Suddenly His

Ten minutes later, I’m staring down at double pink lines, laughing breathlessly to myself.

Holy moly.

I’m pregnant with Jack’s baby. It must have happened Friday night, before my birth control started working. When he came inside me after promising he wouldn’t—that’s when it happened. If there was ever proof that Jack Lincoln gets his way in the end, this is definitely it. But I’m happy to let him this time, because I want to share in the amazing news with him. The way we got here was complicated, but we overcame the doubts and the result is…a life together. With a baby.

I can’t believe I get to tell him I love him and I’m pregnant in the same day.

And maybe because I’ll always love my mother, no matter what she does, I find myself needing to confide the news to her, too. Right away.

Leaving the test balanced on the edge of the wastebasket, I wash my hands and return to the bedroom, picking up my phone where I left it. With a deep breath for courage, I dial her number, giddy, musing how much has changed since the last time my mother and I exchanged words. I’ve fallen in love. I’ve become one half of a couple with a man I adore, who adores me back. I’ve behaved in truly naughty fashion…and enjoyed every second of it.

And now I’m going to have a child.

I’m definitely not the same girl I was walking into that party on Friday night, timid and scared of the unknown. I could have allowed Jack to swallow me whole with his demands, but I stuck to my guns and now we’ve reached common ground.

He gave me my freedom and I chose him.

It’s exciting. I’m happy. So happy. And I just want Jack to get home so we can make love again. Or maybe have another Nerf battle.

After everything that’s happened, I’m brave enough to face my mother, too, aren’t I?

Yes.

Bolstered, I listen to the phone ring for the third time. Fourth.

Just when I think she isn’t going to pick up, she does.

“Hi, Maisy,” she says quietly.

“Mom.” I swallow. “Hi.”

A beat passes. “Are you still…with Mr. Lincoln?”

“Yes.” I press a hand to my flat belly. “I’m definitely with him. I will be for a long time.”

If I sense a trace of skepticism on the other end of the line, I’m too high on excitement to address it. “Maisy, about the money. And the trip I planned…” Her voice sounds unnatural, but that’s probably because she’s emotional and usually she’s very stoic. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. That was wrong of me. It’s just…I’ve worked and worked all my life and I just wanted something for myself. Maybe someday you will understand. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”

“I know. And I forgive you for not telling me.” I think I would forgive just about anything in this moment because I’m so happy, soaring on the wings of a beautiful breeze. “Mom, I want you to be happy. I want you to go to Belize. The money is yours, okay? The tickets and everything. You can have it all back. Jack was just upset over you leaving me, but I know eventually he’ll be glad we returned the money, too.”

There’s a sharp intake of breath. “Do you mean it?”

I smile. “Yes. As soon as Jack comes home, we’ll drive over and drop it off. I can pick up some more of my things, too.”

There’s a muffled sound, as if she’s covered the receiver. “I can come there right now.”

“Oh.” My neck is beginning to prickle. “Um…I don’t know. I don’t want to call Jack and bother him at work, but…”

But he fired my mother.

I should probably talk to Jack before letting her back on the property, right?

Still, she’s my mother. If I’m going to live here, there’s a real possibility she’ll be coming here to visit. And it’s not like she’s dangerous or something, just because she was deceptive.

“I won’t stay long, Maisy. Please? Without your contribution from last week and no money coming in from Mr. Lincoln, I’m flat broke.”

It occurs to me that I’m the proud new owner of two million bucks.

“Oh, I have an idea. I can transfer you some funds—”

“Then I’d have to withdraw that big amount from the bank.” She makes a gagging sound. “I’d rather not. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, okay?”

“Okay,” I say weakly, the phone dropping to my side when it goes dead.

I didn’t even get a chance to tell her I’m pregnant.

Because it didn’t feel right.

Something didn’t feel right.

Struggling against the urge to call Jack, possibly interrupting an important meeting, I pace the room for fifteen minutes, then pick up the envelope of money and airline ticket to Belize. I try to ignore the churning sensation in my stomach when I hear the familiar sound of her car pulling up out front. There doesn’t seem to be anyone downstairs in the house, not Bonnie or Charles. It’s so silent.