Page 152 of Like A Moth To A Flame

“Come on. We got something to do.”

I could see her sheet of blonde hair hanging over the banister over my head, and I nodded once, watching as Carl moved to the front door, flipping the lock and pulling out his phone. Carl and Tommy seemed about as close as Amelia and me, and just as in sync. He dialed a quick number, bringing the phone to his ear, and stepped into the living room, his voice calm.

Fighting to shake the unease that crawled up my spine, I steadied myself with a hand against the wall as I stepped around the banister and up the staircase, careful to yank up the skirt of my dress as I ascended. Amelia met me on the landing, her arms wrapped around herself and a cool, if not worried, smile creasing her lips.

“Come on,” she said, jerking her head toward the bathroom. “Let the guys handle it. We’ve got two firemen here, no one’s coming in that door without their permission.”

“Yeah,” I said, sighing as I followed her into the bathroom. I tried to shake away the fear, but it stayed there, gnawing at my insides.

That was the day my life changed forever.

I wasn’t surprised when I got a positive test result, but I have to admit that I was more than a little shocked when Amelia did, too. We both sat in stunned silence, the bathroom door pressed closed and locked against the outside world. It wasn’t until Carl came gently knocking on the door that either of us moved or spoke.Whispering fervently, we made a pact to keep it a secret until later that night, when we could tell both of them at the same time.

The time finally came well after nightfall, when Tommy returned. He was on edge, not saying much as he paced back and forth in front of the door like a wounded, caged animal.

Was it the right time? Maybe not, but neither Amelia nor I could wait any longer. Taking a deep breath in the silent kitchen, I mustered the courage to speak up.

“Tommy, we need to talk,” I said, my voice trembling. Both Amelia and I exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how he would react. Tommy stopped pacing and turned to face us, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and confusion. When his honey-brown eyes met mine, it was like the shore where the ocean met the land, and I felt his emotions crash down on me with the same amount of power they always had.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice hoarse with trepidation. I watched him look over, glancing at Carl, standing in the foyer and looking down at his phone. They’d both been on edge, like guard dogs with a scent.

All I wanted was calm. I needed it.

Amelia and I locked eyes, silently reassuring each other before I continued.

“We both have something important to tell you. Both of you guys.”

Carl stepped into the kitchen, eyeing Amelia from around the corner. His face had paled so much that it almost blended with his hair in one fluid color. Tommy’s expression shifted from confusion to realization, his eyes widening.

“You’re… you’re pregnant?” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

I stayed quiet, watching as Carl turned to glance at Tommy as if begging for help, and then looked back at Amelia, who nodded, her throat bobbing as she swallowed, and tears welling up in her eyes.

Silence hung in the air for what felt like an eternity before Tommy finally spoke, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and determination.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his tone resolute.

“Pretty sure,” Amelia chimed in with a chuckle. “We both went to college, so I think we can read a pregnancy test.”

I watched Tommy’s face split into a happy grin, a chuckle burbling in his chest as he stepped toward me, dropping to his knees as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. He crushed me against him in a way that was claiming and possessive, but also as loving and gentle as he could muster, somehow.

At that moment, a weight seemed to lift off our shoulders. The secret was out, and despite the uncertainty that lay ahead, we knew we had each other’s support. Our lives had changed forever, but we were ready to face whatever challenges came our way as a united front.

37

Oh, baby, would you burn down the world for me?

Moth

And so time went on. Before I knew it, weeks had passed and the first trimester became the second. I was as excited as I was nervous, and with every passing day, I wished my mom was there to help me.

I was alone, so I would have to make do.

I could do this. I know I could, but the unfairness of it all got to me more often than I wanted to admit.

Sure, I could do this alone, but that didn’t mean I should have to.

Amelia and Carl got to work finding a bigger place, and it was only a few weeks before they found a little house on the outskirts of town with plenty of room for them and their bundle on the way. I was happy for them, but as happy as I was, I was also sad to see her go. Sure, she was closer than she was before, but I still enjoyed our evenings together, and our shared complaining over morning sickness. I didn’t like the darkness and the night alonewhen Tommy was on shift at the station. Though the notes had stopped, I was still more uneasy than I liked to admit.

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