The One and Only

Part eight

Them being away was a lot harder than I thought it'd be, I had the feeling that it was an effort to talk to one another every night. I hated that it felt like that. I didn't want him feeling like he needed to call me in order for me to be okay, I wanted it to be natural, just a quick 'hey beautiful' or 'morning sunshine' text was plenty for me. I didn't need a daily phone call, though I adored hearing his voice everyday, he was too busy to talk much most times so it wasn't really even talking. I look over as my phone rings, the publisher looks at me expectantly.
"Sorry." I apologize ignoring the call from my boyfriend before texting him. 'In a meeting, call you later.'
'Can't going on in 5.' He texts back instantly making me sigh before looking back up at the man talking about the book. Before I knew what was happening we were signing the contract saying we'd produce at least a hundred first copies. I couldn't believe how fast life moved after that. Before long the guys were home, but now it was my turn to tell Shannon I didn't have time for him. Every time I ignored a call or texted that 'I can't right now' message my heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. It'd been about a month since the signing and the book was a hit. We were standing on stage, doing a reading to the children, when I felt the bile rise in my throat. I covered my mouth and cleared my throat, hoping the feeling would go away, but it didn't. I look at Alisha, who looks concerned, but I just wave my hand at her so she can continue to read. I thought it was just nerves, about being in front of so many different people at once, but when it happened the next night when I was sitting on the couch drawing, I wasn't thinking that anymore. I waited a week for deciding it was serious.
"Are you alright Alice?" Anthony asks as he plays with Makayla on the floor.
"Yeah, I just don't feel well." I say sighing as I lay on the couch.
"She's pregnant." Alisha says rolling her eyes.
"No I'm not." I say rolling my eyes back at her. She shakes her head again before sighing and getting up off the couch, motioning for me to follow after her. Slowly I get up and follow her down the hall to the bathroom. We'd signed the contract for the condo not too long before this, it'd really only been about two weeks. She holds up a pink box with a pregnant woman on it.
"I may not have gotten morning sickness with Makayla, but let me tell you something. You definitely have it." I look down at the box before chewing my lip. I mean, it's possible, but do I really want to get my hopes up and then have it come out negative?
"Will you stay with me?"
"Of course." She gives me a gentle smile before turning around so I can pee in somewhat peace. We sit in the bathroom staring at the white and purple stick for ten whole minutes before the pink lines start to appear. At first it was only one, saying that it wasn't pregnant, but then slowly, the second one started to appear. I felt my heart stop when I saw the double pink lines. I'm pregnant. It's real, she's right, I'm pregnant. I felt the bile rise in my throat again and I ran for the toilet, Alisha holding back my hair. "It's okay." She reassures me. But is it? Shannon had said a family wasn't in his plan and now, the little slut he saved, is pregnant with his child. I'm nineteen years old, how the fuck does that not look weird? He's four years younger than my father. I feel my stomach churn again. He's going to hate me I know it. "Alice?"
"I-I can't tell him yet."
"It's gonna be okay."
"I hope so." I mutter leaving the bathroom. A baby? Me with a baby? Makayla's one thing but to have my own, to have one I can't pass back to its mother, is terrifying. I know that deep down Shannon's going to be ecstatic, but that doesn't stop the fear from consuming me. I can't tell him over the phone not yet. I need to tell him in person it's the least that I can do.
Days had passed and finally the boys were coming home. Alisha sat on my bed as I looked over the dark blue Maxi dress I was wearing. I felt weird and insecure. I'd hardly ever felt like that only after the incident in high school. I hate the hard time from my mind, not needing to remember it when I have so much to be grateful for now. I look up at Alisha on the bed through the mirror.
"Do you like this one?" I ask sheepishly.
"Alice, enough, you look fantastic, now go get the father of your baby from the airport." She says pushing me toward the door.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Will you be okay?"
"Of course I will."
"Okay, I'll be back later."
"No, no, go ahead. Shoe go be happy." She swats me out the door before closing it. I take a deep breath before walking down the stairs for my Honda Pilot. I get behind the wheel, my heart hammering in my chest as I drive to the airport. This would be the first time I get to see him since he left. I feel the tears stinging my eyes as I pull into a parking spot in the pick up area. I get out slowly making my way through the people when I spot Jared.
My heart fills with pure joy. I can't help myself. The second he comes into view I break into a sprint. He drops his backs ready to meet me halfway. I leap into his arms, sobbing like a child that's lost its mother, pushing him to the ground, but he refuses to let me go. I pull him in as close as I can get him, my legs locked around his hips, my arms strangling his neck as he crushes my ribs in a tight hold.
"I've miss you so much." I choke out, sobbing harder.
"I've missed you too." He whispers pulling me closer before getting up to help me off the ground, but I make sure I hug him again the second he's steady on his feet. He grunts at the impact again, but I don't care.
"I love you so much." I admit in the heat of the moment. I feel his breath catch in his throat, his muscles tensing before he pulls back.
"Say it again." He breathes his forehead touching mine gently.
"I love you so unbearably much." I hiccup.
"I love you too." He whispers back his thumbs wiping away my salty tears.
"I have to tell you something. But I'm sure you're hungry so come on." I grab his hand after he's gotten his bags pulling him out to the car. I drive to the a restaurant and we get a table and order before I look up at him.
"So what do you have to tell me?"
"Well um... while you're away... I got really sick... and um... I found out that um... that I'm... that we're... um well we're pregnant." He stares at me. His face void of emotion as he process what I said.
"I'm sorry we're what?"
"I'm... pregnant." I could see the shock wash over his face as he looks away from me. His face a shade of white. "Shannon?" I call out to him, my hand gently coming over his as it rests on the table. "Shannon, please look at me." His eyes flutter from the couple beside us to my face once again. "It's gonna be okay." I find myself saying, though I don't believe it much myself. I just had his gut wrenching feeling.
"I know." He says lowly. "But... you're pregnant?"
"I have a doctors appointment tomorrow if you want to join."
"Of course I'll go with you." He says quickly. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else." As he smiles at me I start to think that maybe we really will be okay. That night I go home with Shannon.

The next day we sit side by side in the doctor's office. He looks at a 'mommy & me' pamphlet making horrified faces.
"Look at this." He points to a picture of a woman giving birth.
"Please Shannon I already feel like I'm going to be sick, don't make it worse." Chuckling gently he folds the page over to look at another one.
"You're gonna go through that in a few months, don't you think you should know that your vigina stretches-"
"Ahh stop." I say covering my ears, squeezing my thighs closed. Chuckling again Shannon look up as the nurse tells us they're ready. We follow her down the short hallway to the examination room. I settle myself on the table, following the nurse's instructions waiting for the doctor. Shannon nervously paces the room, looking at all the pictures on the wall.
"They have pictures of every baby they've ever delivered." He was looking at a bulletin board on the left. "Look it's Makayla." He says pointing to one of the pictures before looking at me.
"Yeah." I confirm just as the doctor comes in. We move through the hundreds of questions before he gets to the ultrasound. The steady heart beat comes through immediately making the doctor chuckle.
"You've got an eager baby."
"Are you the one that delivered Makayla Walsh?" Shannon asks making the doctor laugh again.
"I am, she was an eager baby as well. She was the fastest delivery I've ever done. She came in the yesterday actually."
"Alisha came in yesterday?"
"Are you her friend?"
"Yeah." I mutter. "What was she in for?"
"Same as you." What? I look up at Shannon who's got a look on his face. Alisha's pregnant again? Why didn't she tell me?