Mom looked at me with shock and then smiled. “Whether you realize it or not, Cash, you didn’t once say anything about you. You are thinking about others rather than yourself.”
“Never thought I would see the day,” Wyatt commented with a grin.
“Everything happens for a reason, Son. I can look back on my life and dissect so many choices I made. It doesn't matter… it happened because it was supposed to happen, whether it was the result of a bad choice or because it was just meant to me. It’s done now.”
“I know. Everything is so clear now in my life. The woman I want more than anything doesn't trust me. I have so much to prove to so many, including myself. ”
“And I, for one, am proud to have both of my sons living their lives and making me proud.”
“You might not realize it now but Galloway Investments being closed, and your father going to jail, is a blessing in our lives. Especially for you, Cash. You have made a complete one-eighty and seeing what is important in life, and how you want to live it. You probably would have never changed without the big events happening.”
“In the police academy, of all things…” Wyatt said with a smile.
“And working at the bank…” Mom tuned in.
“And surprisingly I’m not lousing it up.”
God sure does have a funny way of working, doesn't he?
“Take Olivia for a few minutes would you, Cash? I want to go show your mom some things in the back room. Wyatt, can you start on the dishes?”
“Sure,” we said in unison, taking orders from who was the boss of the house.
Olivia climbed up in my lap and stole a few tater tots from the casserole dinner they had made.
She held her hand up to her lips to hush me, and I smiled and repeated it.
19
EMMA
In the past couple days I had gotten a total of eight hours of sleep. I found myself lying in bed wondering about what had happened instead of getting shut-eye. Right now, sitting in the massage chair, I felt the exhausted.
I thought about how I had wished for different things throughout my life, gotten jealous over life events, even with my best friend, Breigh, but I had really gotten myself into a monster situation this time.
Pregnant.
I was finally pregnant. How did it happen? I mean, I knew how it happened, but how was I going to deal with it? I was so confident with every discipline in my life but with this I had so much uncertainty.
If I messed this up, there wouldn't be anything I could do to fix it. A mother had one chance, you made it or you didn’t.
Breigh had finally arrived at our nail salon, the same one I visit every two weeks, her… not so much. I’d already had my feet soaking for a good ten minutes and my mind wondered as far as it could.
“I’m so sorry I am late. Olivia was giving me a hard time,” Breigh said, as she slid into the seat next to me.
“No big deal. I just got my feet in the water.” I didn't tell her she could have shown up tomorrow and I wouldn't have noticed her being late.
“I need a pedicure so bad!” She smiled her normal sweet smile, always full of life.
“Everything okay?” Breigh asked, but I had hoped she wouldn't notice immediately.
Ultimate fail.
I began to tear up, fighting my hardest to not dump all this information on her at once. She had always tried to comfort me or solve my problems, and this wasn’t one she was going to be able to solve.
“Hey, Emma, look at me…”
And I did. She could see the fear in my eyes before I opened my mouth.
“Whatever it is we can figure it out, don’t worry.” She placed her hand on mine. I was positive she felt the trembling.
The dam fell and I let the tears flow. “You are going to be so disappointed in me.”
“I’m not your parents, Emma, I am here no matter what. Tell me… I have never seen you so upset.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Is this good news or bad? I mean I know the obvious, but you have wanted this since you were what, twelve?”
“I hadn't really thought of it that way.” I grinned, while still feeling the wetness on my cheeks.
“Do I know the father?” I dreaded when she asked me this. I knew it was coming.
Oh boy. I nodded my head yes.
“Cash?”
“Why would you say that?”
“I know about the night of Olivia’s birthday.” I looked at Breigh with shock, wondering why she would hold back knowing something like that from me.
“Why didn't you say anything? I have been torn up inside about not telling you.”
“I figured you would tell me when you wanted me to know.”
“That wasn’t exactly the only night, either…” I commented with hesitation.
I looked up and around, trying to figure out why the pedicurist hadn't started on our feet yet, but clearly they saw we were in an intense conversation, especially with me getting so upset.
Breigh hadn’t returned with a response and honestly that was probably for the best.
“I didn't want you to be ashamed of me… You have made it clear numerous times about how you felt about Cash and me. I chalked it up to a weak night, seeing him that day, and missing what I always think he is… my image in my head.”
“Is it for sure his?”
“Seriously?” I spat back. “Are you insinuating that I…”
“NO! You are a successful woman in her prime. I knew you had played the field and I didn't think there was anything wrong with that.”
“I was weak. I have always been honest about my feelings with Cash. I hate him, but I love him. I have never gotten over him, and please spare me your thoughts.”
“Actually, I think Cash is changing. Slowly, but surely. He has been around a lot lately. When everything went
