Page 35 of Two Minutes for Holding

I glanced over at my mother. Lorelai hadn’t been with Knox and Mom when they’d picked me up last night, and while I didn’t know her all that well, I knew she always made me feel welcome when I was here.

“I’m thinking maybe a month from now,” I answered.

The moment the words fell from my mouth, my mother turned and looked at me. I could see she was wondering why I hadn’t answered her that way last night, but until I’d talked to Elsie and she’d made me realize that, even if Tor was the father of my baby, I wouldn’t want him in my life, I knew moving was the option to choose.

“Well, we can’t wait to have you closer. Same with you, Reese. I am so happy that you’re both moving out here.”

“Well, hopefully we are. If we can find a place to live, that is. That last place was gorgeous, but man, it was costly.”

“It was, but like Knox said, he has no problem paying the rent for the year until you are situated here and have a job. Especially if you liked the place. Plus, the doctors here pay way better too for any office administrators than they do out there as well. If you get into a specialist’s office, which I can’t see you having a problem with what with your experience, then you’ll be set.”

“We’ll have to see. I want Peyton to like the place as well. I’m sure she’ll want a say.”

I nodded and passed Mom the noodles, just as my stomach spun.

“Peyton? Are you feeling okay?” Mom questioned.

“Yes, why?” I asked.

“Honey, you’re pale.” She said coming over and placing her hand on my forehead. “Clammy to the touch as well. I think you should go lie down for a bit.”

My stomach spun again, and this time a rush of saliva filled my mouth. Swallowing hard I nodded, “I think I’m just going to go lay down for a bit,” I said, looking at both Mom and Lorelai.

Neither of them said anything as I left the room. I felt hot but cool at the same time. I’d just shut the door to my room and sat down on my bed when the door opened, and my mother walked in.

“Peyton, are you alright?” Mom asked sitting down next to me. She yelled at Lorelai to bring a glass of water.

“I’m fine. Just tired,” I answered. “I didn’t sleep all that well last night.”

I felt my stomach turn, and before I could shove Mom out of the way and run to the bathroom, I grabbed the garbage pail in my room and emptied the contents of my stomach.

Lorelai appeared in the doorway with a glass of water, just as I threw up again.

“Lorelai, honey, can you grab a cool cloth,” Mom asked, holding my hair back.

When I felt the cloth on the back of my neck and my stomach stopped spinning, I looked up at my mother. She cleared her throat as she placed the cloth on my face, wiping away the sweat from my forehead.

“How far along are you?” she questioned, giving me a knowing look.

I could feel my cheeks heat as she stared at me. Then I looked over at Lorelai to see her standing there, watching everything unfold.

“I don’t know. I’ll find out when I see the doctor next week,” I replied knowing there was no point in trying to hide this.

“Do you know who the father is?” Mom questioned.

I slowly nodded but didn’t respond.

“You don’t have to tell me, but I hope you will confide in me when you’re ready. I want you to know that this won’t go any further than the confines of this room, right, Lorelai.”

“You got it. Secrets are safe with the two of us,” she added.

Mom handed me the cool cloth and got up off the bed. She walked to the door, pulling it closed, and the two of them left me to rest. I was sure that I wasn’t fooling either of them. They weren’t dumb, they’d be able to put two and two together. My questions about Clay, the sound of my voice, surely would havegiven the answer away as to who the father was. I just prayed they’d keep the secret away from my brother.

Chapter 11

Clay

I glanceddown at my phone and saw I had an unread text message from Peyton. A smile came to my lips as I glanced around the room, making sure that Knox wasn’t behind me, before I opened her message.

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