Page 19 of Pumpkin
Petra
Blowing my nose on a balled-up wad of toilet paper, I try to stop myself from crying long enough to go out there, grab my things and get out of here. No way can I have Thanksgiving with them now. Claire thinks we’re disgusting and Dave, well, he saw my naked ass. I’m going to have to move to another state and change my name to avoid the embarrassment.
“It was great while I lasted,” I say to myself, shoulders bouncing as I hiccup out the words in between sobs. ButI can’t give him up now. I don’t want to.How unfair is it that I’m shown the joys of love only to have it stripped away from me hours later?
A soft rap sounds at the door, and I roll onto my knees then get up to stand against it. “Who is it?”
“It’s me,” Claire says. “Fin and I talked. Will you let me in?”
“Are you going to tell me I’m disgusting again?” Just saying the words makes me erupt into tears again.
“Oh, honey. No. I never meant that you were disgusting. Just my oaf of a brother. But I realize he’s not at all. He loves you and I’m guessing by your locking yourself in the bathroom, you love him too?”
“Yes,” I manage.
“Then let me in so I can hug my new sister. We’re more than friends now, Petra. We’re family.”
Smooshing my tissues up against my teeming eyeballs, I sniffle and unlock the door, welcoming the embrace from my best friend—well, my new sister. I hadn’t even considered that part, but if, I mean,when,Fin and I get married, that’s exactly what we’ll be.
“I’m so sorry you found out that way,” I say as she holds me.
“I’m sorry for freaking out the way I did.”
“It’s OK. I understand.”
She pulls back and meets my eyes with a watery smile. “I’m pregnant,” she blurts, and my mouth falls open because that’s the last thing I ever expected to come out of her mouth.
“What?”
“It’s why Dave and I have been fighting. He wants to get married and raise the baby together.”
“Which is why he’s pushing so hard for you to meet his family?”
She presses her lips into a smile. “Yeah. And I’m just really scared. I mean, I only remember flashes of my mom. How am I supposed to be one?”
“I think it’s just something that you become when you bond with your baby. But we can read books on the subject and figure it out together. If your brother gets his way, we’ll be raising babies at the same time.”
“Ew,” she says with a smile. “But thank you. I think I’m going to say yes to him.”
“Did he propose already?”
She nods. “I told him I needed more time to think. But hearing Fin talk about you and be so positive that you belong together helped me do that. I love Dave, and I want this baby.”
A smile takes over my features. “I’m so happy for you.”
“And I’m happy for you.”
We embrace again, laugh a little then embrace some more. After that, I take a moment to splash some water over my face before heading to my overnight bag for a change of clothes. When I make it into the living area, I find all three of my growing family sitting together and laughing at some story Dave is telling. He’s sitting with his hand on Claire’s leg and she’s relaxed and glowing. The moment I come into view, Fin’s head turns and his smile becomes mine and mine alone. He stands and holds out his hands for me and I fall into his embrace.
“Sugar. I missed you,” he says, pressing a kiss on the top of my head.
“Me too,” I say. “I got a little freaked out.”
“But we’re good now?”
“Always,” I say. “There’s no one for me but you.”
“Likewise.“ His hand moves to my ass and he squeezes. “I know what I’m thankful for this year.”
Rising up on my toes, I press my mouth his. “Me too. And every year after that.”
