I’m lying in the bathtub licking my wounds. I can’t be pregnant.  I can’t be pregnant  I kept on thinking.

I looked down and put my hand on my flat tummy.  Well, in a few weeks it won’t be flat anymore.  I still have to tell my parents and Landon’s parents.  I don’t know what their reaction will be.  I don’t know them that well.  They’ll probably think I’m a liar and accuse me of being a money-digging-spineless-tart and chase me out of their house. 

A wave of nausea hit me like a Cyclone and I took a couple of deep breaths.  Luckily the morning sickness calmed down.  That was the worst part of all.  I hate feeling sick.

I got out of the tub and dressed quickly before I didn’t have the guts.  I was going to tell my parents today.  Lucky for me they don’t live in town so I don’t have to face them.  But calling with Hi-mom-I’m-pregnant-and-single doesn’t sound too good but I don’t have a choice. 

I grabbed a glass of milk and sat on our bed. Sorry, my bed.  Its been two weeks since Landon left and I haven’t heard from him.  Nothing.  Nada.  I try not to think about him because it feels like someone is ripping my heart out and stomping on it every time I do. 

I pick up the receiver with a sigh and dial my parent’s number.

“Hellloooo!” my mom singsonged.

“Hey, Mom. How’ve you been?”

“Darrrrling! I thought you emigrated or something.   You’ve been so quite.” She accused

“Sorry Mom. It’s been hectic at work and so on.  I didn’t mean for you to be worried.”

“Nevermind Girl. We’re still alive. Your dad is here. Hold on. PETE!! PICK UP THE PHONE!” she yelled.

I could hear my dad struggling with the cordless. “Woman, where do I push” he screamed back.

“OH FOR GOODNESS SAKE! THE GREEN BUTTON! Sorry Laken, you know your dad is technologically disabled. COME ON! GIRL IS WAITING, MAN. “

“Hello….hello?”  I heard my dad.

“Hi Daddy!” I said more cheerfully than I felt.

“Pumpkin, you’ve been quite. Did you forget about us?”

“Never!  I’ve just been busy at work, Daddy.  You know how it is. Haha”

“Ooh yes! I should never have retired. Oh my, just thinking about those days with…”

“Oh Pete! Shut your chops! Once you start having nostalgic thoughts about your crappy job, you never stop.! We’ll be sitting here listening to your “back in the day” stories and I so do not have the energy for this.”

“Woman, if I only had the energy, I would have divorced you years ago!” my dad let loose. “You’re turning me into an old man and…”

On and on they went.  Like a cat and dog.  Don’t get me wrong.  They’ll never divorce. They just like squabbling and ranting.  They say it keeps the oomph in their marriage.  I believe them.

“Whoa, guys!” I said “Just hold on for a second please. I need to tell you something.”

“What is it, Girl?” my dad asked. “Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

“Yeah, Girl. What’s going on? The moment you called I knew it! Call it Mother’s Instinct or whatever, I just new it. Well, go on then.”

I took a deep breath and just blurted it out “I’m pregnant and the baby’s father left me and I don’t know if he’s ever coming back and he doesn’t even know what’s going on and I don’t know what to do.”

And with that speech, I threw down the receiver.  I didn’t want to hear their disappointment.  Being pregnant was bad enough.  My parents were always proud of the woman I became and ending up impregnated and single was so not in their plan of action for me.  I couldn’t bear hurting them more than I already have.  I don’t know what their reaction will be but I’m almost completely sure that they will disown me and totally ignore this child.  My mother wouldn’t accept the shame I brought on her family.

My phone started ringing and obviously it was my folks. I was too scared to answer it. I ignored it and sat on the sofa. It kept on ringing and ringing. Finally, it got on my nerves and I picked it up.

“Hello?”

I could hear my mother crying “I’m…I’m going to be a Grandmother?”