Chapter Eighteen – Lilibeth
Lilibeth
I drew in a deep breath as I stood in front of my parents’ house. I’d chickened out last night on telling them about the baby. Instead, I made three loaves of bread, watched Steel Magnolias, and fell asleep on my sofa.
Today was a new day, though. After spending nearly thirty minutes bent over the toilet with dry heaves, I managed to shower, eat something, and make my way to my folks’ house.
I lifted my hand and went to knock when the door suddenly opened.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Mom said. “You know you don’t have to knock.”
I stepped into the house and began taking off my coat, hat, and gloves. It was less-than-a-minute walk from the apartment to their front door, but it was freezing outside this morning.
My mother took my coat and hung it up, then hugged me. “What did we do to deserve a morning visit? You’re not heading to the store this early, are you?”
Shaking my head, I said, “No. I have a few errands to run first.”
I followed her into the kitchen, where my father was sitting at the small breakfast table, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.
“They still deliver newspapers?” I asked, as I reached into the cabinet and took out a glass.
Dad grinned. “They still do, believe it or not. And there’s just something about reading it and holding it in your hands.”
“But you don’t need a magnifying glass to read it on your phone,” my mother argued with a laugh.
I smiled as I poured myself a glass of orange juice.
“No coffee this morning?”
Even the mention of coffee made my stomach lurch. “Not this morning.”
My mother raised a brow before turning and flipping the bacon she was cooking. “Have you had breakfast?”
“No,” I said, as I placed a hand on my queasy stomach. “Not yet.”
“You can eat with us. I’ve got plenty.”
Oh no. Please no. Don’t get sick now.
“Lilibeth? Are you okay? You look like you’re turning green,” Dad observed.
I forced myself to smile as I drew in a breath and slowly let it out. “I’m okay. I, um, I do need to talk to you both about something though.”
“Is the store doing okay?”
My mother was forever worried about the store, wondering if I’d made a mistake by using all my savings to open it.
“The store’s doing better than okay. That’s not it. I don’t really know how to say this.”
Placing the newspaper down on the table, my father regarded me with a curious expression. “Sometimes the best way to get out what you want to say is to just say it.”
I nodded. “Okay. Then I’ll just say it. I’m pregnant.”
They both gaped at me, shocked.
“Caden Wilde is the father.”
My mother smiled then, and my father simply nodded.
“I knew there was something going on between the two of you,” Mom said, as she walked over to me. “How far along are you?”
“Eight weeks. I’m due on August twenty-third. I wasn’t planning on telling anyone else until I get a bit further along.”
Taking my hands in hers, Mom kissed me on the cheek. “How are you feeling? Emotionally and physically?”
“I’m tired. Scared. Worried. Happy. Excited. Scared.”
My father stood and gave me a sympathetic smile as he rounded the table. Drawing me into his arms, he kissed the top of my head. “All to be expected. Have you told Caden?”
“Yes, he knows. We went to the first doctor’s appointment yesterday and got to see the baby, and hear the heartbeat.”
I slid the sonogram pictures toward them.
“This soon?” my mother asked, with another shocked expression. “My goodness, in our day, we didn’t have all the fancy new equipment that they do now. Or if they did have it, we couldn’t afford it.”
She picked up the pictures and smiled. “How precious.”
Dad chuckled as he took the pictures my mother handed him. “How’s Caden handling it?”
I shrugged. “Okay, I think. He plans on being there every step of the way, even though I told him he didn’t have to be.”
My father raised his brows. “I’m glad to know he’s taking his share of the responsibility. Those Wilde kids were raised right; anyone can see that.”
My mom wrung her hands and chewed on her lip.
“Just say what you want to say, Mom.”
“It’s just, I could tell there was something between you two on Christmas…but are you even dating?”
“No, and we don’t plan on dating. I mean…”
I was suddenly overcome with emotion. I dropped down into a chair and buried my face in my hands.
Mom was instantly at my side, hugging me against her. “Oh no, sweetheart, don’t cry!”
“Did he say or do something to hurt you? If he did, I’ll go talk to him right now and give him a piece of my mind—and my fist.” I could hear the anger in my father’s voice.
I dropped my hands and gaped at him. He was sixty years old, and even though he ran every day and kept in shape, the idea of him hitting Caden nearly made me laugh.
“He didn’t do anything but be completely honest with me from the very beginning.
