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EMERY
Walking back into the daycare, it feels like I’m leaving my heart sitting on the sidewalk outside. There’s a dull pain in my stomach and a sharp pain in my chest. Something is wrong with me today. I got plenty of sleep yesterday but I woke up this morning feeling weak and tired. My legs feel like they’re going to give out at any moment and my stomach is in knots that won’t even let me consume anything other than water. Maybe it’s the first sign of morning sickness or maybe it’s because I know I messed up.
Lincoln and I agreed to take things slow and what did I do? I went off and fell in love with him. On top of that, I also managed to get pregnant. Now his ex is back and she’s ready to put their family back together. I’m losing them and I’m going to be forced to raise this baby alone. The thoughts, worries, and fears send me rushing to the bathroom and when the other staff members overhear, they insist on sending me home. I go, not wanting to spill the news of my pregnancy just yet. Plus, I am tired and not feeling well.
I give Ava a hug and promise to see her later before gathering my things and leaving for the day. The house is locked and when I walk in as Anna is still asleep. I make myself a cup of hot tea and lay down on the couch to relax and read my pregnancy book. I forget about my current situation with Lincoln and instead focus on learning about what I can expect while pregnant. I lose track of time until Anna is walking out of her room.
She fixes herself a cup of coffee and sits at my side on the couch. “What are you doing here this time of day?” She sips her coffee.
“I got sent home after getting sick at work.”
Her brows furrow as she looks at me. “You’re sick? What’s wrong?”
I take a deep breath. Then I close my book and show her the cover.
She gasps in surprise. “You’re pregnant?”
I nod.
“You and Lincoln?”
Again, I nod.
“What are you going to do?”
I toss the book onto the couch between us. I pull my feet up beneath me and give her my full attention. “I’m so screwed, Anna.”
She turns to face me. “Why? What’s going on?”
“Things were going great with us. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. But we wanted to go slow. We never defined our relationship and then I found out I was pregnant. I went over there last night to tell him the news and his ex was there. Apparently, she wants her family back and she, not so nicely, asked me to step back.”
“What?”
I nod. “She was a real sweetheart about it all.” I roll my eyes. “Anyway, knowing that I’m pregnant and then hearing her say all this stuff, it made my head spin. I got sick and had to run out of there. A while later, Lincoln called, but I ignored it because…” I shrug. “I don’t know. I was just upset and I didn’t feel like talking, but I saw him this morning when he was dropping Ava off. He took me outside and I told him that I was stepping back because I didn’t want to stand in the way of their family.”
“What did he say to that?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t really say anything. I didn’t give him time to say anything because it doesn’t matter what he says. If I insist on staying with Lincoln, I’ll have to look at a grown-up Ava one day and tell her that she could’ve grown up having her mother and father, but I took that away from her and I can’t do that. So, I’m backing off.” I nod as I take a deep breath.
“But you’re pregnant with his child.”
I nod.
“Does he know?”
I shake my head.
“Emery, this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
My head jerks back into her direction. “What?”
“You might not want to stand in the way of Ava getting her mother and father but you’re letting this bitchy woman stand in the way of your child having its mother and father together. How is one any better than the other?”
I bite my lower lip. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it that way.
“Ava loves you. I’ve seen it. Her mom already left her. Don’t show her that you’ll leave her too. Fight for her. Fight for him. And fight for yourself, Emery. For your unborn child who also deserves to have a family.”
Tears fill my eyes, as a lump swells in my throat. I wipe the tears, a nervous giggle slipping out. “When did you get so smart about all of this?”
