Page 41 of Acceptance
They stay in that position until it becomes too uncomfortable for him. Slowly lowering her belly, he feels a strange sense of pride to have helped her out.
“Thank you, Kent. That was the first moment of relief I’ve had in months.”
“My pleasure. When are you due?”
She counts on her fingers. “About three weeks, but I have a suspicion this little thing is gonna come early.”
“You don’t know what you’re having?”
Shaking her head, she moves to sit on her bed, her hands on her back to stretch. “Nope, I wanna be surprised. Plus, it’s just one more thing that drives Mom crazy, so it’s kind of a bonus. If he or she comes soon, we may just share a birthday.”
Kent sits in the rocking chair that probably makes him look like a giant in a kid’s chair and smiles. “When’s that?”
“Saturday. I’ll be seventeen.”
“Happy early birthday. What are you doing?”
She motions in front of her to the crib, and he looks around the room for the first time since entering it. It’s a typical girl’s room,something he’s familiar with because of his sister, Martha. The chuckle comes as he sees the posters on the wall.
Of course, she’s a fan of some preppy looking singer I’ve never heard of before. Typical.
“You don’t have plans with your parents? Your birthday will be setting up a crib?”
“It’s my birthday present,” she says with a shrug. “I’ll probably see if Dad will help me put it together. Mom is terrible at assembling things, but she’ll never admit it to anyone.”
Staring, he tries to make it make sense. “That’s not a birthday present. Or a way to spend your birthday.”
“Well, my other option was an invitation from all of my friends to go clubbing, but I figured it was probably a bad idea. Swollen feet. Take my situation as a lesson, Kent. Always,alwayswear a condom.”
“I’m not sure if I’m allowed to ask this, but is the father going to be around at all? Or help you out financially?”
Shaking her head, she licks her lips, her eyes not quite meeting his. “No, he pretty much just pretends I don’t exist and what we did to get here never happened.”
“Asshole.”
“Yeah, that’s kind of my sentiment, too. But… here I am. Can’t change it, and I’m going to be the best mother I can be.”
Her long, brown hair hangs down in natural waves, balancing out her round face. She’s always been cute, but the poor girl was born with her father’s shoulders. Everything about her is petite.Waspetite.
“How about this? I’ll put the crib together for you now, and we’ll make plans to go out to eat on Saturday.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know. I want to. You’re only seventeen once.”
Her face scrunches up, and she presses a hand on her belly. “If you’re sure.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, the baby’s just really kicking right now.”
Kent hops up and moves towards her. “Can I feel?”
Smiling, Gracie takes his hand and places it on her belly. Beneath his palm is a little flutter, and he stares in wonder.There’s a real, live baby in there.
The concept was something he always knew. He did graduate from high school and took all the necessary classes, but he’s never really paid attention to it in reality. He was pretty young when his mom was pregnant with Martha, so he doesn’t remember much of it.
There is a tiny human living inside her. This little being is using her body as a warm, cozy home, and she’s nourishing him or her to grow.
