not hungry? You’re really pale.”
“Just tired,” I admit. “Between going to school, running back and forth to the hospital, and staying up late to catch up on my final projects, I’m beat.”
She nods. “Uh huh.”
I’m not feeling so hot and the more she eats, the more I think I’m going to hurl.
Then it hits me out of nowhere and I jump to my feet, running for the bathroom. I make it to the toilet just in time to lose my breakfast.
There’s movement behind me, and then I feel something cool on the back of my neck.
“How far along?” Mom asks softly.
“Wha—” It seems ridiculous to deny it. “About seven weeks,” I whisper.
“Is this why you got engaged?”
“No.” I shake my head. “He wanted to go ring shopping before we knew, but I kept putting it off because I didn’t want to get engaged if you and Dad were going to make it miserable for me. But once this happened…” I pull in a shaky breath, unsure whether I’m going to puke again or not.
“How are you feeling?”
“Just tired. The nausea hasn’t been too bad but some smells send me running.”
She nods. “That’s to be expected.”
“Please don’t tell Dad. Not yet.”
“I won’t.” She smiles and puts a cool hand on my cheek. “My baby is having a baby.”
“Are you…happy?” I ask cautiously.
“Of course I am. Babies are a blessing.”
“This means Jordan will be in your life forever.”
“I know. And that’s okay. As long as he loves you and treats you well, we’ll win your dad over too.”
“I hope so,” I whisper, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. “I don’t want to lose you guys.”
“You won’t.” She pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry we’ve made it so hard on you. We just want what’s best for you and I didn’t think that was Jordan. But I’m a big enough person to admit when I’m wrong.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too. Now how about we find you some ginger ale and I’ll go eat out in the hallway so it doesn’t bother your stomach.”
“Thanks. That sounds great.”
For the first time in a long time, it feels like I can breathe again.
* * *
Mom sends me home early that night, insisting I get plenty of sleep since I have class in the morning.
Even though it means not seeing Jordan, I sleep for twelve straight hours and feel a lot better when I wake up.
Munching on crackers as soon as I open my eyes helps with the morning sickness, and I can make it through most days without throwing up.
My class gets out early, so I decide to stop by the hospital before I go to work.
When I pull into the visitor parking lot, I see Jordan’s familiar truck and frown.
He didn’t mention coming to see my dad, and I’m momentarily panicked.
If my mom told my dad that I’m pregnant, he could be on the rampage.
And that’s not good for anyone.
Heart in my throat, I hurry into the hospital and up to my dad’s room.
To my surprise, my mother is outside and she puts a finger over her lips when she sees me.
“What’s going on?” I whisper worriedly.
“They’re talking,” she says under her breath. “We should leave them to it. Besides, technically your dad is only supposed to have one visitor at a time.”
Our eyes meet, and she must see the worry in mine because she just smiles.
“It’s okay. Your father and I had a long talk last night. Then he asked me to ask Jordan to come see him.”
“And no one told me?”
“It happened rather quickly. I tracked down your friend Chloe, and she gave me the number. I didn’t want to bother you, in case things went sideways. But I think they’re okay. Now hush, so we can listen.”
We stand next to the half-open door and now their voices are clearer.
“…you don’t know what it’s like to have two daughters.” My father’s voice sounds stronger than it has in a while. “There’s a lot to worry about. But I’ll admit I might have taken things a little too far.”
“I understand.” Jordan sounds calm, like he’s talking to one of his friends.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’d like to start over. Give you a chance. Because I never have. Not four years ago and not now. Would that be okay with you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I appreciate you giving me the kind of patience and grace I never gave you.”
“I love your daughter. Her happiness is all I care about. If I have to spend the rest of my life trying to win you over, I will.”
I can’t hear what my father says next but tears puddle in my eyes. When I look at my mom, she’s a little teary-eyed as well.
“Everything is going to be okay,” she whispers.
I really hope so.
A few minutes later, Jordan comes out and he smiles when he sees me.
“Hey, baby.” He lightly kisses me.
“Hi.” I wind my arms around his neck. We’ve barely seen each other since Dad’s heart attack and I’ve missed him.
“I’m going to sit with your dad. See you later, honey. Bye, Jordan.” Mom goes into the room, closing the door, and Jordan and I stand in the hallway.
“I heard part of your conversation,” I admit.
“That’s okay. We don’t have secrets, do we?”
“No.”
“We had a good talk, I think.”
“I only heard part of the end but it sounded like it.”
“I told you everything was going to be okay. Someday, you’re going to learn to trust me.”
“You think I don’t trust you?” I shake my head. “There’s no one I trust more than you. I chose you, remember?”
“Oh, I remember.” He touches my face. “Your dad still doesn’t know about the baby, though.”
“Not yet. We’ll tell him once he’s out of the hospital.”
“Okay.”
“You need to focus on the playoffs.”
“I will. But we still have a few days until the first round starts, so for now, I just want to focus on you. How about you sleep over with me tonight?”
“I don’t have any of my stuff.”
He hesitates. “Then maybe it’s time for you to just move in. Not completely, since we’re going to start looking for our own place as soon as possible, but keep what you need at my place so you can stay over whenever you need to.”
“All right.” I lean against him. “I can’t believe we’re here. Engaged. Having a baby. Together again—with my dad offering to give you a chance. It feels like a dream sometimes.”
“A good dream, I hope?”
“The best dream.” I look up at him. “You are the best dream—all my dreams-come-true in one sweet, sexy package.”
He smiles. “I love you, baby.”
Those are the sweetest words in the world.