Time Makes You Bolder (Sequel to No One's A Fool)

Chapter 1

She heard the knocking. She didn't know how Wolf, her oldest sister's son, had found her, but he had, and she was pissed. He would have to wait until the morning if he wanted to talk to her. After all, Aurora was sleeping, and she could be too.

"Wrenna, open this door!" A voice shouted. It wasn't Wolf. Wrenna froze, knowing she had no choice but to do exactly as the voice had commanded. As she opened the door, she found her mother staring at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I could ask you the same!" Stevie responded, making her way into the room. "I came with Wolf. God knows he can't stand up to you for shit." She saw Aurora asleep on the bed, and she went to her, silently brushing hair off the toddler's face, smiling down on her.

"Mom-" Wrenna started, but then she stopped, not knowing what to say.

"You freaked a lot of people out, my girl. Do you know that?" She was smiling, but her face was a mixture of amusement and irritation.

"I just needed a break." Wrenna crossed her arms, leaning against the wall opposite the bed.

"Well Gabe is beside himself. Lori and Jessi were ready to call the police. Thank God Wolf hacked your location before the family brought in the National fucking Guard."

"But you weren't worried?" Wrenna asked. Again, Stevie smiled, softer this time.

"No. I know you. When you were in college and you would get overwhelmed, you used to check yourself into a hotel, and no one could find you. I used to do the same thing when Fleetwood Mac first got really big. I wrote a whole song about it once. I knew you were either in New York or Hawaii. And for some reason, I felt you were in Hana. Wolf only confirmed it. But Wrenna, what happened? What is this about?"

"Gabe and I were arguing. He told me to go if I wanted to, so I did." She said, half-heartedly.

"Oh Wrenna, that's bullshit, and you know it." Stevie said. Wrenna looked at her, surprised by her directness. "You're lying to me, and I can feel it. You've been off since you found out about Joe, but there's something else recently too."

"There's nothing else, Mom." Wrenna said, calmly. But the panic was rising in her now.

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me there's nothing else. Look me in the eyes and tell me you're not pregnant." At this, Wrenna froze, mouth agape, tears welling up in her eyes. Stevie noticed. "You are, aren't you?"

"How do you know that? How could you possibly know that? Gabe doesn't even know that, I haven't told anyone!" She said, beginning to pace.

"Because I know you, my girl. You're from me. And I know when something is different about you. I guessed it last week, but I wanted to wait, because I wasn't sure you even knew yet. There's just... a difference. I can tell." Stevie explained. Wrenna turned to her, finally.

"Mom... I'm scared." She said, near whispering.

"Oh Birdie. Come here." She opened her arms and Wrenna sat down, holding onto her mother and beginning to cry.

~~~~~~

"Are you feeling nauseous?" Stevie asked. Twenty minutes had gone by, and Wrenna was laying with her head in Stevie's lap. She was quiet, the tears gone, but Stevie could sense the exhaustion and pain all over her daughter.

"Not right now. I've had some morning sickness, but not too bad. I haven't thrown up."

"You know, I didn't really throw up much when I was pregnant with you. I had a lot of nausea, but it never got too bad. Hopefully you'll be the same way." Stevie was stroking Wrenna's hair, trying desperately to comfort her daughter.