Sentimental Chances (On-Going)

Chapter 39 : To Be A Grandmother

"If it's possible, do I have a chance with you?" Jake asked.

"Yes, you do..." I answered.

"I do?"

"Please, don't make me repeat myself."

He smirked. His mouth tight shut, trying to laugh for my sake. "That's alright, I got the answer I wanted."

"Jesus Christ," I sighed, with a slight chuckle. I mean, come on, I felt a bit embarrassed that I sort of confessed to my old high school crush. 

I know it was nothing to be embarrassed about, but still... 

It reminded me so much of when my brother used to tease me when we were kids about liking a different guy.

"Excuse me. I'm sorry to interrupt, the van has arrived," a staff member informed me.

"Okay, thanks," I said back, then turned to Jake as I stood up from my seat. "I have to go."

He got up, too. "Okay, nice talk."

"Same here."

I had just turned to leave when Jake's hand closed around my elbow, gentle but sure, and he pulled me into him. It surprised me. Although being wrapped in his arms felt a steady warmth of his chest and a quiet, unexpected sense of home.

Not long after that, we pulled away from each other and stared at each other for a bit, right before I left.

As the van pulled away and the road unfurled toward the inn, butterflies rioted in my chest. After all these years, it was a strange, quiet relief simply to know finally.

I couldn't stop smiling until I arrived at the inn. I even texted my mom if she was free to video call me, so I could tell her the news.

Once I arrived, I slipped up the stairs without a word and let myself into the room. It wasn't home, not really, but after a night in the hospital, the quiet and the softness waiting for me there felt close enough.

It just occurred to me that I haven't showered. Sometimes, when you live in a cold place like Barcon, you tend not to shower or bathe since you don't sweat, or something.

I took off my coat, slipping the scrunchie from my hair, and I went straight to the vanity and set it down. That was when I caught my reflection in the mirror and felt my gaze drift down to my stomach, remembering what was more important.

The baby inside me.

It just hit me that not only was my brother going to be an uncle, Fallon is going to be an aunt, and my mom is going to be a grandmother, but that I am going to be a mother.

Unfortunately, there's no father because there's no Topher. 

I wish he were here, not because I needed help to raise our child, but it was because I wish we were complete. Maybe because I didn't have my dad growing up, and I was hoping that time would come when I start a family, my kid will have a dad.

And yet, that didn't happen to me. I, too, lost the father of my child.

Nevertheless, I'm a modern woman. Raising my child alone is not a big deal to me. I understand it wouldn't be easy, but my mom raised me and my brother all by herself. If she could do it, so can I.

Anyway, I shook off that thought from my mind to not overthink too much and went on my way to take a nice, warm shower. 

After that, I slipped into something more comfortable until my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, saw my mother's name glowing back at me, and answered the call with a grin spreading across my face.