Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 83070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I whisper a prayer as I call my mother.
“Hey, sweetheart,” she says. “How are you?”
“Hey, Mom. I’m good. What are you up to?”
“Honestly? I’m kind of in the dumps. This rain has just sucked my life force, I think.”
My stomach twists. “Well, I might have some news that will help that.”
“You do? Good. Gimme.”
I run my finger around the jade pot. “Mom, I’m pregnant.”
“What?”
I pull my phone away from my ear as she shrieks.
“You better not be messing with me,” she says. “Tell me you’re serious.”
“I’m serious.” Tears wet my eyes. “I’m having a baby.”
“Oh, my God, honey …” She sniffles. “Congratulations. I’m … speechless.”
I know she wants to ask who the father is but doesn’t out of respect. I appreciate that more than she’ll ever know.
“Do you know Tate’s brother, Gannon?” I ask. “We saw him briefly the day we stopped at Brewer Group so I could take Tate a coffee. Gannon came into the parking lot.”
“Tall. Beautiful. A jawline to die for?”
I laugh. “That’s him.”
“That’s Gannon or ….”
“That’s Gannon, the baby’s dad.”
She gasps. “This baby is going to be gorgeous. Goodness gracious, Carys.”
“I know.” I laugh, finally able to breathe. “He wants to meet you, and I know you have lots of questions. Care if we pop by this evening?”
“Do I care? Stop it. Come over anytime. If you let me know a bit before you arrive, I’ll get some food. Do you need anything? Gosh, I don’t even remember what I needed when I was pregnant. What can I get for you?”
I sit back in the chair and watch as the storm clouds break. Sun shines onto the lawn through the mist and fog. There’s something really beautiful about it.
“I can honestly tell you that Gannon has ensured I don’t need anything,” I say. “He’s almost obsessive with it.”
“As he should. Can I tell the girls in the office?”
“Yeah. He’s telling his family now so it’s fine.”
She laughs. “But have you told Tate?”
“Yes, and it went just like you’re imagining.”
“He’s a good boy. Okay. Let me make some calls and spread the news that I’m going to be a grandma!” She shrieks again. “I love you. I love you so much and I can’t wait to hug you and see your tummy and meet that man of yours.”
“I’ll see you soon. Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, sweetheart.”
I’m no more than ending the call when another one flashes on the screen. Aurora?
I stare at her name, my stomach tightening. I haven’t talked to her since she tried to apologize for Kent. And, honestly, I don’t have anything else to say. I start to decline the call but think twice.
Just answer it. You can block her later if you need to.
“Hello,” I say, holding my breath.
“Hi, Carys. Is this a bad time?”
“No, not really. What’s up?”
She pauses. “I want to tell you again that I’m sorry. I didn’t understand the situation, and I shouldn’t have put you in such a precarious spot. I feel really bad about it.”
“You shouldn’t. Your heart was in the right place.”
“Speaking of that …” She clears her throat. “I left Kent.”
Her voice doesn’t waver, but she sounds nervous, nonetheless. She also sounds lonely and hurt. But that makes sense considering who she was married to. And I hate that for her.
“May I ask why?”
“Honestly, I couldn’t handle the way he treated you. If he can treat his child that way …” She exhales. “He might’ve been great to me most of the time, but he showed me who he was by mistreating you. There’s no justification for that.”
“Wow. I really don’t know what to say.”
“Congratulations would be in order.” She laughs softly. “I assume he hasn’t told you that he’s moving to Japan.”
“Japan? That seems random.”
“Yeah. He got a call a few days after his birthday with an offer out of the blue. He couldn’t refuse it. Honestly, I’m thrilled he’ll be so far away. There’s some peace in knowing we aren’t going to run into each other at the grocery, if that makes sense.”
I chuckle, nodding my head. “It does.”
“Would you want to meet for drinks sometime? Or would that be weird?”
“It would only be weird because I can’t drink. I’m pregnant.”
“Now that calls for a congratulations! That’s amazing, Carys. You’re going to be a wonderful mother. And once again, your father is going to miss out on something amazing. The way you stood up to him? Seriously amazing.”
That’s a sobering thought. This baby won’t have a grandfather. But, then again, I think about all of the amazing people in my life, and in Gannon’s life. This baby will be so loved.
I watch the sky continue to open and the sun grow brighter as the storms ease. Maybe there’s room in my life for Aurora. After all, she’s shown me kindness and made an effort to reach out to me. There’s no reason to push her away.