Just as she got up to rinse her breakfast dishes, she heard the slam of his truck door in her driveway. She had the front door open before he could even ring the bell.
“I didn’t think you’d come.”
He stepped inside as she stepped to the side. “I had no reason not to come back. I’m not the one who suggested I leave in the first place.”
He smelled like fresh spicy soap and aftershave. She wanted to step closer to him and let him wrap his strong arms around her, but he slipped his hands into his pockets and stood next to her couch.
“Would you like some tea?”
“No, thanks. Listen, I did exactly what you asked me to do. My opinion and thoughts about the subject haven’t changed.”
Her heart leaped at his words. “You seriously don’t have a problem with the fact that I’m pregnant by another man?”
She watched the emotions danced across his eyes, but his expression stayed very mild. “I have a problem with the fact that a man hurt you. That he lied to you and used you, then discarded you. What if I met you and you already had a kid from another man? Is that supposed to change the way that I feel about you? Because I don’t think it would.”
She clasped her hands together so that he couldn’t see how much they shook. “I don’t know what the next few months are going to do to my body.” Her breath hitched. “I’m going to get fat…”
His eyes flashed, and he grimaced. “So now you’re adding shallow to my list of attributes?”
She gasped. “No! I think if I was having your baby, the things my body was going to go through would be things we would anticipate and celebrate. But that isn’t the case. What if you start resenting the baby? What if…”
Ken scrubbed his face with his hands, and his voice impatiently snapped. “Daisy! Why would I resent an innocent child?” When Daisy jumped in startlement at his near shout, he lowered his voice. “Why would I have a problem with your body changing while you nurture a living human being? I don’t even understand what you’re saying.”
She felt foolish. Heat flooded her face, and she wiped angrily at the tears on her cheeks. “Me either. I don’t think I’m handling this well.”
He stepped closer and cupped her wet cheeks with his hands. “Daisy, listen to me. I am in. This is me saying I’m in.”
She slipped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “People are going to think it’s your baby.”
She felt his chuckle almost more than she heard it. “Daisy? I never once cared what people think.”
Finally, he put his arms around her, and they stood like that for several moments. The stress and anxiety she’d carried since the moment he asked her to dinner the first time slowly seeped out of her. She didn’t even realize how much she’d clung to it until it faded away. “I guess we both have to go to work now.”
“I reckon so.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head and stepped back. “How about we have dinner tonight or tomorrow?”
“I can’t. I’m going with my parents overnight to my cousin’s Quinceañera down in Columbus, remember?” She wanted to see him this weekend, though. She swallowed the invitation to have him go with her and instead said, “How about Sunday?”
“Sure. Want to go to church with me Sunday? I’m on the agenda to speak about the Labor Day house. Thought you’d like to be there.”
“Uh, yeah. I can do that.” She tried to think if anything required her presence at her church on Sunday, but nothing came to mind. “What time?”
“Ten. Pick you up at nine-thirty?” He looked at his watch. “Better get going. I have to cross town, and traffic was already bad getting here.” He cupped her cheek and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Have a good trip and enjoy your family. I’ll see you later.”
After he left, she went up to her room and looked in the full-length mirror behind her door. She lifted her shirt and turned sideways. She had just passed eleven weeks, more than one-fourth of the way through her pregnancy, and still could only see subtle changes in her body. Her waist had thickened, her breasts had gotten fuller, but her clothes still fit.
She grabbed her overnight bag and headed back downstairs. She’d go to her parents’ house and tell them now. Putting it off any longer would only make it worse. It might ruin their trip this weekend, but the stress of not telling them would as well.
It didn’t take long to drive to their house. She knew her dad stayed home from work today because they wanted to leave right after lunch. She walked into the back door and found them both at the table, coffee cups steaming. The kitchen smelled like toasted bread and oatmeal.
“Daisy! We didn’t expect you so early,” her mom said, smiling as she stood and walked toward her. “What a pleasant surprise. Have you eaten?”
“I have Mamá.” She hugged her, then went to her dad, bending and kissing his cheek. “Hi, Papi.”
“Niña.” He set his paper down and slipped his glasses off his face. “How are you?”
“Good. I’m…” Her mom picked up her cup and took a careful sip. Daisy looked from her father to her mother and blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”
For a moment, no one moved. The cup stayed suspended halfway between her mom’s mouth and the table. Her father stared at her, his hand resting on top of the folded paper. Finally, he spoke. “I see.” He sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin with his finger. “I’m a little disappointed. Ken has always struck me as a most responsible man. A man of character. I didn’t think there was any cause for concern.”
