by Winter Scott
I noticed something in the wastebasket as I dried myself off with a towel. A white and pink stick. It couldn't be what I thought it was.
I picked it out and noticed the box underneath: Pregnancy test. I grabbed the box and examined the stick. What did a blue plus sign mean? I checked the box and dropped everything to floor—Erica was pregnant...with my child.
But why didn't she tell me?
Every fear in the back of my mind crept into the forefront. Erica thought I wasn't good enough for her. She didn't want to have a baby with me. I didn't want to believe that she would have run away.
I went to my sock drawer and pulled out a small jewelry box. The large diamond on a silver ring glittered in the sunlight. I never got a chance to tell her how much she meant to me. I never got a chance to give her this ring and spend the rest of my life with her.
I had to find Erica to tell her how I felt. Maybe it wouldn't be too late.
Erica
My entire body was frozen in ice as I saw the blue plus sign on the stick. I didn't even need to check the instructions to know for sure. My period was two weeks late and that could only mean one thing: I was pregnant.
But how could this have happened? I'd taken my pill every night like clockwork. I opened the bathroom door and checked to make sure Brody was still asleep. Our little early morning fuck session would keep him knocked out for awhile. I sneaked over to my side of the bed and grabbed my pill container off the nightstand.
I went back to the bathroom and inspected my pill. Everything looked correct. I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn't my fault. We must have been very lucky then.
I sat down on the toilet and tossed the pregnancy test into the trash can. What was I going to do? Should I wake up Brody and tell him?
No. Not yet. I needed to confirm it. No use freaking him out if it's nothing. I'd have to skip school today and see a doctor.
–
“Well Ms. Turner, you're a hundred percent pregnant,” an old man with spectacles and a white lab coat told me.
Tears came streaming down my cheeks. I didn't know whether to be happy or scared out of mind.
The doctor took a seat next to me and cleaned his glasses. “I take it from your reaction that this wasn't planned.”
I shook my head, my throat closing up. “I've only known the guy for a month. I don't even know if he wants to be with me, let alone have a kid.”
Would Brody even make a good father? He was a killer for god's sake. Maybe it was time to run home? My parents would know what to do. But how could I ever tell them everything that happened. Would they even want me back after finding out that I became a drug addict?
A nurse with short brown hair popped her head in. “Doctor, I have Mrs. Penbel in waiting room three.”
“I'll be right there,” he replied. The doctor turned back towards me. “Tell your man the truth. You might be surprised by his reaction.”
The doctor was right. Brody had done nothing that should make me think that he would react badly. I just imagined he would tell me that it was over and leave me for good. But Brody was a good man. We loved one another.
I checked my cellphone—Brody had insisted I get a new one when I moved in with him—two missed calls from Brody. I couldn't call him back because he'd be able to tell that something was wrong in my voice.
I sent him a quick text:
Erica: Class got canceled today. Be home soon!
Brody replied instantly:
Brody: I'll be here.
I thanked the doctor and jumped into my brand new Mazda 3. Brody had also insisted on buying me a brand new car. I tried to refuse, reminding him that he was out of work and shouldn't spend that type of money on me. He wouldn't even hear me.
My sweaty palms clenched the steering wheel as I drove back home. How was I going to break it to him? “Oh hey Brody. By the way, I'm having your baby.” Sounded stupid when I said it out loud. “Brody, will you have a baby with me?” That sounded like I was giving him the honor of being a father. Nothing that came to mind sounded good. I'd just have to wing it.
I unlocked the door to our apartment and found Brody sitting on our couch with his head in his hands. He immediately got up and came to me, his eyes on the verge of crying. What happened? Was that why he was trying to call me?
“I was so worried,” Brody said, embracing me. His musky scent almost lifted me off my feet. I wanted to stay safe in his arms forever. Brody pushed me to arms length and looked me in the eyes. “I want to have this baby with you.”
My jaw dropped. Every nerve in my body relaxed. He wanted to have the baby. “How did you find out?”
Brody laughed. “Wasn't very hard. You left the pregnancy test in the bathroom.”
“I guess I was so blindsided that I didn't even think of that. You're not mad are you?”
