“What’s going on, Sloane?”
I bit my bottom lip, trying my hardest not to burst into tears. “I’m pregnant,” I blurted.
My brother reached a
cross the table and held his hands out to me. “I, um, don’t know what to say, Sloane.”
“I know. It’s hard.”
“Do the parents know?”
“No one knows, except the doctor and nurses I’ve seen.”
“What about the father?”
“Not in the picture and never will be.”
Knox nodded with scrunched eyes.
“Are you going to be able to handle that?” I asked, smiling for the first time, it seemed, since Friday.
My brother lowered his head momentarily, then looked back up at me. “Yes.”
“Simple as that?”
Knox’s eyes filled with tears, which he quickly tried to hide. “I told you at the airport, that day, that I want to be a better brother to you. I meant it. I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel that I’m the person you reached out to for help.”
“You understand I don’t want anyone to know about this.”
He smiled. “There will come a time they’re gonna know, peanut.” The look on his face changed. “I mean, if you’re going to…you know.”
“Have the baby?”
“Yeah.”
“I have to, Knox.”
“I get it, Sloane. I mean that. I hope you know I wasn’t suggesting anything else.”
I nodded. “I do.”
“You’re sure about the father not being in the picture?”
“One hundred percent.” I turned my head away, feeling the onslaught of more tears.
“Look, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m here. Whatever you need. I’m your guy.”
I smiled through my tears. “Thanks, Knox.”
“When do you plan to tell Mom and Dad?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Fair enough.”
“I have a question for you.”
“Can I get you two something to eat?” said the waitress who’d finally approached our table.