And all that baby making exercise Ben and I do every day, sometimes twice a day. I’m no dummy, I know where babies come from and I never even worried once that I might get pregnant with Ben’s child.
I guess I secretly wished for it, we both did.
Throwing up every morning and my ass getting bigger than my belly?
I thought it was just all Ben’s cooking, which there’s a lot of. But really?
It’s good to know in a way, but I’m only gonna get bigger and bigger. And what if Ben doesn’t like me that big.
He always tells me it’s just more of me to love, but he never gains a pound, and only seems to look more muscular and fit by the day, which I can’t say for myself.
I jump, startled when I hear the blast from his truck’s horn outside again.
He’s never honked at me to hurry up before, but I have kinda lost track of time here, just staring at the pregnancy test, wondering. Even worrying a little now but I know it’s not just my imagination now.
Although, I have to say. After our first time. That first night. I think Ben and I felt something really special did happen, and not just us finding each other or me losing my virginity.
I think we both just knew.
Now I have proof.
My hands are trembling though, nervous now as well as excited.
Maybe I should tell him later? I don’t want to hold us up anymore, Ben did mention he has to get to the hardware store too as well as the general store for our supplies.
I hear another blast from the horn, then voices. The familiar sound of my dad’s voice of all people.
He’s calling out to Ben and tooting his own car horn, making me groan loudly.
I love my dad, but he has the worst timing. He never said he was coming up, and if I hadn’t spent so long in the bathroom, we would’ve missed him.
Ben never mentioned he was coming. Neither did dad.
Still growling to myself, I figure I should head out, tucking the test into my pocket and walking through the house before pulling the door closed behind me, I can hear Dad and Ben greeting each other like old times, which makes me smile.
It took a few weeks for either of them to even start to look each other in the eye again, but once dad could see how happy I was with Ben, he took a shine to the idea of me living with Ben.
Now, it’s like they’re best buddies all over again, with dad never letting Ben forget how he saved both our lives every chance he gets.
Seeing him myself though, and not remembering how long it’s been, I can’t hold a grudge for dad just turning up. I walk over to meet him, glad to see him fully recovered and smiling again, like old times.
His eyes scan me though, and I can tell he’s thinking the same things I am, about me getting so big but he doesn’t say a word.
He only hugs me tight, trying to lift me off the ground as he tells me how much he’s missed me.
Missed us both.
“We’re just heading to town,” Ben adds, glancing at his watch, which means we’re all going if we’re gonna make the stores in time to be back before dark.
“You okay, honey?” Ben asks, helping me up into his truck while dad lifts himself into the back seat.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, my eyes may be telling a different story, but one I’m sure I can tell him later when we’re alone.
After three months, another few more hours won’t make any difference.
“So… Anything new?” My dad asks from the back and Ben thinks a moment before listing off his latest achievements on the home renovation front.
But looking into the rearview, I can see my dad’s eyes shining, boring into mine.
“And how about you, sweetie, anything new?” he asks with a strange grin, making me shift my gaze to Ben, but his eyes are on the road, barely noticing the conversation.
It’s not until we reach the town that Ben interrupts my dad, who hasn’t stopped yapping the whole way, that he needs to stop off for lumber and hardware supplies first before they close early being the weekend.
“Fine by me,” Dad drawls, easing himself back into his seat. “Stacey and I can wait here if you want?” he suggests, with no argument from me.
I’m a little tired of the smell of sawed lumber and paint, to be honest.
Once we pull up, and Ben hops out, I can see my dad shift from pretending to nap to hanging over the seat, his face next to mine.
“Does he know yet?” he asks excitedly, making me wonder if I’m such an open book.
“Know what?” I ask innocently.