Brody looked offended. “Mad?” He grabbed both of my hands. “How could I be mad? I want to do this with you. And actually I was planning to do this in a couple weeks but now is a better time.” Brody got down on one knee and produced a small jewelry box. It popped open and sitting on a bed of clouds was a silver engagement ring with the biggest diamond. “Erica, you're the one. There's nobody else I'd rather spend my life with. I love you.”
I couldn't turn off the waterworks if I tried. I was so shocked and happy at the same time that I couldn't form a reply to Brody. He just sat there on his knee, holding the ring up.
“Any answer would be great right about now.” Brody looked worried.
I nodded up and down, shedding tears everywhere. “Of course the answer is yes.”
Brody put the ring on my finger and I couldn't help but admire how beautiful it looked on me. Brody finally got off his knee and hugged me hard.
“Promise me you'll love me forever,” I whispered in his ear.
“I promise with all my heart,” he replied softly.
Epilogue
Erica
Five Months Later
Brody scratched his head as he looked down on the mess of wooden pieces. This man used to have to beat the life out of people. A baby's crib was his new enemy now. He picked up and unfolded the white instruction manual. He looked like an explorer, standing on a vista, looking at his map.
“I don't know how anybody is supposed to figure this shit out,” he said.
I watched him from a rocking chair in the corner of the bedroom, trying to hold back my giggles. Moving boxes were stacked against every wall. We'd only just moved in a few days ago. This bedroom was going to be for the baby. “Take a deep breath, honey.”
Brody took my advice and inhaled sharply. “I think I need a break.” He set down the map on the pieces of the crib and knelt down next to me. “Is our boy going to like his room?” he asked, putting his hand on my stomach.
“I was thinking of going with dark blue on the walls with white sailboats.”
“White sailboats?” Brody repeated. “Why don't we just paint the room pink and give him Barbies?”
I playfully shoved him away and my chair rocked backwards. “How about race cars then?”
Brody smiled and showed his teeth. He had been so carefree and happy since our wedding. Like nothing could stop him from being happy. “Sounds good to me. Clay is going to love it.”
“Clay? What kind of a name is that?”
“A boy's name of course.”
“I was thinking of something more like Justin.”
Brody pondered for a moment and began talking to my stomach. “Are you a Justin, little guy?” Brody looked up at me. “I think we have a winner.”
Time was moving so fast. One day I was a drug addict, getting high as much as possible. The next, I'm married, pregnant, and happier than ever.
I eventually called my parents and explained everything that happened. Brody insisted on it after the engagement. He had been insisting on a lot of things lately. They weren't too enthused about me getting married so quickly but their minds changed when they met Brody. I even invited Rebecc
a, making her my maid of honor.
Once thing I didn't understand was how we were able to afford so much. I was almost done with school and Brody still hadn't found a job yet. We had just bought a four-bedroom house in a nice suburban neighborhood. A small cry from the crack house I lived in while I was an addict. I didn't think to question it. I just thought that Brody had some money saved up. But this was different.
“How are we paying for for all this?” I asked, motioning to the entire house.
Brody grinned and felt my belly again for the baby. “All thanks to the Kelly brothers.”
I cocked my head to the side. “What do you mean?”
The baby kicked and Brody felt it, keeping his hand on me. “I was the only one that knew where the Kellys kept their money. We inherited it all, baby. We have enough to live on and never work again.”
“Holy shit! Why didn't you tell me before?”
Brody looked down at the floor. He thought I was mad. “I didn't want you to quit your dream of finishing school.”
I lifted his face by his chin. “I love you more than anything, Mr. Jacobs.”
“And I love you, Mrs. Jacobs.” Brody kissed me, his hand sneaking down my shirt and feeling my up my breast. “God damn, your tits are absolutely gigantic now.” Brody pinched my nipple and I felt that familiar desire between my thighs—that same desire that led me down this pregnant path in the first place.
“We've christened every room but this one,” I said, twirling my hair with my finger.
Brody bit down on his bottom lip. “Mrs. Jacobs, you're a dirty girl.”
I giggled as he kissed my neck.
Life couldn't get any better.
I couldn't be with a better man.
The End