Page 104 of The Surprise
I’m eighteen.
I can’t be pregnant.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
How can this be my life?
“I haven’t given away a baby blanket since I lost Stanley.” Dolores’ voice is soft. “I want you to listen to me, Beth. No matter what you decide to do about this, no matter whether you keep this baby or whether you give it up, it will be okay.” She presses a hand to my cheek. “I promise.”
I wish I could believe her.
20
Beth
When I was a kid, I thought that when I grew up, I’d be able to do whatever I wanted. I thought that ranchers were ranchers because they chose it. I thought my teachers were teachers because that’s what they wanted to do.
After all, why else would they do it?
I convinced Hannah’s uncle Bob to hire me to run fishing tours to the reservoir by telling him that I could earn him extra revenue by taking photos and selling picture packages. I told him I wasn’t entirely certain that my photos would be good enough to ‘lure’ people, and I cringed when I made the bad fishing pun.
But the people who come out here are super corny and they love puns. And lucky for me, theylovemy photos. Most of them don’t want to risk using their phones while toting all their fishing gear. By the time I’m halfway through my spiel, they usually fork over the fifty dollars for the complete photo package.
Bob lets me keep half of the fee for the packages, and he pays me for taking them out on the tours. It’s not exactly the kind of photography I wanted to do. But it’s putting money in the bank, faster than I thought it would, thanks to Aunt Donna’s generosity in letting me stay with her for free, and it’s photography. Sort of. Plus, I learn to drive a boat.
But, still.
What I do not expect the morning after I confess my crime to Ethan is for my private party hire to be. . .Ethan Brooks.
Given our history, maybe I should have expected it.
“No.” I press my lips together to keep from saying anything else.
“You can’t refuse me,” he says. “I’ve already paid.”
“I can refuse you.” I scowl. “Because I have a stomachache.”
“Look, I just want to go fishing, I swear.”
“You just want to go fishing?”
“I used to do it with my dad,” he says softly.
“You did?”
He stares at me.
Now I feel lousy. “Really?”
“I didn’t even know you worked here.”
Oh. So, I’m the jerk. Ugh. “Okay, fine.” Also, fate hates me.
This is going to be a long day. I don’t even offer him the photo package. If Bob complains, he can suck it.
Ethan’s a complete gentleman all the way out. Once we reach the part of the reservoir where people usually fish, I relax a bit. He hasn’t said a word. Nothing at all. It’s rare that I come out here with only one person. Usually it’s as many people as they can cram into the boat. The talking, and the jokes, and the entertaining can be exhausting. I mean, this is a little awkward, given who it is. Also, the timing’s super suspicious. But he hasn’t said a single word, so maybe—
“Now that we’re out here,” he says.
