“Wait…what are we talking about?” Grace asked as she looked between the three of us.
“Well, um…” I had to start laughing. Jesus, everyone was going to know before Jeff. I needed to tell him tonight.
“I’m pregnant. I haven’t actually told Jeff yet, but that’s because some bitch he slept with before we became a couple is now saying she’s pregnant with his baby. It’s really a soap opera that’s not worth watching. ”
Grace got up and walked over to me again. She took me in her arms.
Oh shit, here come the waterworks again.
I pulled back some and smiled. I looked over at Emma and Ellie.
“I was going to tell him this morning. I got up early and headed to the barn to clean out the stalls before Mr. Reynolds came. I needed time to think. Y’all know h
ow the horses calm me down. How was I supposed to know that his son was going to be the one coming? Or that his son was going to catch me listening to “WooHoo” and singing out loud about oral sex? Sorry, Emma and Grace. And how was I supposed to know that he would flirt non-stop with me the whole time? Then, to have Jeff accuse me of purposely flirting back with Scott just to make him mad, that was the topper. I swear that I think Jeff wanted to fight with me. So, by the time all that shit happened, sorry again Emma and Grace, I just wasn’t really in the mood to tell Jeff. What would I say? Hey, guess what, dickwad? I’m pregnant. He might have accused me of doing it to steal Rebecca’s goddamn thunder. Sorry, Emma and Grace. ”
I looked around at the three women who were just standing there, staring at me. Poor Grace looked even more confused, Emma looked like she was trying to process what I had just spit out, and Ellie, that bitch, was trying to hide the fact that she was laughing. Some best friend she is.
“Okay, well…wow, Ari, honey. Let’s pour some sweet tea and go sit out on the porch. I think we could all use some fresh air right about now,” Emma said as she pulled out four mason jars and filled them with ice and tea.
***
When we were outside, I sat down in the rocking chair and just rocked. Closing my eyes, I pictured holding a baby while rocking her to sleep on this porch. I loved it here so much. I loved the country air, the smells, the sounds, and the dead silence. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I had three women just staring at me. What the hell?
I panicked. “Oh. My. God is there a bug on me?” I said.
Standing up, I started jumping around while Ellie laughed her ass off.
“Ari, for Pete’s sake, sit down girl. There’s no bug on you,” Emma said with a laugh.
***
We talked for a good thirty minutes about me, the baby, Jeff and Rebecca. I was emotionally exhausted and tired of talking about me.
Just then, a BMW pulled up. Emma had a huge smile on her face.
“Looks like Jim, Michelle, and Lynda are here. ” Emma got up and started to walk down to greet them.
I glanced over at Ellie, who had a sour look on her face.
“Heather is going to freak. Have you talked to her?” I said.
Ellie shook her head then looked at me. She clearly didn’t want to talk in front of Grace.
Lynda came running up the steps and then hugged Grace. “Aunt Grace! Oh gosh, I’m so happy to see you. Where is Uncle Jack?”
Grace let out a giggle as she returned Lynda’s hug. “He’s with Drake, Gunner, and Jeff down at the barn sweetheart. ”
“Is he okay, Aunt Grace?”
Grace smiled and nodded her head. “Excuse me sweetheart. Let me go say hello to your parents. ”
Lynda turned and smiled Ellie.
“Ellie! How was the honeymoon? I’m sorry you had to cut it short. I hate that Uncle Jack had a heart attack, but I sure hope this pushes him and Gunner to make up. ”
Ellie and Lynda talked for a few more minutes. I tried desperately to tune them out. There was something about Lynda that I didn’t like.
Just then, Josh pulled up in his truck. I tried to see if Heather was with him. He parked and got out alone. Shit.