Page 76 of Once Upon a Holidate
He stared at her. “Are you insane? You’d want to know sooner? Why?”
She smiled. “I just told you. Dad, are you going to make it through this? We have three more nights.”
“I’m fine,” he said automatically.
He was doing his best to take in all he’d learned. The entire process was iffy at best, and they hadn’t even touched on “complications.”
“What was God thinking?” he demanded. “You can’t do this. There’s no way something that big can pass through any part of your body. There are major design flaws. And how does the baby tell your body it’s time? It’s a baby. It can’t communicate.”
Joylyn grinned. “Dad, there’s no talking. It’s a chemical thing, not an email.”
“Still. The whole process is beyond comprehension.” Helooked at her. “You are the bravest person I know. I mean that. You, especially, but all women. Why would you do this? If it were up to me, the human race would be done. I’d refuse. There is no way I would go through any part of having a baby.”
She patted his arm. “I know. It’s okay. I’ve got this.”
“I’m glad someone has, because it sure isn’t me.”
***
Wynn walked into the kitchen the next morning to find Hunter already up. He was sitting at the kitchen table, still in his pajamas. His face was blotchy, and he looked like he hadn’t slept.
Her first instinct was to rush over and check if he had a fever, but she knew that wasn’t the problem. He’d been thinking about what he did and wrestling with the consequences. Now she was going to find out if she’d been right to trust him with the decision about what to do.
She sat across from him and waited. He drew in a breath, then looked at her.
“Can you meet me at the JROTC office after school?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I’m going to tell them what I did.” He swallowed. “I don’t think they’re going to let me into the program after they find out about how I lied and stuff, but telling them is the right thing to do.”
Relief was instant. She did her best not to show her feelings, nor did she rush over to hug him. He had to manage this on his own.
“All right,” she said. “You’ll make an appointment and text me the time?”
He nodded.
“Okay, then. Want some breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry.”
He rose and walked out of the kitchen. She stared after him, her heart aching. Nothing about this was easy, but she knew it was the right decision. Hunter would learn from what he’d done—at least that was the plan. As much as she didn’t like the idea, she was also going to have to punish him herself. She wanted to say not getting into the program was enough, but she knew there had to be more. He’d in essence lied to her—and he’d betrayed her trust. That had to be dealt with.
She turned on the coffeepot and thought how life had been so much easier when he’d been little and most of his transgressions could be solved with a time-out.
***
Major Orin Rumsey was a stern looking man, with graying hair and glasses. Wynn would guess he was in his late fifties—still fit and strong, and plenty intimidating. His desk was neat. The only seemingly out-of-place object was a small ceramic cat wearing a red bow tie and glasses, sitting next to his computer. The incongruous item added a touch of whimsy to an otherwise plain space.
As promised, Wynn met Hunter at the JROTC office just after three. Hunter was pale and she suspected he was shaking, but she didn’t try to comfort him. She was there as a witness and possibly to answer any questions, but this was her son’s meeting.
Major Rumsey smiled at them as he indicated chairs in front of his desk.
“What can I do for you, Hunter?” the older man asked.
“I need to withdraw my application.”
The major raised his eyebrows. “All right. Want to tell me why?”
