Page 87 of Nanny for the SEAL

It’s the things you don’t say that haunt you with sharper claws.

I let out a sigh, sitting up in the bed while Xaden is downstairs working. Daisy is napping, and I’m supposed to be doing the same.

It’s been utterly unsuccessful, though. Grumbling to myself, I decide that there’s only one person I trust getting advice from, and I need to give her a call anyway.

Pulling up my sister on my cell, I swipe to call and wait for her to answer.

“Hey, Ivy! How’s it going?” Jasmine’s perky voice immediately cheers me up.

“Hey, little sis. It’s going good. I just wanted to check in on you. Anything from dad?”

She laughs at me, and I know she’s rolling her eyes right now. “No, Ivy. Still nothing. My foster family has done everything they can to ensure I am safe and sound. Both back home and here at college. You can stop worrying.”

“I’m your big sister,” I reply. “I’ll never stop worrying about you.”

“What about you? I know he’s been messaging. Has it stopped? Have you contacted the authorities?”

I sigh, falling back against the pillows I have propped up behind me. “He has not, and I have not. There’s still too little to report. I just…I feel like he’s getting closer. I have nothing to base that on, though. It’s just a feeling.”

“Ivy, you’re excellent at taking everything to the worst-case scenario, and I know you have a good reason for that, but try to relax. You can’t spend your whole life worrying.”

I can’t help but smile. Worrying has been my profession for longer than child care. “Yeah, about that. Also, I actually called for something else.”

“Oh? What?” I can hear the curiosity in Jasmine’s voice, and I try to tread lightly.

“Mom texted me. I…I was considering calling her. Just to tell her off. You know, finally close that door.”

There’s a pause, and I know Jas is processing the information. She was always the one Mom pretended to dote on, but it came with a firm hand when Jas didn’t do what she wanted “correctly.”

“Damn, okay. I guess they’re both feeling ways about things now that they’re out. Umm…okay. I get it if you want to make that call. Tell Mom how you feel.”

Nodding to no one in particular, I look up at the ceiling as I try to find the words. “There’s been a lot going on around here lately, and it’s made me think about our life. It was…well, you were there. It was fucked. I just…I want to go into this next chapter of my life with nothing weighing me down.”

“I understand, Ivy. I do. You’re an adult. I trust you to make the right move for yourself.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that one. I’ve been making quite a few moves as of late. My mind churns as I hang on the line with Jasmine. I know I was going to wait to tell her, but…

“So, I have some big news, too.” I shut my eyes, breathing through my nose. “I’m…pregnant.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then Jasmine is screaming through the line, and I actually have to pull the phone away from my ear.

“Jesus, Jas! You’re killing my ears!”

She stops and comes back on the line, talking a mile a minute. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! I’m going to be an auntie! This is so freaking cool! Ahh, and with the hot dad you’ve been working for! It’s like a Hallmark movie! Oh, I need to fly out there and see you like as soon as I can!”

I’m laughing, happy tears springing to the corner of my eyes. It’s exactly the response I wanted, truthfully.

I don’t have many friends to tell, none actually since Sam was there with me, and celebrating the big news has been in short supply.

Xaden’s reaction was great, don’t get me wrong. I just needed some more fanfare for it all.

“Haha, thanks, Jas. I’m really excited. It was a surprise, of course; I was being super careful, so for the love of all that is holy, if you’re sexually active, please make sure you’re testing and using backup forms of birth control.”

“Jesus, Ivy. Calm down. I’m not there yet with the person I’m seeing. And I’m sure that’s not going to be an issue anyway.”

I furrow my brow. Jasmine can be a little too optimistic, and I don’t want her falling for any of those old wives' tales that get people in trouble.

“Jas, you just need to be prepared. You’re going to school. The last thing you need is a pregnancy scare, and Plan B only works if you take it soon enough after the incident. So, you know, be careful.”

---