The sweet came with a side of bitter. I wished it was Wesley with me instead of my sister. Not that I wasn’t grateful Katie was there with me. But I wished I could have told him before everything fell apart. And if things panned out the way I had hoped, Lucy would get to be a big sister. I knew her beautiful heart would welcome that.
“Cara, don’t cry.”
I wiped tears away from my face. “I can’t help it.” I looked at Katie. Her eyes were also swimming with tears. “Youdon’t cry.”
“Well, I can’t help it, either, dammit.”
The three of us laughed. Dr. Farina was incredibly sweet and helpful as she told me all of my next steps. I left the appointment feeling nervous but empowered. My body was built for this. So was my brain. I’d make an amazing mother, even if I had to work my ass off for the next eighteen years to provide for my baby.
My baby. I liked the sound of that.
§
After the appointment, Katie and I went for a walk. We were both quiet and uncertain of what the future held.
“I’m sorry this is so much.”
Katie frowned. “Don’t be sorry.”
I shook my head. “I’m your big sister. I take care of you.”
“Oh, stop it, Cara. We take care of each other.”
I smiled. “You’re so grown up.”
“Yeah, because I had a really amazing role model.” Katie wrapped her arm around my waist and squeezed. “This is the luckiest baby ever.”
My eyes welled with tears. “Katie, you can’t say stuff like that, or I’ll cry.”
“Sorry, Miss Sensitive!”
We laughed even though I had started to cry. Only five weeks pregnant and my emotions were already out of control. I was in for quite an adventure.
“I’m gonna have to go home tonight. Mom and Dad are getting anxious.”
I nodded. “That’s okay. I think I’ll be okay tonight.”
“You should come.”
I laughed. “You heard what they said. I made my choice.”
“Cara, they were talking out of their asses. They never really meant it. And…” Katie shrugged. “Now that Wesley’s out of the picture…”
“Don’t remind me.” I touched my lower stomach. I’d been feeling around the past two days, trying to sense if anything had changed. Not quite yet, but I was sure it would happen soon.
Katie stopped walking and put her hands on my cheeks. “You’re coming home with me. I won’t let you be alone tonight. And Mom and Dad wouldn’t want that, either.”
I was so tired from the ups and downs of the past few days I didn’t have the energy to argue. However, I did regret going with her when I found myself sitting on the enclosed porch of our childhood home, listening to our parents gloat about my relationship ending with Wesley.
“Oh Cara, honey, you know I’m so sad that you’re hurt.” Mom glanced at Dad. “But we did warn you.”
I glared over my plate of coffee cake that I was eating in small nibbles for fear of turning my stomach. “Wow, you’re seriously going to do the whole ‘I told you so’ thing right now?”
Mom looked away sheepishly. “Well, that’s not what I meant, but —”
“Of course it is. I’m sure once you two get a moment alone you’re going to congratulate each other on your astuteness.” I was done holding back. Maybe they’d been right, but I didn’t deserve them delighting in my misery.
Dad waved his hands. “Hey, kiddo. Easy. We just want you to trust us, that’s all. We know you better than anyone. We want what’s best for you. And often, weknowwhat’s best for you.”