Page 71 of Penalty Shots

"Coach… Wilson?" She says slowly as if testing the name.

"Yes. You know—the one who got you pregnant."

My mom sucks in her bottom lip. "Oh, Katarina…" she says solemnly.

"What? Didn't think I would notice, did you?"

She reaches for my hand and I pull it away.

"I'm not having an affair," she insists.

"Then why was he touching you?"

"Please, sit down." Her eyes plead. "Please."

I drop my backpack to the floor and sink into the first seat I see. She slips into the one next to me.

"Look, I know I've been tough on you this semester."

I scoff. "Try my whole life."

"Katarina… I've felt like I've failed you. All these years. I've failed you."

"What are you talking about?"

She sighs, looking down at her midsection.

"Your father and I have been trying for years to give you a sibling. But my body… it wouldn't sustain a child. No matter how hard I tried. I did everything. Everything I could. Hormones and shots and holistic doctors. But nobody could help me. Nothing worked."

"Okay…"

"So I was talking to Coach Wilson's wife at one of the staff events and she mentioned trying something different. That maybe I needed to do IVF. It had worked for her, and that's how they had their son. So your father and I gave it one last shot. We didn't tell you because… well, we didn't want to get your hopes up again. But it took."

There are tears in my mother's eyes. "I'm four months pregnant."

"W-what? Right now?" I look down at her belly. It's barely noticeable.

She nods. "I've been on hormones all semester, and I know I've been really hard on you. You deserve better. I promise I'll try to be better. It's just… I worked my whole life to make sure I gave you a better life than what we had. I took this job because I wanted you to have the best education possible. I'm sorry if you took that as me being too hard. You being here, getting ahead… it's a dream come true for me, Katarina. And now this baby…"

She touches her stomach. And I reach for it, too.

"It's a girl," she smiles for the first time in a really long time. "I was so young when I had you, Katarina. I was just doing the best I knew to do."

I swallow and nod. "I know, Ma."

"You're young. You have the rest of your life to worry about these things. But work hard now. Do what you need to do to set yourself up for a great future. That way, when it is time for you to have a family, you're ready for it."

"Yeah," I say.

She reaches for my chin. "And I'm glad you didn't cheat on the test. Or I'd have to suspend my own daughter, and that would be the worst."

I shake my head. "I'm not that desperate."

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out to look at it.

Keelan

You owe me, Your Majesty. Game starts at 7.

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