Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
“Okay.” She looks up at me and I kiss her nose before turning back to our parents.
My father is smiling at me with so much pride, it’s what I needed and I didn’t know I needed. My mother and Candace both wipe tears from their eyes and then I look at Ralph, who is staring daggers at me. “I’m sorry this isn’t how you thought it would go.”
“That is the understatement of the year.” He shakes his head.
“In all honesty, it was unexpected. But sometimes the best things happen when you’re least expecting it.” I put my hand on her hip and squeeze it.
“When?” Ralph asks, holding on to the chair in front of him with both hands. “When did this happen?”
I share a look with Ariella, who I’m sure doesn’t want to come right out and tell them exactly when this happened. “I’m thirteen weeks pregnant,” Ariella shares and shock fills his face. I think she is going to let it go at that and let them do the math, but she’s nervous, and when she’s nervous it’s like everything comes out. “It was at the party.”
“At what party?” Ralph asks and then his eyes go big. “At that party? The Dallas party?”
“At that party,” Ariella mumbles.
“You guys have been dating for three months and never told us,” Candace says softly. “Why wouldn’t you just tell us?”
“Well,” Ariella starts, “it wasn’t like that, exactly.” Ariella tells them of the weeks following the party from her first time in LA when she showed up on my doorstep to our trip to Palm Springs last week.
“A baby,” my mom says, clapping her hands excitedly, then looks over at Candace. “We get to plan a baby shower.” Ariella and I share a look now, knowing that the hard part of the conversation is past us.
“Our story is unconventional, but it’s ours.” I look at her and then back at Ralph. “You know me. You know the man I am, the boy you watched grow into a man. You even helped take care of me in some ways, so you know I’m going to take care of her.” I bring her to me and she wraps her arms around my waist. “I’m going to put her and the baby before me, because that’s the kind of man my father”—I look to Evelyn—“my parents raised me to be.”
“You fucking better,” Ralph cuts in. “You fucking better.”
I nod at him, wondering if that is somewhat his approval of the situation or not. “We don’t know what the future holds,” Ariella says. “We’re navigating it the best way we know how. But we’ve got a foundation that is strong because of you guys, so we’re already starting off winning.” She looks up at me. “Don’t you think?”
“So that’s why you’re moving to LA?” Ralph asks her and she nods.
“That is half the reason why I’m moving to LA,” she admits. “I mean, he can’t just up and leave, and I refuse to keep this child away from him. Plus, I’ve come to really love it out there.” She looks up at me. “So we are having a baby and moving in with each other.”
“Wait a second.” Evelyn holds up her hand and then turns to my father. “Why aren’t you more shocked?” He stares at her, his eyebrows pinching together. “You are oddly calm.” She stands up and puts her hands on her hips. “Why is that?”
“Well,” my father replies, “there is no one better than Ariella, so it’s a win for us.” He shrugs and puts his hand on his chest. “There is nothing to say.”
She glares at him and folds her arms over her chest. “Manning,” she says his name.
“I have something,” I offer, pulling my phone out of my pocket. “It was taken a couple of weeks ago.” I’m trying to get the showdown between my parents over. The last thing I want to do is for Ari’s parents to find out my father kept the secret from them, and for them to turn on him. “It’s the baby.” I press play on the video and the sound of the heartbeat fills the room. Our mothers come over to look at it as Ariella goes to her father.
“Sorry, Dad,” she says, and I hand my phone to my mother in case I have to take her out of here.
“I—” He shakes his head. “I just want to protect you.” He holds her face in his hand. “It’s my job to protect you.”
“It’s time for me to make my own mistakes.” She shrugs and I hear her voice quiver, my heart sinks at that word, knowing that it’s not a fucking mistake. Unintended sure, but mistake, this is not a fucking mistake.
“A baby is not a mistake, it’s a blessing,” he states and takes her in his arms and I relax.