Page 49 of Closing the Distance

She stares at me, her gaze still more guarded than it’s been in weeks.

“Please believe me,” I beg. “I trust you. This is not for me.”

“Okay,” she says, her voice whisper soft. “I’ll ask my doctor about it at my next appointment.”

“I love you, Lexi.”

A flicker of emotion fills her eyes, but then she looks away from me, down at my hand holding hers.

“I’m really tired. The game really took it out of me. Can we head in?”

“Sure,” I say, not feeling sure about anything at all, except that I just set us back, especially since she didn’t return those three words I’ve grown so used to hearing.

TWENTY-SEVEN

The Monday after a long break is always bittersweet. I’m excited to see my students, but it’s hard to get back into the groove after having two and a half weeks off, especially when I spent at least a week of that time catching up on grading. But there’s always a little anxiety about how hard it will be to get back into school mode—for both me and my students.

Except today, most of my anxiety is about talking to my principal and finally telling her about my pregnancy. I’ve been getting looks all morning since there’s no way this dress hides my bump well. I’m grateful I was able to keep it under wraps for so long so Ty and I would have some time together to figure things out, but I’ve put this off long enough.Truthfully, I don’t want to hide it anymore, even if my bump wasn’t noticeable. I’m proud of my relationship with Ty, and I’m so excited to meet our baby girl.

Mrs. O’Dell’s office door opens and she steps out with a huge smile. “Hey Lexi, come on in.”

She moves around her desk as I shut the door behind me. “How was your break?”

“It was good. Ended too soon,” I say with a weak grin, my nerves getting the best of me as I take a seat across from her.

She laughs. “Doesn’t it always. But it’s nice to get back into the routine of things.”

“Definitely.”

“So, what’s up?”

I scrape a fingernail over my thumbnail in my lap, trying to quell my nerves. “Well, I have an announcement.”

Her face freezes. “You’re not quitting, are you?”

“No! No, I’m not quitting, but I will need to take some leave time at the end of the year.” She arches a brow, and I take a deep breath. “I’m pregnant. Due in May. I plan to work as long as I can until the baby comes, but then I’ll be taking maternity leave for the remainder of the year.”

Her face still seems frozen as she stares at me then down at my stomach. “You’re pregnant?”

I can’t help the smile that spreads as I say, “Yes.” My hand rests on my belly where I’ve been feeling her kick for over a week now. It’s surreal, but also incredible.Just touching my belly seems to calm my nerves.

“I didn’t realize you were—” She cuts off the rest of her sentence, and my smile fades.

“I’m what?”

“Well, to be honest, I didn’t expect this from you, Lexi. You’re not married or engaged last I heard. Your students look to you as a role model, and what kind of message does it send when you get pregnant without being in a serious relationship?”

She delivers her words as if she’s just a concerned friend instead of the thinly veiled insult it really is. My stomach knots as I stare at her desk, not even able to look at her as I process her words.

I knew I might get some looks, especially from a few of our more judgmental teachers, but I didn’t expect it from Mrs. O’Dell.

When I finally look up at her, she’s staring at my stomach, her lip slightly curled in distaste. She catches me watching her and replaces it with a smile that never felt fake before, but now I see it for exactly what it is.

“Is the father in the picture at all?” Her tone once again takes on that caring inflection which now feels like total bullshit.

I have to swallow around the lump in my throat. “Y-yes.” I don’t want to tell her it’s Ty, not because I’m embarrassed, but because now I’m questioning if she can be trusted with that kind of information or if she’d be the first person to run to the press.

She sits back in her chair, relief crossing her face. “Well, that’s something at least.”

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