Page 40 of Forever His This Christmas

“He really does Lisa,” Diane stated once the call ended.

“I know—but I can’t focus on that until after he knows the truth.”

“He’s not going to walk away from you,” Diane replied putting a hand on her shoulder. “He’s going to pull you in closer and refuse to let go, especially once he knows about the baby.”

“Let’s keep that part between the three of us until after I’ve told him. I don’t want him staying just because of the baby.”

“He won’t be Mom,” Abby said shaking her head. “He’s going to love you the same after you tell him. He’ll probably demand to know the name, but he’ll still love you completely.”

“He will, Lisa,” Diane added. “He’ll love both of you and if your brothers have anything to say then they can come through me. If anyone in this town tries to say anything, they can all come through me. They won’t get far my love, I guarantee that.”

“I love you two so much,” she told them settling in for the rest of the drive. She didn’t want to focus on anything but the road right now. Worries were constant to her, and they wouldn’t rest until the truth was out—even then they would likely be around still, but she’d do her best to stop them, and anyone else who tried to hurt Abby.

Chapter 13

Lisa pulled the SUV into the driveway and parked it on the edge, opening the back door for Abby as she scooted over from the middle. She held out her hand to Abby and they walked to the house with Diane in front of them. No one came out to greet them since they weren’t expecting them for another twenty minutes and she opened the door hoping this worked out right. They headed through the entryway, and she saw her two of her brothers standing in the family room. If they were there, then the others were too.

“Anyone home?” she called, keeping Abby behind her as they moved towards the room.

“Lisa!” she heard her mom say brightly and her head appeared in the doorway, stopping in surprise to see Diane there with her. “Diane, what are you doing here? We weren’t expecting you.”

“I came to be here for Lisa,” she answered honestly moving into the room as Elaine stepped back inside. Diane stopped and Lisa moved to stand in the doorway, Abby beside her out of view and her hand tightened around hers. She gave her a squeeze back as she smiled at the group.

“Good, everyone’s here. Diane, this is Corey,” she said when he stood up. “This is my mom’s cousin Diane.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” he said shaking her hand when he reached them. “You look beautiful baby.”

“Thank you,” she stated taking a moment as the room stared at them. “You all might want to sit down,” she warned and waited until her mom was in a chair, her brothers refusing to sit before starting. “Okay, there’s no easy way to do this so…you all want to know what’s going on with me, why I’ve been how I’ve been right?”

“Yeah, we’d like to know why you’re such a self-centered pain in the ass who only bothers to answer her family when she needs something,” Gerald replied.

“Watch how you speak to your sister Gerald,” Diane stated, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s alright, Diane. I’m used to it,” she told her as her brothers glared at the closeness between them. “As I said there’s no easy way to do this, so…there’s someone I’d like you to meet,” she added taking a step further into the room bringing Abby with her. “This is Abby—my daughter,” she said as Diane stepped aside.

“Holy mother of god,” Kirby said staring at them as their mother gasped loudly.

“Jesus effing Christ Lisa!” Gerald shouted.

“How?” Ashton said but she didn’t answer as her eyes were on her mother and Corey.

“Thisis what you were hiding? No—you couldn’t have kept this a secret,” Corey stated moving back over to her. He looked down at her and tried to figure out how she could have kept it from him—from everyone. “How old is she?”

“She’s thirteen,” she told him stepping away, pulling Abby over to the middle of the room as she held her to her side. “Yes, she’s really mine. Yes, I really hid being pregnant from you all. Yes, I’ve been lying to you all for years.”

“Thirteen…that would mean you were pregnant your sophomore year…how did we not know?” her mom asked, looking between her, Abby, and Diane.

“You weren’t expecting it, weren’t looking for it, and I hid it well. She’ll be fourteen in April.”

“April—Spring Break,” her mom said as her jaw parted slightly. “When you went to California on Spring Break you had her—and left her with Diane?”

“Yes, I did. I went back that summer and stayed with Diane and Abby when you all thought I was at cheer camp. When I went to school for college, I lived with them. The only time I’ve been away from Abby was when I was finishing school here and when I was in New York, the rest of the time we were together,” Lisa added leaning her head against Abby’s feeling the support she gave her.

“What in the hell were you thinking?!” her father demanded. “If you get pregnant you don’t hide it and the child from your family for thirteen, nearly fourteen years! My god Lisa…why?”

“Don’t yell at her,” Abby said shooting a glare back at him.

“Watch your tongue, young lady,” he countered. “This is a discussion between Lisa and us, and you will show us respect while in this house.”

---