Page 46 of Oops, My Professor Got Me Pregnant!

“Right about what?” Céline sounded worried now. “About telling Nico?”

“Yes. As it turned out, Louis overheard our conversation and repeated part of it to Nico when he got home. And Nico figured out that he was talking about a baby. And when I apologized and tried to explain, he didn’t want to hear it. He told me to leave.” Lauren was crying again, though her tears were almost silent.

“What?” The worry in Céline’s voice had grown. “Lauren, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he’d react that badly. I was sure things would work out once you guys talked about it.”

“I wasn’t sure it would work out, but I hoped it might. And now that hope is gone. Nico doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Are you sure?” Céline paused. “Maybe he was just upset. I bet if you wait a few days, he’ll come to his senses. And if he doesn’t, you don’t need him. You’re so strong, Lauren. You moved to another country by yourself and became a teacher, even though you were scared. You can do anything.”

“Maybe I can do this alone, but I don’t want to.” Lauren rested a hand on her stomach as her eyes filled with tears again. “When I was a child, it was just me and my mother and my grandfather — and then just me and my grandfather. And now it’s just me. I have friends and everything, but I don’t have family anymore. I know it’s silly, but I thought Nico and Louis and the new baby could be my family. I thought I might have the big family I’ve always dreamed of having one day.”

“That’s not silly. Just a moment.” There was the sound of muffled French conversation, then Céline came back on the line. “Where are you? Let me pick you up. You can stay at my place tonight.”

“Really?” Lauren took a deep breath. “That would be wonderful, if you really don’t mind. I don’t want to be any trouble.”

“You’re no trouble. Let me come get you.”

Lauren told Céline where she was, and only fifteen minutes later, her friend was there in her car. Lauren got into the passenger seat and turned to Céline.

“Sorry, I must look a sight.”

“Just a little.” Céline smiled gently at her. “You’ve really been through the wringer today, haven’t you?”

Lauren nodded. “But thank you for coming to get me. It really means so much.”

“No problem. I’ll take you home, and we can have something to eat. And then you can stay in our guest room, if you’d like.”

Lauren protested, but Céline insisted. Back at Céline’s house, Lauren greeted Jean, whom she’d met a few times before. Then they ate a dinner of chicken and French fries from the cart down the street, which was delicious if a little heavy. Finally, Jean retreated to bed, and Céline sat with Lauren on the couch until late in the night.

“I just don’t know what to do.” Lauren sighed. “I feel so bad for not telling Nico sooner.”

“Don’t.” Céline smiled at her friend. “Yes, it probably would have been better to tell him sooner, but his reaction is his responsibility, too. Just wait. If Nico comes to his senses in the next few days, you’ll know what kind of man he is. And if he doesn’t… well, then you’ll know that, too.”

Céline’s words stayed with Lauren through the sleepless night that followed and through a long Monday of classes the next day. A few of her students asked if she was okay, and Lauren smiled and nodded, but she knew it was hollow. She wasn’t okay.

Lauren had always considered herself to be a strong woman, and she did now, too. If she needed to, she could raise this baby by herself. She’d taken care of her grandfather by herself, too. She could do this, with or without Nico.

The problem was that she didn’t want to do it alone.

“Lauren?” One of her students, Marjorie, approached her desk. Class had just finished, and the students were slowly trickling out. Despite everything, class had gone well. They’d done a few grammar drills and a worksheet, which was less fun than what Lauren usually had them do, but which had been fine. She’d even managed to get everyone to participate in creating and presenting small skits. Even though her own personal problems loomed large, Lauren was dedicated to being the best professor she could be — and she felt she really was improving.

“Yes?” Lauren smiled at Marjorie. “Can I help you?”

“Actually, no.” Marjorie reached into the messenger bag that seemed eminently popular among the college students Lauren taught. She pulled out a round red apple, which she handed to Lauren. “I read that American students like to give their teachers apples. And you are my favorite teacher, so…” Marjorie blushed, and Lauren’s heart squeezed.

“Thank you so much. I love it. Very American.” She winked and Marjorie beamed.

“Will you be here next semester too?” Marjorie asked.

Lauren hesitated. A week ago, her answer would have been clear, but today she was unsure. If Nico really didn’t want anything to do with her, it didn’t make sense to stay in a foreign country to raise her child.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted.

“I hope you stay.” Marjorie clasped her hands and bobbed on her toes. “Bye!”

She hurried out, and Lauren smiled fondly at her retreating back. In the last couple months, Paris really had become her home. Apart from Nico and Louis, she had Céline and her students. Lauren didn’t want to consider leaving.

But if she were about to become a single mother, it would make more sense to return to Nebraska. At least things were familiar there. And she knew the community would welcome her back with open arms and would stand by her as she raised her child.

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