Page 2 of The Paths We Cross
“Perfect,” Travis murmurs before planting a gentle kiss on my lips. “Everything is going to be fine.”
****
I’m finally ready to go about two hours later. I spent extra time on my hair and makeup, smoothing out my long black hair with a flat iron and doing my best makeup. This feels like a really important moment in my life, so I want to look my best.
I walk into our closet and pick out a red off the shoulder sundress and pair it with sandals. I look in my full-length mirror and rub my hand over my still flat stomach, thinking of how this dress will look in a few months when I start to show. A smile crosses my face. This baby wasn’t planned, but I know that we’re going to love him or her to pieces. I just hope I’ll be a good mom.
The smile leaves my face at that thought. My mom isn’t my biggest supporter. To her, I’ve always been too heavy, too curvy, too loud. She didn’t want me to work and thought that I should take on the role of a traditional wife.
Well, it’s too bad for her, because I can’t control my weight or curves, I have no desire to stay quiet, and I love my job as a teacher. That doesn’t make things any easier on us, though. Maybe this baby can be a bridge between us. Either that, or this is going to tear us apart even further.
Travis walks into the closet and smiles when he sees me. “You ready for this?”
He looks so handsome. His dark blonde hair is combed to the side and a little damp; his blue eyes are shining with happiness. He’s wearing a pair of khakis and a black polo shirt.
“As I’ll ever be,” I mutter before taking his hand.
He leads me out to his car and opens the door for me, waiting for me to slide inside before he closes the door and walks around to his side. The drive to the restaurant is quiet with both of us lost in thought, but Travis’ hand never leaves mine.
When we get to the country club, Travis helps me out of the car and hands the valet the keys before leading me inside. We see our parents at a large table in the middle of the restaurant and head in that direction. This isn’t exactly the secluded area that I’d like to tell everyone about us being pregnant, but I guess it’s going to have to work.
“Hi guys!” Travis’ mom Carrie calls out.
Her son inherited her dark blonde hair and blue eyes. She’s tall and slender, the total opposite of me. I’m not super short, but standing next to all of them makes me feel that way. I’m five foot six, but even Carrie is five foot eleven.
Russel, Travis’ dad, stands from his seat to welcome us. He has dark brown hair, brown eyes, and a similar build to his son. Tall and slender. Both he and Travis are six foot two.
They give us hugs and then we turn to my parents. Laura Kincaid is my height but slender. She has petite curves and short black hair. Her hazel eyes are the same color as mine, but that’s where our similarities end. She barely touches me during our hug and then turns to Travis with a warm smile. My father though? Edward Kincaid is one of my favorite people. He stands at about five foot ten and has an athletic build. He has dark brown hair and green eyes. He gives me a huge hug and pulls out my chair for me. My parents are night and day.
We make small talk through dinner, but I’m not sure I hear most of it because of my nerves. When we finish dessert and Travis grabs my hand, I know that it’s time. I sit up and push back my shoulders.
“We actually wanted to talk to you guys about something big,” Travis begins.
“Oh gosh, don’t tell me you’re pregnant,” my mother mutters under her breath.
The air rushes from my lungs in a woosh. I stare at her, my mouth agape. Travis gently clasps my hand and shoots my mother a glare. It’s enough of a tell for her to know that she’s right.
“You’re kidding,” she spits. “You couldn’t even wait until you got married? It’s bad enough that we had to tell our family and friends that you were living together, but now we have to tell them that you’re knocked up? What are they going to think?”
“What are they going to think?” I screech. “What does it matter, mother? We are already engaged; we’re getting married in a few months and we love each other. We’re in this for the long haul. So, what does it matter if we have a baby before our marriage is official? We’re happy about this, so it doesn’t really matter what you, or anyone else thinks!”
I wince when I realize I just had that outburst in the middle of the country club dining room and everyone is watching us. Everyone at the table is wearing shocked expressions. Well, everyone except my dad, who has a small smile on his face.Like he’s proud of me.
I scoot my chair back and get up from the table. Travis follows after me, telling the valet to get his keys. We’re silent as we wait for his vehicle and for most of the forty-minute drive.
We’re about five minutes away from our house when Travis’ phone goes off. I figured it would be his parents or one of mine calling, but the contact just says “DK.”
“Who is that?” I ask softly.
He ignores the call with a wince. “Just a client.”
His phone rings again and once again, he silences it.
“You can answer it if you need to,” I tell him as I look out the window.
“It’s fine. It’s nothing that can’t wait until the morning.”
Multiple headlights capture my attention in the side mirror of the car. The headlights are approaching fast and driving erratically. My heart sinks to my stomach because something feels wrong.
