Page 72 of The Last Thing
“Hello, my second prodigal daughter. How are you?”
I smile and instantly relax at the warmth in my mom’s voice.
“I’m good. How are you? Is Dad there? I have something I want to tell you guys.”
“We’re good. Yes, your dad is right here. Putting you on speaker.”
“Hey, honey,” Dad says. “How’s Ida treating you?”
“It’s good. I’m a little surprised by how much I like it.” I swallow hard, not sure where or how to start.
“What’s going on?” Mom asks, cutting right to it. She always knows.
“Well… I’m pregnant.”
There’s silence for a moment, and I close my eyes, drawing my knees up to my chest.
“Say something,” I squeak. I’m still the baby of the family who doesn’t want her parents to be mad at her.
“Sorry,” Mom says quickly. “We’re processing. I might’ve expected that from Frannie. Maybe. But… what, uh?—”
“Who?” Dad asks.
I chuckle lightly.
“Make sure you’re sitting down, because you’re not going to believe this story.”
Pulling a pillow onto my lap, I snuggle up in the corner of the couch and tell them everything—well, noteverything—but the majority of it.
“And Frannie had no idea…” Mom laughs in disbelief. “But you’re happy? And this… Wilson… you’re together?”
“Yes.”
I don’t like lying to my parents, but honestly, I’m not sure what the answer to that is. If Wilson had it his way, we would be together. And in some ways, we are. This is what the Facebook status “it’s complicated” was invented for.
What am I supposed to tell them? That I’m broken and afraid to fall in love?
“And that’s what you want, right? You’re not just doing this because you’re pregnant with his child?” Dad asks.
I shake my head vehemently, even though they can’t see me, and the truth spills out. “I felt something the first night we met, but I was afraid to admit it. I… really care for him. And Sophia.”
“We want to meet them. Both of them. Can you come down for a dinner? This weekend or next? We could come to you.”
I saw that coming. “I would love for you to meet them both, and I’m happy to come down there, but for the moment, you’ll have to settle for only meeting Wilson. We want to wait to tell Sophia until I’m further along, and… we’re still easing her into the extent of our relationship.” I’m a little lying liar. “But byThanksgiving, she’ll know, so maybe we could all be together then. And I could bring Wilson down next weekend?”
“We totally understand, and we’d love that,” Mom says.
“We look forward to meeting him. And seeing you,” Dad says.
“I miss you guys. I can’t wait to see you. Oh, and can you not mention this to anyone else yet? I’d like to hit the twelve-week mark first. Obviously, you can tell Kend’s parents. And I’ll tell Gran. But otherwise?—”
“We’ve got it. Our lips are sealed. We’ll let you go, but take care of yourself. Let us know if you need anything. We love you, honey.”
“Love you,” Dad calls.
“Love you both. Bye.”
I hang up, then go over to the messaging app I use for Gran, so I can reach her wherever in the world she is.
