The Big Secret

Baby Shark

It wasn't long before Sam and Ruby came round. Of course they were the first ones here. "It will be ok" Luke reassured me as he held my hands "You are really sweaty though" he laughed. "So what's with the emergency family meeting?" Sam started helping himself to Luke's cupboards.

"You'll have to wait for mum and dad to get here" as soon as Luke said that, both his parents walked in with another girl. "Perfect timing" Sam laughed with a mouthful of food. "You ready?" Luke looked at me concerned and waited for me to nod until he greeted his parents. Of course Elton was the first to give them kisses "This is the famous Erin?" His dad was the first to greet me with a kiss on the cheek. Then his mum wrapped her arms around me. Holly, Luke's sister, also hugged me and said "I've heard so much about you!"

Ruby and Sam made drinks while his mum and dad started asking me lots of questions about myself, especially when they heard my accent. Like where are you from? How do you two meet? What do you do? They were really sweet, even though this kind of felt like an interrogation, but I could see where Luke got his kind nature from.

"Right so we've got some news" Luke placed his hand on my leg and smiled at me. He opened his wallet and pulled out the scan picture. When did he put it in there? "We're having a baby" Luke passed his mum the picture, who immediately started crying. "I'm going to be a grandma?" "I'm going to be an auntie?" His sister looked happiest out of all.  Me and Luke nodded in unison.

I squeezed Luke's hand and he flashed the biggest smile. I tried to mouth "You've got to tell them" but he just shook his head. Ruby came over and hugged me. "Congratualtions Mama!" The rest followed all hugging me and Luke. "I can't believe my baby is having a baby!"

"I'll get some tissues" Luke laughed and disappeared out the room. I quickly followed him, leaving everyone else admiring the scan. "Luke" he stopped on top of the stairs and waited for me to join him. "You have to tell them the truth" his expression immediately changed. "why? They don't have to know" he rolled his eyes at me. Is he for real right now? "They will when it has my last name!" I tried to keep my voice down. "Why can't it be a James?" Luke grabbed the tissue and faced me. "That's not fair on you or Owen" Luke clenched his jaw.

He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off. "You tell them or I will" and walked back into where everyone else was. Luke didn't look pleased when he joined the family, maybe I was too harsh on him. "I thought you said you two were just friends" Sam questioned Luke. "You haven't even made her your girlfriend?" His dad looked disappointed.

"That's the thing" Luke rubbed the back of his neck. "This baby is mine and always will be, but not biologically" everyone remained speechless, someone get me a knife for this tension. "Before moving back to England I fell pregnant, the biological father doesn't want anything to do with it" I jumped in, which only got sympathic looks off everyone.

"Luke has been there, even when I had complications" my voice broke as the thoughts flooded my mind "I couldn't ask for anyone better if I'm honest" I realised how soppy I was getting as I looked at Luke, who was giving me puppy eyes. "I've offered him an out numerous of times, but he refused and I couldn't be more grateful" Luke wrapped his arm round me and pulled me in for a hug.

"I'm proud of you son!" His dad broke the silence and our moment. "That baby will be loved  no matter what, blood isn't always everything" Ruby stated as Sam hugged me, taking me away from Luke's arm, which he soon placed back. "That baby is part of the family and always will be" His mum put a hand on my stomach "your grandma loves you very much already" I couldn't help but smile at them. Why wasn't my family like this? I wish they were. 

"Luke go make a tea, Erin, come sit here" his mum tapped the space next to her "let's talk baby!" You could see how excited she was, as the three boys disappeared into the kitchen. "Have you thought about names?" Ruby and Holly were just as excited as Luke's mum. I shook my head, thats a lie. "A lots happened and I'm only just getting myself back to normal" as soon as I said that Luke's mum started talking about when she had Luke, Holly and Sam.

I managed to escape baby talk for a toilet break. As I walked in the hallway I could hear Luke's voice. "I want to do this, I want to be a father. I'm scared I'm going to mess it up and be useless at it" my heart sank. "Son, no one knows what they're doing. It comes with time, you'll be a great dad. But make sure you're in this for the long run" his dad started lecturing Luke.

"Dad" Luke paused. "I've never been more serious about anything, she is the one I want to be with and the one I want to build a family with" I quickly wiped away the tear that was forming, stupid pregnancy hormones.

Once I finished eavesdropping on the boys and actually went to the toilet, I rejoined the girls who still were talking about the baby. "So baby shopping? You free in the next few weeks?" Ruby insisted. We all exchanged numbers. I even got added to the family group chat!

Once everyone had gone, Luke disappeared upstairs while me and Elton got comfy. "I got you something" Luke pushed a poorly wrapped gift in my hands. "That is the cutest" I disturbed Elton and pretty much jumped on Luke. "You are going to be the best Dad to our little bean"

"Ready to tell the world?" I nodded at Luke and we created an Instagram post, with a picture of the scan and the sharks baby grow.

The best secret - baby shark pending