Page 112 of Burning Love
“What?”
“Talia,” her mother said. “I’ve been home for two weeks. In that time you’ve raided my kitchen all but two days looking for different things. You’ve been quiet at odd times, which isn’t like you. You’re up earlier than normal in the morning and it makes me think that you’re not feeling well and trying to hide it, then making an appearance once you’re better.” She continued to stare at her mother. “I felt the same way twice in my pregnancy. Remember, I’ve been pregnant eight times.”
She sighed. “Who were the two you felt like that for?”
“You and Laken. I was fine with all the boys. You girls just messed with my hormones. So are you, or aren’t you?”
The way her mother was all but bouncing on her toes with a massive grin on her face told her there wouldn’t be any disappointment with the truth.
She’d been soooooo scared of that.
It was the happiness her mother was expressing that let the truth come out.
“I am,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” her mother said, hugging her. “Oh my God. I can’t believe my baby is having a baby. How far along are you?”
“You’re not disappointed in me?”
“Honey. I got pregnant after a few weeks of knowing your father too. Shit happens in life. But I knew I loved him, and had things not gone the way they had, we’d still be happily married.”
“You might have had more kids after me too,” she said drily.
“No. I was done after you. You know that. I was the sickest with you and it was hard to do alone. Come sit down and tell me everything.”
“There isn’t much to say. I found out when you were gone. I’m about nine weeks now. I’m due May eighth.”
“Which is an estimate. How do you feel about it? I know you’re not feeling well, right?”
“It’s getting better already. It’s not even every day now. But I wake up queasy. I’ve been eating a few crackers before I get out of bed and drinking half a bottle of water. That seems to do the trick.”
“I’m glad you found what is working for you. With Laken, I was only sick for the first trimester. With you it lasted to the end of the second. Only mornings though, thankfully.”
“I’m craving things. Odd things. My boobs hurt like hell, but other than that, nothing else.”
“Good. I know you’ll take care of yourself too. Tell me howyoufeel about the pregnancy? How Jace feels? He knows, right?”
“He knows.” She explained how she figured it out, that the first test was negative, but then took two more and had to break the news to him. “He’s scared because he said babies are scary.He wasn’t happy I waited a few days to tell him either. I had to work it out in my mind. I thought he’d be so mad, but then realized how good he was that first test. But I also saw the relief in his eyes when it was negative. So yeah, lots of things going through my mind.”
“Babies are definitely scary,” her mother said, patting her hand and going to sit at the island. “And then the worry something could go wrong, but you pray it doesn’t.”
“Don’t remind me.” Reading everything she could on pregnancies wasn’t smart.
“Think positively.”
“I am. Being shocked is an understatement. We are getting there now. Once we heard the heartbeat it all became real. I’m really excited and happy. Jace is too.” She believed he was because the nervousness wasn’t in his eyes as much as the confusion over why she didn’t want to talk about their plans in detail yet.
“I’m glad to hear that. What about your future with him?”
“I’m not ready to think about it.”
“You’renot?” her mother asked, lifting an eyebrow. “Why?”
She sighed. “Now you’re sounding like him because I keep putting off the conversation. Because this isn’t forty years ago. People have kids without being married all the time. Or even living together. There is no reason to talk about it day in and day out.”
“Has he talked to you about either of those things?”
“No. He wants to and I’m putting it off. I’m not ready to hear him say something I don’t want to hear.”
