His Miracle

Unexpected News.

PREGNANT. My entire world is flipped upside down by a plastic white stick with a pregnancy result on it. How am I supposed to take the news of a pregnancy when I'm still learning how to take care of myself? I can't be responsible for another living being. It's completely absurd. I'm seventeen years old... I'm not old enough to purchase a pair of scissors without needing ID. If I can't be trusted with a pair of scissors, how can I be trusted to take care of a child? My child. I feel the nausea returning to the back of my throat. My cheeks pale in color and I don't realize I'm being spoken to until I hear Jake's voice snap me out of my shock induced daze.

"Emily?" He gently places a hand on my shoulder.

I jump in surprise before tilting my head back to look up at him. We're standing in the pharmacy aisle searching for a pregnancy test with a date feature. I don't know if they stock them here but it's the only place we could find open so late on Christmas Eve. I haven't had a period in a long time which only deepens the nausea swirling around in my stomach. How long have I been unknowingly pregnant? Facing the unknown only worsens the sickness consuming me. Jake's ocean blue eyes are filled with concern as he drinks in my pale face. He slips a hand through mine before giving it a gentle squeeze. The small action slows down the ferocious thumping of my heart and I find myself leaning into his chest for support. He weaves a hand through the back of my hair before pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"I'm right here, Wentworth."

I breathe in his comforting scent that I've always found soothing. It's one of the reasons I was so drawn to him a year ago when we first met. A mere twelve months... It's such a short space of time for so much to have happened.

"I can't do this right now," I whisper to him.

My legs weaken underneath me and Jake nods in acceptance. He doesn't question my change of mind or argue against it. He gently tugs my hand in the direction of the exit and I gratefully allow him to take the lead. Once we're back inside his car, I stare straight ahead before breaking down into tears. Jake reaches over to release my seatbelt before he pulls me into his lap with ease. Within a split second, I'm wrapped up inside his strong arms. All I wanted was one perfect Christmas. I've looked forward to this Christmas since I left my abusive home and found a home with Jake and his family. I'd already planned the day. I bought presents two months early, wrapped them and eagerly waited to decorate the tree so I could place them underneath. I haven't had a fun-filled Christmas since my father died when I was a child. This Christmas was supposed to make up for all of the miserable years.

"I'm sorry, I ruined Christmas." I whisper with disappointment. Jake stiffens underneath me and I feel him intake a sharp breath.

"You didn't ruin anything, Wentworth. You have nothing to be sorry for."

I can't help feeling responsible. The baby is growing inside me. I should have known I was pregnant. How can I be growing a human inside me and not be aware of it? My hand gathers a fistful of his shirt and I cling onto him with desperation. I have no idea how he feels about the pregnancy. When I first told him, he threw up with surprise. That can't be a good reaction. His Mom, Aunt Myra and his cousins began to question us both. I didn't know how to answer any of their questions so Jake grabbed my hand and we both fled from the chaos surrounding us. Whenever I've needed to run away from a situation, Jake has always been right by my side.

"What are we going to do, Jake? I can't be a parent. I don't know the first thing about parenting."

Jake pulls back before wrapping his fingers around my chin. He tilts my head up so I'm looking directly at him. The blue in his eyes reminds me of the ocean and I feel a level of calm wash over me. His eyes skip over every little feature on my face before he gives me a small smile of reassurance. His smile will always cause my heart to skip a beat.