Page 7 of Upshot

I know it sounds ridiculous to run home at the first obstacle in my life. Only this isn’t any old speed bump, this is a baby. How did this happen, you ask? I wish I knew. I don’t remember much from that night.

I remember he was handsome. And charming. Don’t forget that. I know he was even more adorable when he was sacked out on his stomach naked with his hair all messy. That’s how he looked when I snuck out the next morning to catch my early flight.

As the youngest of three sisters, I’ve always fought for attention. This is probably not the best way to get it. I rub my lower belly. This baby is already thirteen weeks old. So far, only Sara and I know I’m pregnant. That won’t last much longer.

My sisters, Austen’s boyfriend, and my parents are having a family dinner tomorrow evening. That should be the best time to drop the bomb. Rip that Band-Aid off in one swipe.

“Ma’am? We’re here,” the driver says.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I must have dozed off.” He smiles in the rearview mirror before opening his door. I meet him at the back of the cab to collect my bags. He’s nice enough to help me wrestle them to the curbside check-in. Austen and Reed will be at the other end to help me wrestle them back out.

After checking the bags, I make my way inside. Looking around the airport while waiting in the security line, I realize that for the first time, I feel truly alone. How could someone be surrounded by so many people and still feel so alone?

As strange as it sounds, I wish Rand were here. If he were, at least there would be the two of us trying to figure this out. I’d have a partner by my side when I see the disappointment on my parents’ faces.

I sleep the entire flight. Exhaustion is just one of the side effects of getting knocked up by a drunken one-night stand. Luckily, I’ve stopped vomiting every morning. That had been a major factor in my decision to move home. How do I show up looking perfect in the morning for a photo shoot when my head is stuck in a toilet? As the tires touch down, I feel my stomach flip. Time to face the proverbial music.

Standing on the escalator to the baggage claim, I see Austen waving frantically. I asked my closest sister to pick me up. The relief at seeing her almost makes me weep. It’s been too long since I’ve been home. Reed stands with that goofy grin on his face that only appears when he’s around Austen. It’s been showing up since they were young.

Stepping off the escalator, I rush into Austen’s arms. We only hug for a moment before Reed crushes me between them in a group hug. For the first time in months, I laugh. I adore Reed almost as much as I do Austen.

He moved in down the street from us when I was only nine. I watched him and Austen fight all the way through high school until Reed left for the army. He moved back home shortly before she did to take care of his grandmother.

Eliot keeps me up on the romantic drama that plays out in Dansboro Crossing. It took Austen years, but finally, she admitted what the rest of the town already knew. She is in love with the boy from down the street.

“Let me look at you,” I say, taking a step back. I take her in from head to toe. “Eliot’s right, love looks good on you.” I wink at Reed, whose grin grows even bigger.

“I tried for years to tell her that.” He shrugs. “But you know how hard-headed she is.”

I’m shocked when Austen just laughs. Wow! The old Austen would have lit into him, thrown something at him, or broken something on him. I love them being together. If he makes my sister happy, then I’m happy.

I loop my arm through hers as we walk toward baggage claim. Reed pulls my bags off the carousel, commenting on the weight of each one as I point them out.

“Okay, wait here with the bags of bricks while I go get the car,” Reed says. He’s managed to wrestle all three of them to the curb. After stealing a quick kiss from Austen, he jogs toward the parking garage. The second he’s out of earshot, Austen turns to study me.

“Now, tell me why you’re moving home. I know why I had to, but you were lighting up the modeling scene,” she says.

“Not exactly lighting it up,” I respond. I don’t want to have this conversation yet. I haven’t even come up with how to have it.

“Brontë,” my sister says in Mom’s voice.

It gives me the chills. I bet she doesn’t even know she’s doing it. Fortunately, I’m saved by Reed pulling up next to us. He hops out and loads the back of Austen’s new SUV with suitcases. We settle inside comfortably, and he pulls away from the curb. Austen turns around to glare again at me in the back seat.

“Spill.” Finally, after a short staredown, I give up.

“I’ve made the most monumental error in judgment.” I feel the tears burning the back of my eyes. I haven’t cried over this in at least two weeks. I figure I was about due again. Austen makes a tutting sound from the front seat. Reed remains mercifully quiet.

“Sweetie, we all make bad decisions occasionally. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”

“I’m pregnant,” I state. I’d like to say I feel better now, but I don’t. The way Austen’s face freezes in a grimace doesn’t help.

“I don’t know. That one’s pretty bad,” Reed says.

“Reed,” Austen hisses. He gives me a compassionate smile in the rearview mirror. You know the ones. They say “I’m on your side even though you are royally screwed.” We ride in silence until Reed finally speaks again.

“Why didn’t he come with you? When is he coming to meet your parents? Do I need to meet him at the airport and teach him some respect?” This is about to get a whole lot worse.

“He was a one-night stand,” I say. “I picked him up in a hotel bar.” Some weird sound starts coming out of Austen. It’s almost like the sound a balloon makes when you let the air out of it slowly.

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