Falling for the Babysitter

Will it be a boy or a girl? What will we name him or her? All these thoughts race through my head at once until I feel like I might pass out. Now to tell my mom …

She’s waiting outside the bathroom door, pacing. She picks at her eyebrows, something she has always done when she’s nervous. She barely has any left and has to draw them on. She sees me and her eyes open wide. “Well?” she says.

I hold up the sticks and burst into happy tears. “I’m going to have a baby!”

She starts to cry too. “Oh my god,” she says. But instead of cussing or saying something that might break my heart, she smiles and says. “I’m going to be a grandma.”

We hug, both of us melting into tears. “What do you think Deacon’s going to say?” she says when we come apart.

I wipe away the mascara rolling down my cheeks. “He’s going to be really happy, Mom. I promise. You have nothing to worry about.”

She smiles, her eyes red and watering. “I trust you. I know you’re a smart girl and wouldn’t rush into anything unless you were absolutely sure you knew what you were doing.”

“Thanks Mom,” I say and hug her again.

Now to tell Deacon.

twisting my hands. They’re sweating. I feel like I’m going to pass out. Deacon will be happy. I know that. But I’m still afraid. This will drive a wedge so far between him and Sam that I

This isn’t something

and ring the bell. Sam answers. He rolls his eyes when he sees me, but stands aside to let me in. There are boxes stacked up

going on?” I ask, a tinge of fear ringing through me. Someone has obviously packed their belongings to move and I doubt it’s

He looks mad at first until he sees

here?” he asks in a way that lets me knows he’s happy for

you.” I wave my hands

found a place of my own,”

time together as we want, make as much noise as we want while having sex. Hell, we can walk around naked if we feel like it. There won’t be anyone around to judge us or tell us what we

all your fault,” Sam says,

this my fault? I don’t even know what’s going

being a dick,” Deacon says, tossing a gym bag on top of the pile

start fighting until she came into the picture,”

with my life has nothing to do with you.

I care about what happens to my