Page 73 of Honest With You

Uncle Adam is now yelling at Jesse about taking responsibility and acting like a man. Jesse doesn’t say a word back. He simply watches as his mom tries to placate his dad.

I slide my free hand across my belly to try and calm myself down, but when it becomes impossible for me to prevent the tide of emotions, I hear myself screaming over everyone before I’m even aware of my reaction.

"SHUT UP! JUST EVERYONE STOP!"

My breaths come out in gasps now and Jesse attempts to cross the room to me. My brother shoots him one icy glare, stepping in his path and he stills.

Jesse's shoulders stiffen, his jaw ticking with annoyance as his frustrated eyes bore into mine.

I watch Stephen walk over to me seemingly in slow motion as my heart slams around in my chest. I feel every pound, shaking me to my core. My skin prickles and my stomach twists in discomfort. I feel hot and cold at the same time so I pull my robe tighter around me.

My stomach drops and I feel the room spin. Reese whirls around to me and takes both my hands, but the visual of her turning makes my stomach flip as bile starts to rise in my throat.

She squeezes my hands, trying to distract me until I feel my brother lift me in his arms.

"This was a mistake. We need to let Ava decide what she wants to do. Adam, there will be no forced marriage or anything else. This is her life. Her body. Her future. I apologize, Phoebe. I need to cut this meeting short.”

My dad’s voice booms over everyone talking. I open my eyes and look over Stephen's shoulder, just in time to see my father turn to look at me. His face is granite but his eyes soften when they meet mine. In a flash, he’s next to us, his hand brushing the hair sticking to my forehead away from my eyes.

Stephen's jaw hardens and he keeps his eyes averted.

"Now if you'll excuse my children, Ava needs to rest. Let me see you all out."

The next wave of nausea hits me hard. I wrap a hand around Stephen’s arm and he takes the hint and hurries me up the stairs. I hear Jesse call out to me but it’s already taking everything in me not to hurl. As soon as we're upstairs, I jump out of Stephen's hold and make a mad dash to the bathroom.

“Stephen…”

It's a whisper, but he hears it from where he’s standing vigil in my doorway. He takes a seat beside me on the floor, his back resting on the bathtub and he takes my hand in his. Reese takes the spot on the other side. I rest my cheek on his shoulder, my chest rising slowly with every painful breath I take. Today was a lot. I’m spent and I suspect my body has had it with me and the way I’ve ignored it for weeks. Tomorrow, I will go see my doctor again. They’ll run more tests and give me better prenatal vitamins than the ones Yaya Ella picked up at the nearest pharmacy and I’ll be on the path to what I’m hoping is a healthier me.

But tonight, I rattle my brain on how to explain everything to my brother.

“It’s okay, Ace. Reese told me everything.”

My head swings so fast in Reese’s direction, it triggers a wave of vertigo and Stephen has to hold on to me before I can open my eyes again. He gets up, goes into my room and comes back with the anti-nausea medication.

“When did you take this last?”

Resting the back of my head on the tub, I hold my hand out for it.

“Around five or six hours ago.”

He checks the label first before unscrewing the top and handing me one. I quickly pop it in my mouth, letting it dissolve on my tongue. He settles back beside me, sneaking a peek at Reese. He tips his head to smile at her.

I pat my lap, encouraging her to rest. I know my little sister is probably exhausted from everything that’s happened. Reese relaxes, laying her head on my lap and wrapping her arms around my legs. My hand automatically goes to stroke her hair.

“I’m sorry, Ava. I just didn’t want Stephen to come home and be unprepared.”

I squeeze both of them, grateful for their presence and support. Stephen and I exchange slightly amused looks when Reese snuggles closer, shutting her eyes. Within minutes, she’s out like a light.

“I’m so scared. What am I going to do?” I whisper to Stephen.

Pressing a kiss to the side of my head, he shrugs.

“Whatever you want, Ava. This is your life. Whether you decide to keep the baby or not, Reese and I will be here. If you decide to keep it, we’ll be right here with you, changing diapers or driving the kid to school. Anything you need.”

My chin trembles at the thought of raising another baby but this time, the visual causes flutters low in my belly.

I look down at Reese on my lap, my finger trailing her cheek.

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