The tears came, hard and fast—I turned my face away so she couldn’t see. How could I prep myself to lose my sister?
“What’s wrong?” She sat beside me, pulled my hair behind my shoulders, and worked her fingers through it. I cried even harder. Kellie had always braided my hair when we had serious talks, when she wanted to show her support.
Would she still support me after I told her this?
“You shouldn’t care so much about me,” I said, struggling to keep my voice even, “after everything I’ve put you through.”
“Lauren, that’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever said. I will never stop loving you. No matter what you do. Now, come on. You can tell me anything.”
“That’s so easy to say,” I choked out.
“Try me.”
I buried my face in my palms.
“Kel, I-I’m pregnant.”
Her fingers stilled and I knew it was all over. “What?” she whispered.
I turned to face her. My lips quivered, and my gut twisted. I didn’t want to make myself say it again, but the confusion on her face begged me for a repeat.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Lauren, you’re kidding me, right?” She gaped at me with wide eyes, her breaths coming faster as she teared up too. The way they did when Mom told her she was a failure for marrying Jared, and she wouldn’t be at their wedding. The way they did when Dad told us he was transferring to Texas and he wasn’t coming back. That we were on our own out here. For good. “Right?” she pleaded.
“It’s Ren’s. I just found out last month. I’m thirteen weeks tomorrow.”
Her face twisted from confusion to shock, panic, then fury. “You’re pregnant with Ren’s baby?”
I nodded.
“And you’re already onto a new guy.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “You have to get your head on straight. Send Carter home so we can tal—”
“Carter’s the reason I found out,” I interjected, wiping my cheeks. “He told me I needed to tell you. He’s the reason I’m even here.”
“Oh, great. So now he’s a saint, too.” Kellie grunted, then shouted, “When are you going to wake up about these guys, Lauren?” Kellie sniffed, folded her arms across her chest, and stood. “Let’s go.”
“You’re kicking me out. I knew telling you would mean losing you.”
“What?” She gaped at me like I’d slapped her, then her face softened. “Honey, no.” Kellie pulled me into a huge hug then scoffed. “I’m not going anywhere, Laur, whether you like it or not.” Her caring eyes held mine until I had to look away. “And, I know you were scared, but I still can’t believe you waited so long to tell me.”
“It’s not that far off. I mean. I wore Mom and Dad down to the bone with my bad grades, and, quoting you, my revolving door of boyfriends. I ended their marriage—and then they both left. Kel, you’ve always been a hundred percent on-track with God, doing the right thing comes so easy for you. Just. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you too.”
“First off, you are not the reason Mom and Dad divorced. Also, doing the right thing doesn’t always come easy to me. And, of course I’m not a hundred percent faithful! I sin, everybody does. But God forgives. And I forgive you for being ridiculous enough to think I’d ever leave you. I’m not Mom and Dad. Now come on. We’re telling Jared and we’re coming up with a plan.”
My relief at finally telling Kellie and still having a sister stopped dead. The last thing I wanted was to face Jared too.
“We should wait until the boys are asleep.”
“Liam can watch a cartoon and Aiden doesn’t know the difference between night and day yet. This is an emergency.”
Kel gripped my hand, tugging me to the door. There was no changing her mind when she got stubborn. Even I was no match for her when she was like this. I wasn’t sure telling Jared would be the best thing right this second, but it was obviously happening anyway.
Twenty-Two
-CARTER-
Lauren’s nephew was up on my shoulders, singing the alphabet as I sang along with him and flipped the steaks for Jared.
“Thanks,” Jared said, from his spot in a chair at their outdoor table. His baby—Aiden, I think—was wailing. Jared was busy trying to feed him a bottle.
“No problem.” I set the tongs down and closed the lid on the grill. “Wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t do my civic duty.”
Jared chuckled. The back slider opened and Kellie popped her head out, her face streaked with black makeup, eyes bulging at her man. My stomach clenched when I saw Lauren standing behind her, pale-faced and silent.
She must’ve told her.
“We need to talk to you,” Kellie said, staring straight at Jared.
Yup.
He frowned, shifted the baby to his chest and stood.
“Be right back,” he said over his shoulder before he disappeared inside the house with them.
“What’s wrong with Mama?” Liam’s tiny voice pierced the stillness.
I cleared my throat and kneeled on my good knee in front of him.
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with your mama, bud. I think she’s probably worried about your auntie’s all.”
“Why?” His dark brows drew together, tugging at my heartstrings.
I ruffled his hair and winked. “I think she’s not feeling too good right now. I’m sure she’ll be better soon, though.”
“Maybe she needs a bear hug.” He set a hand on his hip and turned toward the door. “Those always make her better.”
“Do they?” I grinned and looked around for something to distract him with. The back door slid open again.
“Come on in, Liam,” Jared said. “I put your cow movie on.” His face was redder than red. “Pull those steaks off, man. We all need to talk.”
Yup. The truth was out and there was no turning back now.
I nodded, shut off the flame, and transferred the steaks to a plate. My stomach tightened as I approached the house, mulling
