I'm Not Dead

Chapter Nineteen

"Halley Jade Vaughn-Finnley. For a girl."

"Halley spelled how?"

"H-A-L-L-E-Y. Like the comet."

"Okay. If it's a girl, which it won't be. Halley Jade Vaughn-Finnley." I smiled at Laura and kissed her forehead. Laura is now thirteen weeks along, and is showing. She avoids her cheer uniform as much as possible, and hates that there's still months left until she'll be done with cheer. Football season is over, but basketball season is in full swing.

At least she's not a flyer.

Christmas break starts next week. She's loathing seeing her family. She says she'll wear sweaters and won't tell them, not yet. She might tell her grandparents. She hopes that her brother will keep quite.

I want to be there. It's not like my family ever does anything.

I'm going to ask if I could come along with her. The only thing we do is open presents Christmas day. That's it. We used to do other family things, but after all the grandparents and aunts and uncles started to die out so did those traditions.

I ended up going along with Laura for Christmas, spending Christmas Eve with her family. Her brother flew in from Washington, so he was there. Laura didn't introduce us, I don't think she needed to. He knew who I was, I knew who he was.

I was the fuck who got his sister pregnant.

Laura took me around and introduced me to her grandparents. "Elliot, this is my Grandma Ruth, and my Grandpa Beck." Her face lit in a slight blush as she said the two names. They were the two family names. I smiled as I shook their hands.

"Very nice to meet you two." I said, doing my best to be my best. I felt a little over dressed, even though I was just in a button up and dress pants. Laura was in a loose-fitting sweater and leggings. I don't think anyway knew.

After milling around, and meeting almost all of Laura's large family, we ate dinner. There were two tables: adults and kids. Laura and I were placed at the kids table along with her other cousins, ages ranging from four to seventeen.

"When do you graduate?"

"When you turn eighteen."

Laura's brother was at the adults' table. He worried me, I just felt like he would be the one to tell everyone.

Once dinner was finished and cleaned—which Laura and I helped clean up—the family migrated to sit around the tree and hand out gifts.

I've been debating whether I want to marry Laura or not, and I do. Debating isn't the right word. I just don't want it all to seem like what it is: a shotgun wedding. I do love Laura, and I would wish to marry her anyway, baby or no baby. And for her Christmas gift I thought about getting her a ring. But I'm not going to pop the question here in front of her whole family.

Some of the younger kids helped to pass out gifts. Most everyone got two or three.

Laura handed me a small envelope and I frowned. "I didn't bring your gift."

"It's fine. I have another gift later."

I opened the envelope and pulled out what was inside. It was an ultrasound, of our baby. I put it back quickly, hoping that no one had seen. "When'd you get that done?"

Laura smiled. "Doesn't matter. I was hoping we could find out the gender from this ultrasound, but he said it was too early. It'll still be another few weeks."

I hugged Laura. "No, this is perfect."

Laura opened her gifts from her family. A t-shirt, a pair of socks, and a gift card. Once everyone was finished with their gifts, Laura's brother, Michael, stood up.

"I have an announcement." He said, looking at Laura.

"Oh shit." I said. Laura squeezed my hand.

"Laura, would you stand up."

Laura shook her head, hatred in her eyes. "Michael don't."

"Laura,"

"Michael don't do this." I said. "We're just trying to have a good time."

"What's going on?" Beck asked, concerned. "Laura what's he trying to tell us?"

Great. Now the tables have turned. Now she has to say it. Laura crossed her arms and looked down. "Just tell them, Michael. They were going to find out anyway." She spat. I squeezed her hand tight.

Michael raised his wine glass. "Laura's pregnant." He smirked. "Laura and her boyfriend Elliot are going to raise a child together."

Laura took a deep breath. Ruth let out a little gasp. "Is that true?"

Laura stood up and rushed out of the room, heading to the back of the house. I stood up and went after her, cursing Michael and his fucking fuck face silently.

Thanks for ruining Christmas.

By the time I got to Laura, she had locked herself in the bathroom. I knocked. "Laura, come on let me in." I kept knocking.

I glanced down the hall to see a good amount of her family looking at me. I lowered my voice. "Laura, your family is watching me. Please let me in." I knocked lightly, trying to ignore their prying eyes.

"Laura please."

Very hesitantly, the door unlocked. I opened it and went inside. Laura sat down on the toilet, her eyes rimmed red. I locked the door behind me.

I took Laura's shaky hands in mine. "Laura,"

She looked away. "God, Elliot. What do they think of me? God, they've all seen me grow up and now..."

"Laura,"

"All because of my damn brother."

"Laura,"

"What?"

"Who cares what they think?"

"Elliot, they're my family. I care what they think." Laura put a hand on her stomach. "I was going to tell them, just not now. Not so suddenly." She wiped away a tear from her eye.

"Laura, let's go out there, and we'll talk to everyone. They're your family, and I hardly know them, but I can tell they all love you so much." I took her hands and stood up, pulling Laura up too. She looked in the mirror and took a few deep breaths.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Ready."

I opened the door.