“Right. Okay.”
We finish our goodbyes, and I take a deep breath, standing from the bed and straightening my oversized shirt a bit. It’s become this habit to wear it, keeping my small and newly formed baby bump hidden from view.
My parents were in the kitchen, cooking something together with music playing in the background. I hear my mom laugh at something my dad says and smile at the two of them.
They had only one goal in life, and it wasn’t to be rich or famous. It was happiness. Part of me wonders if I chose wrong all those years ago.
Where would I be if I had stayed here instead of pursuing my dream of singing? Would Jax and I be together? Raising a family and working normal jobs? Or would he have left anyway, and we would have drifted apart like we did?
I shake the what-if questions from my head and make my way into the kitchen. Leaning against the entry door, I smile at the looks on their faces before clearing my throat.
“Mom? Dad? Can we talk?”
My parents freeze and turn to me, my dad turning the music off and my mom putting whatever’s boiling on low.
“What’s up, buttercup?” my dad asks, leaning on the island. I take a few steps into the kitchen and work up the courage to tell them the truth.
Mom watches me warily, probably ready to brace herself for the reason I came home.
I hope she is ready.
“I know my coming home was quite the surprise.”
“A welcome one.” Mom smiles at me, and I give her a nervous one back.
“Right. Well, I have my reasons for being here. Hollywood is okay for a time, but not all phases of life feel right for me to bethere.” I clear my throat and rest my hands gently on the marble of their small island. “Zack and I broke up, which obviously you saw with the rest of the world.”
I look to my parents. Pity was in my dad’s eyes, but my mom’s looked more murderous. She would be the one who went in for the kill if it was ever necessary.
“That punk didn’t know a good thing.”
I nod my head a little, swallowing past the guilt that was eating me up. “Well, though we broke up, I got a little souvenir from our relationship.”
My parents both pause, concern etched into their expressions, and I lay my hands on my stomach before looking to them both. “I’m pregnant.”
For long few moments, they both just stare in shock. I open my mouth to break the unrelenting tension when my mom’s arms suddenly wrap tightly around my shoulders, her face buried in my neck and tears streaming down her face.
“Oh, honey.” Mom pulls back, and I realize my own tears are falling, matching hers. My dad comes around and wraps his arms around us both.
“You guys aren’t mad?” I ask, my voice cracking with the question.
“Mad? Are you kidding? I get to be a grandpa!” My dad’s deep voice boasts about this news, and I laugh at the excitement I see on his face.
“Mom?” I ask after she wipes away some tears.
“Oh, honey. I’m thrilled for you, for us! I’ve always wanted to be a grandma.” She pauses, frowning at herself. “Well, not always. But once you turned twenty, I was all for it.”
I laugh at their reactions, and Mom takes my hand in hers. “Zack knows?”
“No.” I sigh, letting my tension release from my body, and feel a weight like no other lift from me. I can’t believe howworried I was. “I’ve been trying to reach him, but he’s not picking up.”
“Well, not to worry then. We’ll figure this out.”
“Who else knows?” my dad asks, concern now mixed with his happiness.
“Only Erin, you two, and my doctor.” I shrug. “Which I’m going to have to change since I’m staying here.”
“You’re staying here?” Mom asks, excitement barely concealed behind her hands that cover her mouth.
