“You’re allowed to react any way you wish to.”
“We see plenty of people here for whom this would be a certified crisis. For me, it’s not even close to that.”
“Pregnancy is always a shock when it’s not planned.” Miranda pats my arm with the maternal affection she’s always given me and the others who work with us.
“Suddenly, it all makes sense, though. The over-the-top exhaustion, the sore boobs, the ravenous appetite, the missing period. Jeez, Miranda. What kind of nurse am I if I can’t put those pieces together on my own?”
“You’re one of the best nurses I’ve ever worked with, and you’ve been crazy busy working, taking care of your parents during your mom’s treatment, settling into a new relationship and becoming a mother to your fiancé’s child, with the holidays on top of everything. That’s a lot for anyone.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“It is true. We’ve all been amazed at how you’ve kept it all together when you had so much going on.”
“We all have a lot going on.”
“You’ve had more than most, so please be kind to yourself, amiga. Go take the test and confirm what you already know so you and your Austin can have some answers.”
I take the test kit from her, give her a grateful smile and go into the bathroom to take care of business. I swear the freaking thing pops positive the second my pee touches the wand. I break down into tears all over again.
Holy shit. We’re having a baby.
A streak of excitement goes through me. Carmen is pregnant, too, and now our babies will grow up together the way we did. That’s definitely a silver lining in this unexpected situation. I’ll have to figure out my due date, but we’ll probably have to postpone our November wedding to give me time to recover from having a baby.
Ugh.
I can’t believe this.
Miranda knocks on the door. “Everything all right in there?”
I wash my hands and then open the door. “As positive as it gets.”
“I had a feeling it would be. Am I allowed to say congratulations?”
“You are.”
She hugs me. “I’m thrilled for you both and for your sweet Everly. She’ll be a wonderful big sister.”
“Yes, she will.” The thought of that has me sobbing again.
Austin comes out of the exam room, sees me crying and comes to me. “Are these good-news tears or bad-news tears?”
“What counts as good news in this situation?”
He gives me an exasperated look that’s adorable on him, but then again, everything is.
“Good news.”
“Whoop!” He picks me up and twirls me around before I can tell him that might not be a good idea. “I know we didn’t plan this, babe, but this is one of the best days of my whole life. We’re gonna have a baby!”
“Everly is going to be a big sister.”
“She’ll be the best big sister ever.”
“Miranda just said that, and it made me cry.”
“Those are the best kind of tears.” He tips my chin up and kisses me right there in the hallway where anyone might see us. “I know we didn’t plan this, but it’s going to be great. I promise.”
“I know. I just freaked out for a second there.”