Page 126 of A Good Book

“I bought her lingerie,” Eve said. “It’s safe to assume she’ll want to be alone with Ben.”

“Not until your wedding night.” Mom said, tying the top of the last trash bag.

Sarah snorted and Eve rolled her eyes while I sat in my rocking chair, fanning myself with one of the cards.

“Mom, do you know how Gabby got pregnant?” Eve asked.

“It’s neither here nor there. That’s in the past. They’ve waited this long since being home from school, what’s another few days?” Mom asked.

Sarah and Eve looked at me. I shook my head, lips pressed together. My parents lived in their own world, and that was fine. Ben and I were respectful of their rules. But just because we hadn’t been allowed in his room or mine with the door shut didn’t mean we were abstaining.

Quite the opposite.

The barn.

The garage.

His car.

By the creek.

We had so much sex.

“I’m not staying here until our wedding night,” I said in my sweetest voice, which earned me an approving smile from my mom as she set the trash by the door.

Eve and Sarah synchronized their barely restrained snorts which only made my innocent grin double. I even batted my eyelashes for extra emphasis. Was I pregnant out of wedlock?

Yes.

Was I still the favorite child?

For sure.

“Are you having dinner with us tonight or are you eating with Ben’s family?” Mom asked, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.

I drummed my fingers on the arms of the rocking chair. “Hmm, I think we’ll be at his house for dinner.”

“Okay. Then we’ll see you after dinner.”

I rocked forward and stood, hugging my sisters and then my mom. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re welcome, honey.” Mom never made a big deal of it, but I loved the way she discreetly pressed her hand to my belly at the end of our hugs.

As soon as they closed the door behind them, and the place was quiet, I turned in a slow circle, inspecting all the gifts. Then I squealed and jumped up and down.

I had a house with furniture.

I was getting married.

We were having a baby!

As a little girl, I loved playing house. Part of me still felt like that little girl, so I didn’t wait for Ben before organizing my kitchen and stacking new towels in the linen closet. After I put all the baby clothes and diapers in the dresser and folded the blanket Grandma Bonnie crocheted the baby, I put my lingerie in our dresser.

My belly seemed a little big for sexy lace and satin, but the red nightie was so pretty, I couldn’t stop myself from trying it on. After I stepped into the bathroom to look in the mirror, the front door opened.

I quickly shut the bathroom door.

“Gabby?” Ben called.

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