Page 109 of Conception
“Jaclyn?”
Her throat clears. “Is everything okay, honey?”
“Oh, yeah.” I breathe. “Life’s never been better.”
And just uttering those four words sets everything back on track. All nerves of telling my parents dissipate. Either they’re in this or they’re not. Amelia and Branson are my life now, and nothing matters more than the two of them.
“Glad to hear it, honey. I’ll go get your mom.”
I can hear her set the phone down, her signature one-inch pumps clacking across the hall, no doubt in a hurry to get to my mom, knowing full well she’ll spill the beans as soon as we hang up. She’d do it even without having a glass or two of wine in her. With her nice and warmed up from a good cab, I’ll be lucky if all of Nashville doesn’t know by the next morning. That is, if she’s actually happy for me.
“Knox,” Mom croons into the phone, slightly out of breath. “I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for you to call. You’re still there, so I assume that’s a good thing. Or, oh no, does that mean you’re still trying to win her back? Do you need me to come down there and knock some sense into the girl?”
I chuckle. Judging by her tone, she’s definitely on glass number three. “No, Mom. Please don’t come scaring her away when I’ve just gotten her back.”
Her sigh is wistful. “I knew you’d do it.”
I play it over in my head, wondering if I should tell her we aren’t exactly back together, but what’s the use? By the time my parents meet Amelia, she’ll be mine.
“Oh, here’s your father. Knox! Sweetheart, our son did it. He won that girl over and they’re back together! Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Of course, Kate.”
The amusement in my father’s tone is unmistakable.
“Mom, since Dad’s there with you, there’s something I need to tell you both.”
“He says he has something to tell us,” she whispers to Dad. Well, I think shebelievesshe’s whispering. I heard every word.
“Then let the boy speak, Kate.”
“Oh, right. Yes. Go ahead, Knox. Both of our ears are by the telephone so we can both hear. Now, what did you want to tell us?”
Suddenly, pride replaces my nervousness. Iwantthem to know. Need them to.
“I have a son.”
There’s rustling on the other end of the line. My mom’s voice comes in a whisper. Pretty sure she’s taken the phone away from in between them and it’s just her and me now. “What?”
“Mom, I’ll explain. I only wanna say this once, though, so let Dad listen in, okay?”
More rustling.
“We’re both here, Knox. I, uh, I think we’re both in shock. Wh… How could this have happened?”
The memories of just how it could have happened bring a smile to my face and a shot to the groin. Those memories are what kept me going these past eight months.
“Considering you’re the one who taught me about the birds and the bees, I think you know how this happened. You sent me to Crystal Cove to have a good time. Well, I did. A helluva good time. Neither of us knew Amelia was pregnant when I left. In fact, she didn’t even know until a month later.”
“She could have told you!” Mom exclaims.
“Katie,” my dad warns.
She huffs but doesn’t say another word.
“We didn’t share contact information,” I tell them. “It was just supposed to be for the summer. At the time, I was too stubborn to admit I loved…love her.”
“Oh, Knox,” Mom whispers.
