Page 124 of The Genius
I lifted my shoulders and let them fall down with a sigh. “I wasn’t thinking, it just kind of happened.”
Rochelle’s eyes were fixed on the ground and for a while neither of us spoke.
“This changes things,” Rochelle said in a low voice.
I gave a nod in agreement and looked up to meet her eyes when she broke into quiet laughter.
“What’s so funny?” I asked.
“I just realized that for the first time ever, I might be Mom’s favorite daughter for a while.”
“Don’t say that. I’m not her favorite,” I protested.
“Tsk.” Rochelle made a sound similar to that of a bike tire getting a flat. “She brags about you all the time, but one thing is for sure: she’s not going to be bragging about you getting pregnant with an Nman.”
“I guess not.”
“If I were you, I’d call her right now and tell her about the pregnancy. Just get it over with.”
“Maybe now isn’t the right time,” I said, trying to delay the inevitable.
“There’s never going to be a right time to tell Mom that you are pregnant and in love with an Nman. It’s not fair that other people know about it and she doesn’t.”
I kicked at some dirt on the ground, looking down.
Rochelle took my hand. “If you want me to, I’ll stay for support.”
“Maybe she won’t be upset,” I said in a hopeful tone.
Rochelle tilted her head, giving me adon’t fool yourselflook. “Prepare for her to freak out. You know Mom. She likes plans and this isn’t part of the plan, is it?”
“I think everybody needs to calm down and remember that every child is a miracle.”
“Mom isn’t going to mind you having a child, Shelly. It’s Marco that will freak her out. She’s hoping that you working up here the Northlands is some sort of unfortunate phase that we can soon put behind us. It’s going to break her heart that you’re choosing him.”
An idea struck me. “Maybe not.”
“Oh, I’m one hundred percent certain that it will crush her.”
My eyes were darting around, my mind spinning to find a way to tell my mom in a way that would make it easier for her to accept it.
“You’re twirling your hair again. I know what that means but you can’t solve this with some advanced mathematical equation.”
“I can fix this.”
“How?”
“Would you do me a favor?”
“Shelly, what are you up to?”
I explained my simple plan to Rochelle and it left her with an expression of horror.
“I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can.”
“Mom might die of shock.”
