Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“We don’t care who you thought it was. I want to know what you have to say for yourself. Why am I hearing about an illicit affair with a basketball player who already had a fiancée and baby on the way and now you’re pregnant? Is this true?” I really want to say only some of it is true, but right now might not be the time to be a smart ass.
“I am pregnant, yes. Nick is a basketball player. He is not engaged, and that other baby might not be his.” There. Answered factually and without all of the annoyance I feel.
“This is not how an intellectual woman of science, in charge of one of the most sought-after programs in the United States behaves, young lady,” My mom chimes in. I can hear the sneer in her voice as she speaks and I want to retort a lot about her behavior, but I don't. “How far along are you?” My father asks. The question makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“Eight weeks.” He sighs and I swear it sounds like relief.
“Oh well all is not lost. You are still within the timeframe to right this before it becomes a disaster.” My mind processes his words slowly, trying to find a meaning in them that I am mishearing, but when my mom cosigns his declaration, anger surges in me and I no longer care about their place in my life.
“Are you suggesting I terminate this pregnancy?” Please say no. Please say no.
“You are damn right. You are at the pinnacle of your career. At this age, most scientists would only dream of being in charge of a government project that could change the world. You should…” Having heard enough I cut him off.
“Stop! Don't say another word.”
“I beg your pardon,” he sputters, not used to being shut down.
“I said shut up. Don’t you dare sit on this phone with me and tell me I should not bring this life that God and the Universe has given me, into the world. I knew you would be upset and disappointed even, but I never thought you would be… downright disrespectful and without thought for your words. My baby is going to come here, and it seems it will be without grandparents, but it damn sure will be to a mom who wants it and a dad who is trying to make things better for him or her now. I suggest you either get on board or disappear. And as for my career, I will decide how far it goes and how much more important to me it is than my own child.” Of course, tears are streaming down my face I hang up.
Aimlessly I walk around his kitchen, crying, holding my stomach trying not to let the orange juice that has been doing wonders, turn sour. “I’m so sorry, raspberry. I promise I want you. And nothing will be more important than you.” I promise my baby in a space filled with silence and promise. “I suppose I should believe in your dad too, huh? Give us a chance to be a family?” I have been thinking about it since I have been here and had a taste of how it could be.
Nick is attentive and thoughtful. Caring and contemplative about all of his choices. Not to mention crazy. Do you know he bought every pregnancy and first-time parents book he could find and had them delivered overnight from Amazon? He spent three hours last night engrossed in What to Expect When You're Expecting. I watched his eyes grow wide and then squinting. His thinking face. Then he proceeded to tell me what I can and can’t eat, he had groceries delivered late last night for cravings, and then messaged his maid to bring an extra girl or so to clear out anything that would be toxic for me or the baby. See, crazy. He even told her to buy chemical free cleaning products to clean the house. I mean the man is a maniac.
I find it endearing though, how invested and serious he is about this baby and me. Bzzz. Gate opening. His computerized camera system announces when cars come and go. I smile thinking it might be Nick, since no one is expected, and the phone didn’t ring to ask if I was expecting visitors.
I wipe my face, so he doesn’t see I was upset and walk to the door, trying to smile. He gets pissed if he thinks something upset me. The door opens and I smile, before the smile drops and my arms cross. “What are you doing here and how did you get past security?” I ask the one person stopping me from jumping into this with both feet.
“How do you think I got through? They are used to seeing me here, Rose, is it?” She walks through his kitchen like she is familiar with it and my arms start to itch.