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“What are the two of you whispering about over there?” Mimi ponders loudly, ever the observant one.
“We have more news,” I say. Four sets of eyes lock on me. After scanning across each of them, I buck up and spit it out. “I’m pregnant.”
“Shit,” Dad mutters. Papa walks out of the room.
“Where’s he going?” Nathan asks.
“Hopefully not to get his gun.”
He elbows me again. “That’s not even funny.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” I flare my eyes wide, and my smile is tight and grim.
“You know, normally I love your sense of humor, but right now, I can’t tell if you’re joking or serious.”
I take pity on the man and wink at him.
“Well, are you keeping it?” Mimi asks when she gets her chance to be heard above the noise. The question doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. My family has always been conservative. I grew up hearing the gossip of pregnancies out of wedlock dissected as if those girls contracted Ebola. Luckily at my age, it doesn’t carry as much scandal. Other than Mimi’s invasive question, I wouldn’t be surprised if my parents are relieved to finally get a grandchild out of me.
Before I can defend myself, Mom pipes in with her own shriek of, “Mother!” sounding exactly like all embarrassed daughters across the globe.
Her coming to my defense means all is right in our world.
“Here, I have pictures.” I retrieve the sonogram photos from my purse and hand them to Mom.
“How far along are you?”
“About nine weeks.”
Mom releases a shaky huff and gazes at the black and white photo of her first grandbaby. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.” Her softened gaze crinkles as she swings it at Nathan. “But I hope you know this means you’re sleeping in separate beds.”
“Ugh, Mom. You don’t have to say it. We’ve always stayed here in separate beds.”
She grins at me. “Yeah, but you’re lovers now.”
“I don’t know what you’re so worried about. The evidence is in your hands that the deed has already been done.”
A hand flutters to her chest. Modern day pearl clutching. “Kiersten!”
“What?”
Her voice fills with affront. “That might be so, young lady, but you still respect the rules when you’re under this roof.”
I exaggerate an eye roll. “Just forget that whole lovers comment, okay? We aren’t even in a relationship.”
By the horrified look on their faces, I know I just done fucked up.
Nathan leans down to my ear. “You should have left it alone.”
“Shut up,” I mutter back. “Can we back up a second here?”
My mom returns my pictures back with a delicate drop to my upturned palm. “I don’t think so. All the more reason not to share a room when you’re already having casual sex.” She says the word as if Jesus himself is in the room. “Don’t ask again until the ring is on your finger.” With that, she walks away.
“And here I thought we were about to get out of this unscathed.”
I send my elbow into his side. His grunt is satisfying. “Will. You. Shut. Up!”
9
