Southern Sunrise (Southern 4)

“No, she’s fine,” I say, and she opens her eyes, looking at me, confused. “She’s up now.”

“What are you doing?” she says, moving away from my hand.

“Mom, she has no fever,” I tell my mother and see Emily close her eyes again.

“I’m taking her to the emergency room,” I tell my mother and Emily, who opens her eyes again.

“I’ll meet you there,” my mother says at the same time Emily says, “No, I’m fine.”

“Honey,” my mother says. “Go talk to Emily and let me know what you decide. If you want, I’ll come with you guys.”

“Okay, Mom,” I say, hanging up the phone and getting on my knees, but Emily sits up now. “Seriously, maybe you caught something at the cabin.”

“I didn’t catch anything at the cabin,” she tells me, pushing me away, getting up, and then walking to the bedroom with me following her. “I was,” she starts to tell me, and she has this stick in her hand. “I had this whole thing I was going to say, but I’m just too tired.”

“What do you mean?” I say, grabbing the stick and seeing what it is.

Pregnant

Is written in the middle of the small clear window. “Oh my god,” I say, putting my hand to my mouth.

“I know it’s crazy.” She shakes her head. “Jenna brought it over today, and well, I didn’t think anything of it, but I am late by two days.”

“You’re having my baby?” I say, my chest feeling so full it might crack open. “Holy shit. My boys got the job done.” She looks at me shocked now. “What? We had sex six times a day. How did you not think you were going to end up pregnant?”

“You wanted me pregnant?” she asks, and I shrug but then smile.

“Do you not want to be pregnant by me?” I ask, suddenly getting scared that she doesn’t want this.

“Of course I do, but I didn’t expect to get knocked up month one,” she tells me and then puts her hand on her stomach. “We’ve made a baby.”

“We did,” I say, smiling.

“Baby McIntyre,” she says, and I look at her.

I walk to her and kiss her lips. “I have to do something,” I say. “One last thing. I was going to do this at a later date, but I need to do it now.”

“Are you going to tell me what it is?” she asks and I nod.

“As soon as I get back.” I kiss her lips. “Lie down and don’t move.”

“What?” she says to me.

“You have to rest, and you need to get medical leave. I’m going to see about maybe getting a wheelchair and stuff so you don’t have to stand. Or I can just ask Grandma to move in here and help out until the baby is born,” I say, grabbing my keys, and she just looks at me. “I’ll be back.”

“Can you bring back normal Ethan when you do that?” she tells me, and I run back in and kiss her.

I get in the truck and rush over to my father’s house. I’m about to ring the doorbell when it opens, and Travis comes out, and he smells like he’s in heat. “What the fuck is that smell?”

“It’s Abercrombie,” he says, puffing out his chest. “It’s what the guys wear.”

“To attract bugs maybe. Jesus,” I say, fanning the air away from my nose. “Is Dad here?”

“Yeah, he’s inside with Mom. They were making out.” He grimaces. “So gross.”

I walk inside, and sure enough, he has her in his arms, and he’s talking in her ear. “Hey,” I say, and Kallie looks up and smiles at me. “I …” I say, pointing at the hall. “Travis let me in.”

“Stop that shit,” Kallie says. “And the next time you use the bell, I’m going to Taser you.”

“Isn’t that illegal?” I ask, my eyebrows shooting up.

“I know someone,” she says, and my father laughs at her.

“What’s up? You look frazzled.” He looks at me and grabs the beer that’s on the counter and brings it to his lips.

“Can I speak with you?” I ask and then look at Kallie. “Kind of man things.”

“Oh, good God.” She puts her hands up. “I don’t even want to know. The last time you said that, you put condoms on all my bananas.”

“I was practicing,” I say as she walks away. “I got an A in that class.”

“Yet, you failed biology!” she shouts back.

“That was gross. They wanted me to cut open a frog, Kallie. You know I don’t like those things!” I shout at her retreating back and look at my father, who tries not to laugh. “I hate frogs.”

“I know, trust me, I know,” he says. “So what’s up?”

“Emily is pregnant.” I come right out and say it, and I swear I can’t help but smile so big I think my face is going to crack. “She’s having my baby.”