Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Clare’s right, Angie. Wait, have you told Reece’s parents yet?”
Angie shook her head. “His mother and father don’t speak to him. I’ve never asked why.”
Clare sat next to me, clapped her hands, and yelled out, “Take two!”
I turned to look at her. “Take two?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “Okay, so I might have always wanted to direct a play or a movie.”
Staring at her with a stunned expression, she shrugged. “What? We all have our own little dreams.”
“I guess so,” I mumbled as I focused on my sister.
Angie swallowed hard. “Mom, Dad, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Did you meet someone?” Clare asked. “Oh, what is his name, dear?”
Angie and I both looked at Clare.
“What?” she asked.
“You have my mother pegged,” I said with a laugh.
Angie nodded. “Yeah, it’s kind of scary.”
Clare waved her hands. “Let’s keep going!”
Angie rolled her eyes and tried to get back into the…whatever it was we were doing.
“No, I haven’t met anyone. I need you both to let me get this out before you start hammering me with…”
Wes and I both leaned in closer. “With?” I asked.
“Questions or demands or whatever it is you’re going to do.”
Wes and I both nodded.
“I’m pregnant. The father is a friend of mine, we slept together one night, used protection but…well…it obviously didn’t work. We have it all figured out. I’m going to move in with him and I’ve got a job already lined up that will work perfectly once I have the baby.”
Angie had spit that all out so quickly, she hadn’t even given me or Clare time to respond.
“Wait!” Clare cried out as she stood. “Are you planning on marrying this friend of yours? What is the boy’s name?”
“He’s not a boy, Cla…er…Mom. His name is Reece and no, we don’t love each other, and we’re not getting married simply because we’re having a baby.”
Clare clutched at her chest and dropped back down in her seat. “You’re not going to marry him, but you’re going to move in with him?”
“Yes, it only makes sense. He wants to be there for me through the pregnancy. Once I have the baby, I’ll probably look for my own place close to his if I can afford it. We plan on co-parenting the baby.”
Putting her hand to her forehead, Clare let out a sound that I swore our old cat Lucifer used to make.
“Oh my gosh…you really do have my mother all figured out. It’s fascinating,” Angie mumbled as she looked from Clare to me.
I nodded. “You really do, Clare. I’m impressed.”
Clare smiled and gave a little bow. “I had the lead in our high school production of Gone with the Wind.”
Without missing a beat, Clare went on. “Angie, you cannot possibly think this is a good idea to bring a baby into the world without her parents being married.”
“You think it’s girl?” Angie asked as she bounced on her toes.
“Focus, Angie!” I cried out.
“Right, right. Just because we’re not getting married doesn’t mean we won’t be there for the baby. It seems healthier for us to do it this way. What if we got married and were miserable the rest of our lives. Is that fair to the child?”
It was my turn to jump in. “She’s right, Jennifer. Let’s pull this back for a bit. Angie, sweetheart, when are you due?”
Angie smiled. “August 31. Do you want to see the ultrasound picture?”
Clare stood and clapped. “And that is where you’re going to see them shift. Your mom might be a bit of a challenge, though, with the whole getting married thing, but once they see that picture, their hearts will melt.”
“I agree, Angie. Don’t stress over this. It’s not good for you. Do you want me to tell Preston and Finn?”
She grimaced. “Do you mind telling them? I just don’t think I can handle if they’re disappointed in me.”
I frowned. “How did you know I wouldn’t be?”
Angie walked up to me and placed her hands on my chest. “Because you’re my big brother and you’re a cinnamon roll.”
I jerked my head back in surprise as Clare covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.
“What in the fuck does that mean…I’m a cinnamon roll?”
Patting her hands on my chest once again, she grinned. “You’re sweet and soft hearted, like a cinnamon roll. Gooey and soft.”
“I am not gooey and soft.”
“Oh, dear brother,” Angie laughed. “Trust me, you are the definition of cinnamon roll.”
When I looked over to Clare, she shrugged. “I love cinnamon rolls.”
Wes
Christmas and Untold Stories
Angie had decided to stay the night with me and Clare and drive with us to our parents’ house for Christmas. We started the day with Angie making cinnamon rolls. The way she and Clare giggled during breakfast made my heart squeeze with happiness.
Clare had gone to her place yesterday to pick up some things since she was planning on staying with me the next few days. She was planning on heading to her parents’ house for Christmas breakfast and would be back at my place in plenty of time to join us at my folks’ place.