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CJ runs a hand through my hair. His words mean everything to me, and the fact he stood up for us like that, in front of our parents, a mum who he loves and respects, is humbling.
His mum is first to clear her throat, her eyes filled with tears as she reaches out to squeeze CJ’s free hand on top of the table. “I’ll always support you. I just wanted to make sure you’d thought this through. Do I wish you’d waited until you were older? Yes. But if now is when it is meant to be, then so be it. I’ll be here for whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
I glance at my dad, noticing his eyes are watery too. I’ve never seen him cry, not once, and seeing him now hurts my chest.
“Dad?”
He shakes his head, his gaze focusing on me. “I’ll support your decision, if this is really what you want. But it’s going to take some time to get used to, sweetie. You had so much to experience before settling down like this.”
“I’m happy, Dad. Really happy. I’m scared of what our future will hold now, but I know I will love our baby with my whole heart. I already love them and I’ve never even met them. I want this, Dad. I’m ready—well, as ready as a newbie mum can be. I just don’t want you to hate me,” I tell him, feeling my throat close on the last bit.
He rears back like he’s been slapped. He jumps from his chair and walks around to my side, kneeling on the floor and taking my hands in his.
“I could never hate you,” he chokes out, a lone tear falling down his cheek. “I’ll stand by you, Allie, I will. You’re going to have a child now, my darlin’ girl, so you’ll soon understand my fears. You just want what is best for your children.” He takes a deep breath. “I’ve not been the best father when it comes to you. I’ll always regret and hate myself for that. But I promise, I will be a better granddad.”
“Not grandpa?” CJ asks, leaning around me. Dad glares over my shoulder. “Too soon?”
I inwardly groan.
“You got my daughter pregnant. It will always be soon,” Dad growls, before turning at me, his expression softening.
“My bad,” CJ whispers.
Dad gets up, leaning down to kiss my forehead before moving to take a seat.
“Does Willow know?” Melanie asks, taking my dad’s hand when he sits back down.
I shake my head. “No. We wanted to tell you before anyone else. It’s still early, so we’re only going to tell our close friends. They’ll know something is up before long, so it’s easier if they know now.”
“We’re actually going to tell them after we leave here.”
“She’ll be thrilled for you. I just hope she doesn’t get any ideas,” she tells us, chuckling.
I laugh. “She won’t. She’s already got her life mapped out. Babies aren’t happening until she’s twenty-six.”
Melanie relaxes. “Well thank goodness. I’ll start saving now.”
We all laugh at her expression, the table going from tense to relaxed. I’m grateful and mouth ‘thank you’ to her.
“Well, after that, I need a beer,” CJ says, scanning the room for the waitress.
“You need a beer?Ineed a whiskey,” Dad states, waving down the waitress in question.
After all that worrying, all that anxiety, it was mostly for nothing. The smile on my face has my cheeks hurting.
I don’t think there has been a time in my life when I’ve been so blissfully happy, and that’s saying something as CJ makes me extremely happy.
CJ glances down at me, winking. “I love you.”
I relax into him. “Love you too.”
*** *** ***
My steps feel lighter after our visit with the parents. I’d been worked up for days over nothing. My dad still had his concerns over his daughter being pregnant, but in time, I think he will be overcome with joy and delight at the idea of becoming a granddad.
Milly seemed to have forgotten her earlier reservations and was already talking about what the baby will need. Melanie soon joined in, leaving me, Dad, and CJ pale and lost. We knew we’d have to get a lot of stuff—our baby will need a lot—but they were listing off things I’d never even heard of.
