Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 146(@200wpm)___ 117(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Only, that didn’t happen.
“Nothing, I am just, you know, busy. I’ve got lots to do, and with Thanksgiving coming up and our parents hosting, Axel is excited. So is Adeline, you know, there is a lot to, uh, well, uh, sort out, you know.”
“Something is up, you’ve just said you know three times.”
“No, I did not. You’re hearing things.”
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” Ashley asked.
This made Joey completely silent, which only lasted for a second. “What? How did you—are you spying on me? Are you getting someone to spy on me?”
“Joey, I’ve known you my whole life, and you think we’ve not had a similar conversation before?”
“With Adeline.”
“Exactly, so am I wrong, or am I right?”
Joey sighed. “I don’t know yet. I went and got the test.”
“Not in town?”
“No, of course not. Axel would have found out by the end of the day, and I don’t want that. Especially if it’s negative.”
“Do you want it to be negative?” Ashley asked.
Joey sighed. “Yes, no, I don’t know.”
“That’s a lot of answers.”
“Everything with Axel is going so smoothly, but we both know I’m not his usual type, and he has those rules.”
“That were broken.”
“But what if he doesn’t want kids?” she asked. “I ... if I’m pregnant, this could ruin it.”
“And if you’re not?” Ashley asked.
“I don’t know, I guess I won’t know how he feels.” Joey sighed. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a baby that the dad didn’t want.”
“Hey, I can’t even believe I am saying this, but George is an asshole, and from what I’ve seen and heard about Axel, he’s not. That guy is devoted to you. He broke those stupid rules for you, and Mom and Dad are always telling me he is amazing with Adeline.”
Joey smiled. “Yeah, he is. He adores her. He’s a good ... dad. Well, when he has kids, he is going to be a good dad.”
“You know I speak to Adeline, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Well, she is the one that told me he took her to school and also went inside when it was ‘bring a parent to school day,’” Ashley said.
Joey knew those days were limited, as Adeline was getting older. She was more than happy to go for Adeline, even though she had gone to so many and talked about her job at each one. She was pretty sure the kids knew her story by heart. Some of the kids were nice. Others were cruel, but that was life.
According to Adeline, Axel had been a real hit with the kids. He had loved doing it as well.
“Yeah, he did.”
“How are you feeling about him now?” Ashley asked. “Is it just sex, or is it love?”
Joey felt tears spring to her eyes. “I-I think I’m in love with him.”
It felt so good for her to say that out loud, but the moment she did, she knew it wasn’t just a think, but a know.
“I’m in love with him,” she said, and it felt so good to say it to her sister.
“Then, perhaps it will be a good time to tell him he might be a dad and that you love him.”
“What if he doesn’t love me back?” Joey asked. “What if he doesn’t want kids? What if he ends it?”
“Then, we take it one step at a time, remember? That was what I told you before. If you remember, you were scared and we got through it, and I promise you now, Joey, I will be there to help you through every step of the way. I’m the one you can count on.”
Joey thanked her sister and ended the call. Of course, Ashley wanted to be called immediately with the results.
She had already been in the bathroom long enough, and knowing her luck, her part-timer had wandered off to do something more exciting. Pursing her lips, she quickly read the instructions, and thankfully, she did need to pee.
Peeing on the stick was difficult as she was trying not to panic, although she felt herself panicking.
It was all going to be okay. She just had to remember what Ashley said. Small little steps, and taking each decision and step as it comes. That was all she needed to do.
She took a deep breath in, and a long one out.
Once she had peed on the stick, she cleaned up, flushed the toilet, and placed the stick on the piece of plastic, and then waited as she washed her hands.
The next couple of minutes seemed like an eternity. It was like the hands on her watch had purposefully slowed down because of how important this was. Time stood still. There was nothing she could do but wait. Her fate rested on a urine stick.
Tick-tock, and then the hands had aligned to the time she needed it to be, and she glanced down at the pregnancy test.