Page 57 of Flawless Lyric

The only one who can answer that is Novalee.

Enveloping her in my arms, I hold Lyric tight as she sobs into my chest. I should have known the conniving little witch had an ulterior motive for coming home this weekend. As if she hasn’t ripped her mother’s heart out enough over the last few months. Personally, I don’t think she’ll be able to handle being a mother since she’s so damn selfish, but I’ll do my damndest to make Lyric’s life easier for everyone.

Rubbing her back, I try doing everything I can to calm her down, but nothing seems to work. I want to go downstairs and throttle the demon spawn who has caused her mother this pain, but there’s no way I’m leaving when she needs me the most.

“It’s not the end of the world, Beauty. I know it’s not the future that you had hoped for your daughter, but I promise it will work itself out. There are so many single moms that are kicking ass, and who knows? Maybe the father will be there to help her as well.” The words are spilling out of my mouth, and as much as I’d like to believe them, it’s a hard pill to swallow.

“What the fuck’s going on in here?” Novalee says, stepping into the bathroom. “What did you do to my mother?” Me? Is she serious right now? “I can hear her crying from downstairs.”

Lyric flinches when Novalee tries wrenching her mother away from me, like I’m the fucking criminal here.

“Me?” I say, trying not to raise my voice. “You’re accusing me of hurting your mother when it’s been you all along?”

Lyric frantically pushes me out of the way as she drops to her knees. Barely reaching the toilet before she vomits. I quickly grab her hair as she wretches uncontrollably. Looking over my shoulder, I get ready to give Novalee a piece of my mind but stop short. Then I notice the pregnancy test in her hand.

She did this to her mother!

Trembling like a leaf she says, “Mom. You’re going to have a baby.” And my whole world comes crashing down around me.

* * *

LYRIC

This is nothow I wanted Micah to find out he was going to be a father. Hell, I was in denial for weeks before grabbing that damn test. Who gets pregnant after they have their tubes tied? Apparently this girl right here. If my doc was still alive, I’d be suing his ass.

Now that I’m done hugging the bowl, it’s time to face the music. Weird choice of words given that my boyfriend’s a musician. God, he’s going to be so damn devastated since he’s told me he doesn’t want any children. He needn’t worry. As he mentioned just a few minutes ago, there are tons of single mothers who are rocking it out there. This baby is my responsibility, not his.

Standing up, I avoid the both of them as I walk to the sink. Grabbing my toothbrush, I scrub my teeth and ignore the mirror at all costs. No way, I want to look into the eyes of a woman who has a daughter in college and is now starting all over again.

After splashing some cold water on my face, I take my time dabbing it dry. Then I turn around, clutching the sink like a lifeline. Micah looks incredibly calm yet stunned. I can’t say that I blame him since he noticed the stick and thought it was Novalee’s. This is one conversation that needs to be in private.

“Novalee, could you go downstairs, please? Micah and I need to talk.” I’m surprised when she spins on her heels and walks out of the room.

“Micah…”

“You told me you had a tubal ligation, Lyric. How is this possible?” Oh, if I only knew.

“I did. I don’t have any answers, Micah. I’m sorry. I took the test first thing this morning and went downstairs to find you. Hoping that we could talk and check the results together. I had no idea that Novalee was home.”

“Fuck, I thought it was Novalee who was pregnant.” My heart breaks when he scrubs his hands over his face. He’s in denial and it’s a natural reaction.

“I didn’t know the test results until I walked into the bathroom and saw the two pink lines. You’re not the only one who’s shocked, Micah.” More tears threaten to fall, and I desperately try holding them back. “I’ll schedule an appointment with my doctor on Monday morning. Maybe he can shed some light on this situation.” That’s why I’ve been so exhausted.

“I’m going to that appointment with you, Beauty. When I thought it was Novalee who was pregnant, I was still planning on helping her to alleviate your burden. Now that I know we’re the ones having a baby, I’m relieved. We’re more than capable of doing this than your daughter.”

I won’t argue that point, but I also know what it feels like to be trapped. Hello, been there done that. I married Jeff because I was pregnant with Novalee. I will never, ever expect that to happen with Micah. In fact, I’ll make it my life’s mission to make him understand that from the beginning.

The bathroom isn’t a place to have a serious conversation. Grabbing his hand, I lead him into the bedroom and when I sit on the bed, he sits down next to me. Loving him has been as easy as breathing. Letting him go will be devastating but necessary. He squeezes my hand as if he knows what I’m thinking and maybe he does.

“Micah, I’m grateful that you want to stand by my side, and I love you more for ...”

“Do not throw a but in the mix right now, Beauty. No fucking way. We made this baby together and we will raise it together. Understood?”

Did I ever mention that I love his hands? I can’t remember, but I do. They’re strong and rough yet gentle and loving. Just like the man himself. Micah is a good man, and I don’t want him to feel trapped in a long-term commitment.

Placing his warm hand against my cheek, I close my eyes. Remembering all of the times he’s held me, made love to me, and even fucked me until I was sore for days on end. How capable these hands are of sailing a boat, maneuvering the rudders, and avoiding the reef along the coast. And how talented they are with a keyboard and the amazing music he creates.

I can’t and I won’t tie him down or make him give it all up just because I’m pregnant.

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