Page 106 of When Love Is Unexpected

"You're right," I say, cracking four eggs into a pan and putting four slices of bread into the toaster.

After heating the cast iron skillet to high, I drop three slices of ham into it and let it sizzle before flipping them over.

When Loren emerges from the bedroom, three plates with eggs, ham, and buttered toast are on the table.

"This looks delicious," she says as Aaron pulls out a chair for her and helps her sit.

He kisses her and leans down to kiss her belly.

"Do I look as tired as I feel?" she asks. "The Braxton-Hicks contractions are no joke."

"You had contractions during the night?” I ask.

"Yeah," she says. "With all the tossing and turning I did, I don't think either of us got any sleep."

"Well, I'm glad you're seeing the doctor," I say.

After I finish my breakfast, I kiss them both and leave to see Mom and Dad.

***

I take a deep breath before entering the house through the back door, which is always open.

Dad is reading the paper, and Mom is taking some chicken out of the freezer.

"Laila!" Mom exclaims, putting the chicken in the sink. "Let me hug you. I missed you so much."

The fact that they didn't ask why I'm back leads me to believe they've already heard from Sam.

I walk up to Dad, and he stands to hug me. "Are you okay?" he asks.

"Who filled you in?" I ask.

"No one," he says. “Sam called this morning, but I didn't let him talk. I told him I wanted to talk to my daughter first. Sit down, Sweetheart. Tell us what's going on."

"Daddy, Sam broke my heart."

I spend the next half-hour crying and going over the events of the last two weeks, including what happened at the reunion.

"Okay," says Dad when I'm done. Mom is crying.

"Can I talk to Sam?" he asks, "I will only talk to him if it's okay with you. I want to respect your wishes and will not talk to him if you'd rather I didn't."

"I don't know, Daddy. It's all very difficult for me right now. I don't want to talk about it or even think about it.”

"Okay," he says. "Then let's go with that. We'll leave it be for as long as you need."

"I'm so sorry, Sweetie," says Mom. "I don't know what to say."

I know it's hard for both of them because they love Sam, but they love me more. I'm their daughter, and they will always put me and my feelings first.

When the phone rings, my eyes go wide. Mom answers it, and all we hear her say is, "Okay. Okay. Okay. Yes, I understand. Is she okay, though? We'll head out there now."

"What is it?" Dad asks.

"That was Aaron," says Mom, "Loren is in labor. Apparently, she was in labor all night and didn't realize it. Her water broke in the waiting room at the doctor's office, and when he checked her, he found that she was dilated to an eight. They're on their way to the hospital. We're meeting them there."

"Oh my God!" I exclaim.

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