Page 4 of The MC's Surprise
The positive affirmations usually bolstered me, but I was so worn out, I didn’t feel it this time. I couldn’t stay in here forever, though, so I patted my cheeks a little roughly and blew out a breath. Time to face the music.
When I joined my parents in the kitchen, their plates were untouched. Apparently, they were waiting for me. The guilt compounded, and I winced as I slid into my seat across from my mom. We weren’t the church going types, so it wasn’t like they were waiting to pray. They both picked up their forks once I was sitting down and started eating quietly. I’d forgotten how deafening the quiet was. I was a talker, and I used to talkconstantly to fill the silence left by my parents. That hadn’t changed much.
“I… wanted to say I’m sorry. I was embarrassed, and I lashed out and that wasn’t fair of me.”
Mama pursed her lips, the look on her face speaking volumes. She didn't say what she was thinking, though. Instead, she nodded and took another bite of her food before saying, “Apology accepted.”
It seemed like that was all she was going to say. Normally, I’d be overjoyed that she was letting it all go, but it felt all wrong to pretend right now. I didn’t want to talk about it, but I had to. I needed to get it out.
“I didn’t keep it from you,” I began, pushing my food around my plate. “I’ve only known for a few weeks. I thought I was just putting on weight from all the stress. And after I found out… I don’t know. I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I still can’t. What am I going to do?”
Tears spilled over my cheeks and I couldn’t make myself look them in the eye. Of all my failures, this one was the most painful. Because it wasn’t just me affected this time.
Mom’s chair screeched as she stood. I braced myself for her to walk away. She did that sometimes when she was too upset to speak to me. She liked to get her head on straight before she said anything she’d regret. I usually appreciated it, but right now it felt like a knife to the heart. I curled in on myself, biting my lip to stem the tears.
Familiar perfume wrapped around me as she pulled me into her arms. I’d fought so hard to not let this break me, but now that I was safe in her embrace, I finally let the tears fall freely. She stroked my hair and hummed like she did when I was a kid, letting me get it out without rushing me. Dad’s hand took mine, and he patted it gently to remind me he was there.
When I finally pulled myself together enough to breathe without hiccuping, I looked up at her, my voice barely a whisper. “What am I going to do?”
She smiled softly, patience and understanding written all over her face. “You’re going to have a baby, sweetheart. And we’ll be here every step of the way.”
3
Sierra
When the doctor told me I was pregnant, the little energy I had to keep my head above water left me. I felt like I was drowning, and it was easier to pretend it wasn’t happening to me than to face my new reality. I couldn’t do that anymore, though. My mom made an appointment with the only Ob/Gyn in town and dragged me to their office bright the following morning. I still hid my belly behind my clothes, mostly out of habit, but a small part of me was worried I’d run into the father. I knew he lived in the area and I was not ready to face him yet.
Mom lightly slapped my knee, forcing me to stop kicking my legs like a little kid while we waited for the doctor to come in. I couldn’t help it. Aside from the one appointment I had back in California, I hadn’t done much about my pregnancy. I was nervous.
“Are you sure we can afford this?” I asked, finally blurting out one of the many spiraling questions running through my mind. Having babies was expensive, and I was too old to be on my dad’s insurance anymore.
“We’ll figure it out,” she reassured me, squeezing my hand gently.
That wasn’t entirely helpful. My parents weren’t wealthy by any means. I needed to get a job if I wanted to be able to afford the hospital bills, but who in their right mind would hire someone so late in their pregnancy? Was it considered fraud if I hid it during the interview? Maybe I could find something online or a work from home position. I could take care of a baby while doing that, right?
The door opened, stalling my panicked thoughts as an older man with hair the same color as his white coat came puttering into the room. His eyes crinkled as he smiled at us, which made him look friendly, but was there an age limit for doctors? Would he even be able to handle a delivery without needing to take a nap?
“Good morning. My name is Doctor O’Malley. And you must be Sierra.”
He thrust his hand out at my mom, who blinked rapidly in surprise. “Oh, no. I’m her mother.”
“Ah. You two look like sisters, so I couldn’t tell.”
My eyes widened and I fought hard not to laugh. Was my doctor seriously flirting with my mom right now?
Mom looked flustered, her cheeks tinged a light pink as she struggled to come up with a reply. Doctor O’Malley was probably used to this reaction because he swept past it, giving me a bright smile.
“Hello, Sierra. I hear you’re thinking of having a baby.”
I couldn’t help it. I snorted. “I think we’re a little past that.”
His gaze dropped to my belly and when I lifted my baggy sweatshirt out of the way, he chuckled. “Seems like it. Can you tell me how far along you are?”
It was a little embarrassing to admit I didn’t know, but if he was going to be helping me when the baby came, he neededto know. “I’m not entirely sure. The doctor who told me I was pregnant said the baby looked to be about seven months based on its size. I, uh… didn’t actually know I was pregnant until a few weeks ago.”
He raised one bushy eyebrow at me. “Spotty periods?”
I nodded rapidly, glad he seemed to understand. “I was also going through a really stressful period in my life, so I thought I was just putting on weight because of that. I didn't have any other symptoms.”
