Page 56 of One Timer With A Wingman

“No, I’m pregnant,” Briar confirms.

“Oh my gosh,” Mom gushes. Her eyes fill with tears. “Brody, did you hear that?” She is now looking at my dad, who is also starting to tear up.

“I did, honey,” he says and they stare into each other’s eyes. It looks so intimate I feel like I’m intruding.

“Sorry,” Mom clears her throat. “I’m guessing you were both taken by surprise.”

“To say the least,” Briar snorts. Yup, she is super nervous.

“I get it. You weren’t planned either, Aaron, but you ended up being the greatest gift of our lives. I thought I wouldn’t be around to see a grandchild and now, here you are, telling me I will.” Mom bursts into tears.

Dad starts hugging her.

“So you guys aren’t mad?” Briar asks and Dad and Mom pull apart.

“No, dear,” Mom says.

“You know we aren’t together,” I clarify.

“For now,” Dad says and Briar shifts in the seat beside me.

“I had a feeling you met someone on the trip. You sounded different,” Mom says. “Lighter, happier.”

She isn’t wrong. “Can we discuss that later, so you don’t embarrass me?”

“Sorry.” Mom winces and laughs. “We have some celebrating to do.” When the server comes by, we all order our meals. Briar wants to order a salad, but Mom tells her she needs a balanced meal and convinces her to take a steak. Dad orders some sparkling cider to make a toast since Briar and Mom both can’t drink. The meds Mom takes can’t be mixed with alcohol.

We all sit around and enjoy the meal. My parents ask Briar about school. Briar tells them her due date. Then she mentions her upcoming ultrasound.

“Well, you two have quite the year ahead of you,” Dad notes. “Things will be changing fast, but change isn’t bad. It can be good too.”

“It’s scary,” Briar confesses.

Mom reaches out her hand to Briar and Briar takes it. “If you need anything or have any questions, please call me. We will need to have you over to the house for dinner. You can meet the rest of the family.”

“Thanks,” Briar says and her eyes fill with tears.

“Oh no, don’t cry,” I say to her.

Dad starts laughing at me. “Son, it’s fine. She’s emotional. Your mom gets that way too. Tears are a sign she has feelings about her feelings, that’s a good thing.”

I blow out a breath and laugh. I also dip my head, feeling slightly embarrassed.

After dinner my parents drive home. Since I came here with them, I’ll ride back to Riverside with Briar. Since she is feeling sleepy, I drive us back in her SUV.

Her head is resting on the headrest as I drive.

“Your parents are special people,” she says.

“Yeah, they are,” I agree.

Briar nods off while I’m driving. I have the open road and a lot of time to think. I think of Dad’s words. Change isn’t always a bad thing, and my parents were right, I did feel lighter and happier in Punta Cana. It was the happiest I felt since Mom’s diagnosis.

We make it back to Riverside and I pull up to Briar’s house and wake her. “We’re here,” I say gently. She slowly opens her ocean-blue eyes.

“I need to take you home.”

“It’s okay. I’ll call an Uber, you’re exhausted,” I say to her.

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