Second Chance Holiday (Until 4.5)

“I’m gonna help Mom get her in the car,” Mike says, so I kiss June one more time before passing her over to her grandfather.

“I will call and let you know what November and Susan say about our shopping trip,” Emma says, following Mike out the door.

“Just let me know,” I mutter, hoping that November is quick on her feet.

“Be back in a second,” Mike says.

I watch him carry June to the car and put her in the car seat before kissing his mom’s cheek and coming back up the stairs to me, where we both watch his mom drive away.

“Now will you tell me what’s wrong?” Mike asks as soon as the front door is closed.

I turn to look at him. I want to tell him that I’m pregnant, but the words are stuck in the back of my throat.

“Nothing,” I mumble and head for the kitchen, where I pull out the chicken breast I left to marinate in olive oil and a ranch dressing packet this morning.

“You don’t seem like nothing’s wrong,” he says, watching me.

“I’m fine,” I repeat as I start up the oven and place the chicken on a baking pan, before going into the pantry and getting a few potatoes to peel.

He comes over to where I’m standing at the sink and takes the potato peeler from my hand. Then he sets it on the counter next to the sink before turning me around to face him.

“What happened at the school?” he asks.

It takes a second for the question to register before I respond. “Nothing. Brandon has raised his GPA and the guidance counselor believes that he could get into pretty much any school he wants to,” I tell him.

“Okay, so if it’s not Brandon, then what happened at your appointment?”

“Nothing,” I say then sigh when his eyes narrow. “Okay, promise you won’t freak out.”

“Kat.”

“Just promise.”

“Tell me,” he says.

“I’m pregnant,” I say when I realize that he’s not going to give up or promise me that he won’t freak out.

His body stills and his face goes blank immediately. “What?” he whispers so quietly that I more read his lips then hear the words.

“I’m pregnant,” I repeat. I’m completely shocked that the words are coming out of my mouth.

I know a few women who waited until later in life to have children. I never thought that I would be having another child. I was sure that I wasn’t even able to. When I was with my husband, we never used anything to prevent pregnancy. It just never happened. Plus, breast cancer runs in my family and my doctor advised against the pill.

“How did that happen?” Mike mumbles.

I close my eyes and drop my head. “Unprotected sex and stupidity,” I answer, opening my eyes and looking at him.

His eyes roam over me then land on my stomach. “You’re sure?”

I don’t even say anything—I just walk to my bag, pull out the internal ultrasound pictures, and hand them to him.

“You’re pregnant,” he says, looking at the picture.

“I am.”

“How far along are you?”

“He thinks eleven weeks,” I say quietly, closely watching his face.

“Do you…” He stops to look at me and I see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. “Do you want to keep it?”

Shit. Through all of this, I haven’t even thought about not keeping him or her. I nod then bite my lip to keep from crying.

“Jesus, I don’t even know what to say about this,” he says, looking back down at the pictures.

“I don’t know either.”

“Will you be okay?” he asks, looking at me again.

“The doctor assured me that the baby and me should be fine.”

“You’re sure?”

“There are risks at my age, but he says they are minimal considering how healthy I am.”

His body relaxes and his hands pull me closer as he shoves his face into my neck. “I’m scared to death but happy as hell,” he says against my neck.

“Me too,” I say, pushing my fingers through his hair.

“I think it’s going to take a few days for this to sink in.”

I smile as he kisses my neck before he pulls away and puts his hands on either side of my face.

“You’re pregnant,” he says, and I nod. “With my baby.”

I smile and whisper, “Yes.”

“Wow.” He pulls my face towards his.

When I’m close enough, his lips press against mine. His tongue runs over my bottom lip and my mouth instinctively opens up under his. My hands fist into the front of his shirt so I can keep standing as his taste and the feel of his hands tangling into my hair cause my legs to go weak.

“You guys have a whole house. Do you have to do that in the middle of the kitchen?” Brandon says, breaking the moment.

Mike pulls his mouth from mine then smiles, looking over at Brandon. “Thought for sure that we would be on our own in a year. Looks like we have along ways to go until we have an empty house,” Mike says quietly.

“What?” Brandon asks, walking fully into the kitchen. I notice that he’s dressed in a nice sweeter and a pair of dark jeans that actually fit him.

“How do you feel about me marrying your mom?” Mike asks, and my stomach drops.

“What?” I whisper.

“I’m cool with it,” Brandon says with a shrug.

“Do me a favor and run out to my car. There’s a box in the glove box. Can you bring it to me?” Mike asks.

Brandon looks at me then Mike and heads towards the front door. I stand there, stunned, as Mike turns to face me.

“Give me one second, babe.”

I don’t say anything. I don’t breathe or even blink as he heads towards the direction where Brandon just left. It feels like an eternity for them to come back. When they come back around the corner, Mike is holding a small box in his hand and Brandon is behind him with a large smile on his face.

“How do you feel about marrying me?” Mike asks, pulling my hand towards him and slipping the perfectly simple diamond ring on my finger.

“I had no idea,” I stutter, looking at the ring on my finger. His laugh causes my head to come up and my eyes to meet his.

“I think that’s the point, Kitten,” he says softly as his hands come up to hold my face.

“You want to get married?” I ask him.

“Yes. I planned on asking you this weekend, but this seems like the perfect time to me,” he says. Then he looks over at Brandon before looking back at me. “So what do you say? Will you and Brandon both take my last name?”

“What?”

“You and Brandon are mine and I would like it if we we’re all Rouger’s.”

“I say yes,” Brandon says, coming over to put his arm around my shoulder.

“Oh my God,” I whisper, feeling a tear slide down my cheek.

“What do you say?” he asks again.

I tilt my head back to look at Brandon, who looks at me and nods, kissing the side of my head. “Yes,” I say through my tears when my eyes meet Mike’s again.

As soon as the word leaves my mouth, Mike’s hands wrap into the back of my hair and his mouth crashes down onto mine.

“Can you guys control yourselves at least until I don’t have to see it?” I hear Brandon say. I can tell by his tone that he’s smiling.

I kiss Mike once more before whispering, “I love you,” against his lips and then leaning back.

“Were you serious about us both having your last name?” Brandon asks after a minute.

“Yes,” Mike replies, pulling me around to tuck me under his arm. “I would be honored if you had my last name.”