“McKenna!” Laramie says forcefully. “Talk to me.”
“Lara—” I start and swallow hard. “I’m late.”
“What?”
I hold up a pregnancy test. “I… was thinking about you and how happy I was for you, and then I realized I couldn’t remember my last period. I had to think, and it was the week before the bar exam.”
“Okay. Well, that was stressful, as well as your gramps having a heart attack. You’re worried about your results, and you’re in a new-ish relationship. That’s a lot going on. I’m sure your cycle is just thrown off.”
“I can’t be pregnant.”
“Would it be that bad?” she asks. “I mean, you’d make me an aunt.” She smiles.
“It’s too soon. It’s my parents all over again,” I tell her, and her smile drops from her face. “I’m so stupid. Here I am trying to make something of myself, and instead, I let history repeat itself.”
“First of all, I don’t want you to refer to yourself as anything like your parents. You and I both know that you’re nothing like either of them. Second of all, my brother isn’t trapped. He’s in love with you.”
“We’ve been dating for like a minute, Laramie. This is what happened with my parents too. Dad felt trapped. He felt like his only option was to marry my mother. Only they never made it to the altar. He disappeared, and she slipped into a state of depression and got hooked on drugs after I was born. I caused that. It was me and my existence. I can’t do that to him. I can’t.”
“Let’s start with one of these.” She holds up a pregnancy test. “Before you start jumping to conclusions, let’s see what we’re working with. And as far as your existence, he’d be lost without you, McKenna. I know your parents messed you up, but believe this when I tell you that Rip loves you. If the test is positive, he’s going to love your baby too. Do you need to call Maggie?”
Laramie is the only person other than my grandparents who knows that I’ve seen a counselor since I was seven. It’s not a frequent thing, usually two or three times a year, just to keep those insecurities that I live with at bay. “Okay.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks. “I’m glad you’re here. I couldn’t do this on my own.”
“Regardless of the results, you won’t be alone. You have my brother, me, our friends, your grandparents, my parents. You have a huge support system.”
“What did your test say?” I ask, realizing I’ve made this moment about me when it was supposed to be about her.
“I haven’t checked yet.”
“Go. Go look.” I push on her arm, and she laughs.
“Come with me.”
She grabs another pregnancy test, I’m assuming for her to take another, and one for me, and together we make our way into the bathroom. Together, we stare down at the test that’s flashing the word pregnant.
“Oh my,” she whispers. “I’m-I’m going to have a baby.” Her arms wrap around me in a fierce hug, and her body shakes with her tears.
“I’m so happy for you,” I tell her. I am. She and Colby have waited a long time to start their lives together. I understand they wanted to be older and make sure that the love they found as teenagers was real. It was a good plan not to rush into anything. So to see them starting the next phase of their life as a married couple and soon-to-be parents makes my heart swell for them. I couldn’t be happier.
“I’m going to take another,” she says, releasing me and wiping the tears from her cheeks. “And you need to take the first.” She hands me a box. “I’m going to step out of the room. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“I don’t know that I’ll ever be ready,” I tell her honestly. At least not right now. Not when I’ve been dating the guy for almost two months, and I’m already pregnant?
Yesterday I was wondering when the other shoe would drop. I guess I got my answer. I knew it was all too good to be true.
Chapter 27
Rip
I finish mucking the last stall sooner than I anticipated. Not that I’m complaining. I need a shower and some snuggle time with McKenna. I’m sure she’s already up and moving. I wonder if I can convince her to lie back down with me for a few hours. I hated leaving her in bed this morning, but there was work to do. Saturdays are supposed to be the days that I get to snuggle and sleep in with her.
Closing up the barn, I head for the house, only to backtrack, deciding to check the mail first. I ordered McKenna a plaque for her office with her name and Attorney at Law underneath it. The last thing I need is for her to grab the mail and intercept the package before me. Not that she makes a habit of getting my mail, but she’s a sweetheart and has stopped a few times on her way in to grab it for me. I got a shipping notification, so I’m expecting it any day now. In addition to that, she’s yet to receive her grades for the bar exam. That means that technically she’s not an Attorney at Law just yet. It’s just a minor detail of her grade. McKenna is wicked smart, and I know she passed.