My jaw dropped. I looked everywhere but at her. “What? I mean, why would you ask me that, Mom?”
She placed a finger on my chin, forcing me to look at her. Her eyes widened in and she gasped. “Oh my goodness. Liza.”
My eyes filled with tears and she pulled me in for a hug. “Mom, I’m so scared.”
She ran her hand along my back and chuckled. “Oh, darling, no. Don’t be scared. This is amazing, darling.” She pulled back. “Does Walker know?”
I nodded. “He’s over the moon, but upset that I won’t be teaching this spring.”
My mother’s smile faded briefly. “Well, I guess you’ll to be working for your father a little longer than you thought.”
I giggled. I’d been working for my father since coming home from college, keeping track of all the vet records for the horses and few other items Reed and Daddy thought would be good for me to learn. Jase didn’t want anything to do with the business side of the ranch, so I guess that fell to me. I didn’t want to admit it to anyone, but I loved it. I loved the idea of seeing my parents every day, and working with Walker.
“I really like working for Dad and Reed, mom. More than I thought.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Have you gone to the doctor yet?”
I shook my head. “No, not yet. I was hoping you and Courtney would go with us.”
She hugged me again, tighter. “Yes, I’d like nothing more.”
MY MOTHER CLEARED her throat. “Liza? Honey, are you listening to me?”
“Yep, sorry. I was lost in thought.”
She laughed and said, “Nothing new there.”
I sighed and said, “I think Walker bought the ring yesterday.”
My mother spun around and gasped. “What makes you say that?”
I pulled out the seat to the kitchen table and saw my mom’s Kindle sitting there. “What are you reading?” I asked.
She got a goofy grin on her face. “A book I read years ago. Just felt like revisiting it.” She wiped her hands and sat down. “Now, what makes you think he bought the ring?”
I shrugged. “A feeling
?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh, pregnancy feelings. They’re strong. Listen to them, honey.”
I giggled. “When should we tell Daddy? Walker said Reed figured it out and I’m pretty sure Court knows too.”
My mother looked away. I sucked in a breath. “Mom! You didn’t! You told her?”
My mother covered her mouth. “Oh, God, I did. I couldn’t help it, Liza! It was too good to hold in, and I had no idea how long you were going to wait to tell everyone.”
My father walked into the kitchen. “Tell everyone what?”
My mother and I exchanged a look. My father was the last to know. I couldn’t let him stay in the dark.
“Um, Daddy? I have something to tell you.”
My mother shimmied in her chair and clapped her hands. I rolled my eyes.
“Well, you see, I’ve got um…I have to tell you…” Oh God. How do I tell my father I’m pregnant?
My mother jumped up and blurted, “Liza’s pregnant! She’s gonna have a baby.”