If there’s anyone in this world that shouldn’t be allowed to have kids—it’s me. I’ve killed plants, countless goldfish, my cat ran away, and I have never had that internal clock ticking thing.
The doctor places his hand on my arm. “It’s not abnormal to have a period or two. But I checked it twice. You are pregnant. Congratulations.”
The doctor pats my leg and leaves the room. Oh my God.
I don’t even know what to think. I can’t be pregnant. I mean, I guess I am, but this is not okay. Not even a little bit.
I’m not supposed to be in my mid-thirties and pregnant. This isn’t part of the plan.
Presley: Don’t forget to call me when you know something.
I glance at my phone and try to figure out what to say. I guess this would be better in person, plus I need to tell Wyatt. Fuck my life. With shaky fingers, I send out a text.
Me: Looks like I’m coming to Bell Buckle. Might want to make up the bed in your spare room.
“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CAPTAIN has turned on the fasten seat belt sign. We are now crossing a zone of turbulence. Please return to your seat and keep your seat belt fastened.”
I cinch the belt so hard that I’m positive I’m going to pass out, then I loosen it as I worry it might hurt the baby. I hate flying. I hate being suspended in the air when, clearly, that is not how humans are meant to be. I’m in a tube of death.
Calm down, Angie. You can do this. It’s no scarier than finding out you were pregnant forty-eight hours ago.
“You okay, darlin’?” A nice man with a large cowboy hat resting on his knee asks.
I nod because I can’t find my voice. My throat is dry and I’m pretty sure my face must resemble Casper’s.
“You don’t look okay.” His drawl becomes deeper with concern. “You ain’t gonna pass out on me, are you?”
“No.” I give him a tight-lipped smile. “I have a lot on my mind.”
Understatement of the year. After leaving the doctor’s office, I took three home pregnancy tests because I truly thought the doctor was wrong. He wasn’t. So, I preceded to eat a gallon of Breyers ice cream. This at least explains the other week when I burst into tears while I was watching Something About Mary, though. I couldn’t figure out what had me so upset, but there I was . . . bawling. No wonder, I’m a hormonal lunatic.
I’ve never been more freaked out than I am now. I’m not sure how the hell I’m going to do this. Any of it. First, I have to tell Wyatt, which is the point of this trip. Do I blurt it out? Do I get him a hat that reads: Daddy across the front? Maybe I should say, “Hey, partner . . . we’re gonna have a kid and we’re both almost forty, so get your walker ready for the high school graduation.” Not that he talks like that, but whatever. I don’t know how he’ll react, but the truth of the matter is—we’re having a baby, which makes me want to cry.
Then I have to figure out how I’m going to be a single mom. I’ve never been more grateful for Erin right now. As soon as I told her about the baby, she immediately told me to take a few days off, and handle coming to Tennessee. Maybe it won’t be so bad.
“I understand that,” the very handsome stranger says. “Are you visiting family?”
“Yes. I’m going to see my sister and my nephews.” And the father of my kid. “They live in a tiny town somewhere in Tennessee,” I explain.
“There’s a lot of those.” He chuckles. “Are you from Philly or just passin’ through?”
“No, I live there. I have for almost twenty years now.”
“I spent a week there, interesting place. I’ve been a Southern boy my whole life. I don’t travel much, but my brother got himself a job outside the city, so I helped him move.” My heart starts to fall back into rhythm as he tells me his story. “It’s definitely nothing like Nashville, that’s for sure.”
I giggle. “I’m sure it’s not. We do have Starbucks, though.”
We talk a little more and then the plane lands without incident. Now is when the real shit starts. I’m going to walk off and come face to face with my sister and best friend. I’m going to have to admit what’s wrong and why I’m here. It won’t be my secret.
It will be the truth.
It all begins now.
“Thanks for keeping me calm,” I say to the cute cowboy.
“It’s not every day that I get to save a beautiful lady.”
When the door to the plane opens, he grabs his bag from the overhead bin, and I realize something.
“You know,” I say as he starts to walk off, “you never mentioned your name.”