Page 63 of Falling in Love with Two

She thinks for a moment. “Can I say something that maybe you don’t want to hear?”

I smile. “Don’t you always?”

“I can understand you stepping up and doing the right thing for both your baby and for Leah. I’m forever proud of you. That’s the man that your dad and I raised—”

I cut her off, “But?”

“But it isn’t like you got a woman pregnant, and suddenly, you’re going to have the perfect white picket fence life. It’s not all going to be sunshine and rainbows. It’s going to be hard—all of it is going to be hard. And just because you have a baby with this woman doesn’t mean that everything is going to work out, and you guys will be together forever. Life doesn’t always play out the way you want it to.”

“I know,” I tell her.

“I know you’re anxious for the life you want, but you can’t exactly skip to the end.”

Her words resonate in my head, and I know that she’s right. But I think she needs to give me a little more credit. “I understand everything you’re saying. I’m not trying to jump to the end. But this baby is now my number one concern. Since Leah is attached to said baby, I’m concerned about her too.”

She pats the back of my hand. “You really are a good man.”

I smile at her. “And this will be grandbaby number three for you. How do you feel about that?”

She practically beams. “Oh, I’m thrilled. And with your baby and Liz’s, I feel like I get to be more of a grandma than I was with Michelle. When she had Eve, I still had three kids living at home. Well, four if you count Michelle. I didn’t get to be a typical grandma.”

Michelle comes walking out of the bathroom. “Are we talking about how much of a colossal disappointment I am?”

“Oh, stop.” Mom laughs.

Michelle asks, “What did Ronnie have to say about all this?”

My face scrunches up. “I haven’t told her yet.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Michelle throws her hand over her heart. “You told me before you told your twin BFF?”

“Last time I talked to Ronnie, she went on and on about how much she doesn’t like kids. I’m not in any hurry to hear her lecture me on how I somehow betrayed her.”

“Okay,” Mom interjects. “Let’s get this place ready for a pregnant lady.”

“What all does a pregnant lady want or need?” I ask.

They look between the two of them. Mom asks, “How much do you know about pregnant women?”

“Uhm. Not a lot. Practically nothing.”

Michelle sighs. “We have a lot to do.”

twenty

Half a Poptart and a Stick of Gum

Leah

“Okay, Leah, I need you to slow down for a hot second.” Amy paces around her small apartment like a crazy person. “You’re telling me that you’re not only pregnant but now, you’re moving in with the father—who happens to be the same man you dubbed a golden retriever?”

“Hey, as I recall, you’re the one who called him a sexy golden retriever,” I say.

“Well, duh. I do have eyes, Leah. The man is fun to look at. But I’m not sure if that’s reason enough to move in with him and have his baby. For the love of God, will you stop packing?”

I don’t listen and keep folding clothes to throw into a duffel bag. “Amy, I didn’t plan any of this. Hell, with a condom and an IUD, I really didn’t plan on it. But the situation is what it is. Moving in with Dylan is the best option…for me and for the baby. It will be better than the shithole I was going to rent.”

“So, what…you’re just going to move in and play house?”

---