Page 39 of Unexpecting

Chapter Seventeen

“When a woman announces to friends and family that she is expecting, she should expect some varied reactions.”

A Young Woman’s Guide to the Joy of Impending Motherhood

Dr. Francine Pascal Reid (1941)

“Do you want somewine?” David asked after we were shown to our table. He’d picked a little Italian restaurant on College Street. I’d been there a few times before, and while the pizza isn’t all that great, the pasta is superb. I nodded my agreement. “You work in a wine store, so you pick. But I still don’t like red.”

David was having the mushroom risotto, and I’d decided on the pasta with pesto and cream sauce. “How about the chardonnay?”

David shook his head. “Too…” He made a face like he was about to kiss a fish, and I laughed.

″Dry?”

″Something in the middle.”

″King of compromise.” I smiled and scanned the wine list. “The pinot grigio. You’ll like that.” I took a deep breath.

The evening began with the comments about our appetizers (salad for me, calamari for him) and with me comparing the food to what I’d had at Cooper’s restaurant.

″And it’s just the two of you living together?” David asked skeptically, referring to Coop and me. “As just friends?”

“Actually, Coop’s girlfriend just moved in this weekend. I missed out on the boxes while I was with you, so thanks. And Coop’s friend J.B. lives there… with us. They’ve been friends forever, so he’s good to… live with.”

″You haven’t mentioned him before.”

″I haven’t? Thought I did. Not that there’s a lot to mention… well, there is, but we’re just friends… he just lives there, him upstairs and me on the main floor. Where he never goes unless he’s doing laundry. I do his laundry sometimes, actually, but… we’re just friends.”

″So you’re not involved with either of them?”

″No! Oh, no. No. We’re just friends. Even if I did want to get involved, I wouldn’t. I’m not involved with anyone, but definitely not either Coop or J.B.”

″Why not? I’m sure they’re good guys.”

Why would he say that? He should have said, “That’s really good because I’ve been dreaming about you finding your way back to me for years,” or something along those lines. I looked at him strangely and began to doubt the need for my action underwear.

″Well, because—I want to have a baby,” I blurted out.

″Now?” David choked a bit. “Are you pregnant? I noticed you gained a little weight, but I just thought…”

″No, not yet, but I hope to be soon.” I guessed twelve years of eating well was noticeable, but I didn’t think I’d gained that much weight!

″Oh. You’re not pregnant, but you want to be?” David reiterated slowly. “Do you have someone in mind to help you with this?”

″That’s the funny part. Ha-ha. See, a couple of weeks ago, I was at a wedding and I broke up with my boyfriend at the time, and I got to thinking about things. I’ve had lousy luck with men for—for a while. Since you actually. Since I broke up with you all those years ago, which is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. When I think—”

″Casey…”

″No, let me finish. I was dumb to let you go, and it was a stupid reason and I’ve always regretted it. And because of you, none of my other relationships have worked out. I’ve always wanted to have a baby, so why wait?”

″Who would the father be?” David had a confused furrow on his forehead, but to his credit, didn’t say one word about how nuts I am.

″I’m not sure,” I told him honestly. I was so tempted to chime in, “What about you?” but I just couldn’t.

″I’ve been thinking about having children, as well,” David said without looking me in the eye.

″Really?”

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