He told me he couldn’t commit to a relationship…
at least he can’t right now. He was hurt badly by his ex, and he doubts he’ll ever trust someone enough to settle down, even though he told me he’s always wanted a family.
We spent just a few nights together, and I had to be honest with him as well.
I was starting to fall for him, and if he couldn’t give me more, I said we needed to stop… um…you know.”
Holding up a hand, my father said, “No need to keep going, we get what you mean.”
“So you’re just friends then?”
“And we’ll stay friends, and we’ll co-parent the baby.” I drew in a long breath and exhaled. “It’s not what I always pictured when I thought of having a family, but this is still a gift that I won’t regret. Ever.”
“Of course you won’t. And your father and I will be here every step of the way. I have no doubt in my mind that Vivianne and Ladd will feel the same.”
“You’ll have to move out of the apartment and in with us,” Dad said. “That space isn’t meant for a baby.”
Oh gosh. This is where it’s going to get interesting.
“Caden has insisted I move into his house.”
“His house?” my mother repeated. “He wants you to move in, and you two will just be friends?”
“It is possible, Mom. He said he wants to be close by so he doesn’t miss anything, and he has plenty of room. I said no at first, but I ended up agreeing. The baby can have her or his own room, and it’ll give me a chance to save up as well, maybe buy a little house after the baby’s born.”
“Sweetheart,” my father said, as he knelt in front of me. “We can buy you a house if that’s what you want.”
I shook my head. “No. Dad, you already know I don’t want to take anything from you.”
“Yes, I know. We learned that lesson with the store. But things are different now, Lilibeth. You’re going to have a baby. Your mother and I can afford it, and you won’t have to worry about paying us back.”
“Yes. I think that’s a wonderful idea. There’s a little house just down the street that’s come on the market. We can go look at it later today if you can get away from the store.”
My dad pulled out his cell. “Josh is the realtor on that house. I’ll call him right now.”
The room suddenly felt ten times smaller, and my head started to spin. I stood up and flung my arms out. “Wait! Stop!”
They both paused.
“I’m not going to let you buy me a house.”
Huffing and crossing her arms over her chest, my mother asked, “So you’re going to move in with Caden instead, whom you just admitted you have feelings for, when he doesn’t feel the same. Do you really think that’s healthy, Lilibeth?”
My eyes bounced between the two of them. “Are you saying I won’t be able to handle it emotionally if I move in with Caden, even though he doesn’t have feelings for me?”
“I’m not saying that at all,” my mother began, even as my father nodded his head.
“I’m saying it. What if he dates?” he asked.
“What?” This conversation was getting off track, fast.
“He’s a young, good-looking man. What if he decides to start dating someone while you’re pregnant with his baby?”
“Liam,” my mother retorted. “I hardly think the boy’s going to date while Lilibeth is expecting his child.”
I blew out a breath, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. “None of this matters right now. I’m only eight weeks pregnant and anything could happen.”
My mother frowned. “Lilibeth, you’re always so positive. Why are you even saying that?”
“Because I’m also a realist, Mother, and I know how many of my friends have lost their babies in the first few months! So I’m not letting you buy a house, I’m not moving in with Caden yet. I’m not doing anything right now except leaving to go bring some bread to Mrs. Harper.”
I turned away from my parents and started for the front door.
“Honey, I didn’t mean to upset you,” my father said, as he walked practically on my heels. “I think we’re all just a bit surprised. And we don’t have to figure out every solution right here and now.”
I stopped to face him with a sigh. “I love you and Mom more than life itself. But these are my decisions to make, and you don’t get to tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“I just think your own house is the way to go, so you’re not relying on Caden.”
“But it’s okay to rely on you and Mom?”
“That’s not how it would be, Lilibeth,” my mother added. “You just broke down in tears regarding your feelings for Caden, and yet you want us to let you move in with a man who’s breaking your heart?”
I drew back as if she’d slapped me. “I had a moment, Mom. Yes, my feelings and emotions are all over the place, but I found out I was pregnant just a few days ago! That doesn’t mean I need the two of you to come swinging in to save me—and he is not breaking my heart.
He never promised me anything. I knew that going in. ”
Taking my coat down from the hanger, I slipped it on, then my hat and gloves. I went to open the door when my mother spoke again.
“I think we should at least look at the house.”
Closing my eyes, I steadied my breath, opened the door, and walked out, softly closing it behind me. “Well, that didn’t go as planned.”