Page 22 of A Bossy Surprise

I asked Lucas to come home from Caltech for the weekend. He asked why, but I managed to convince him to agree without giving him too many details.

My big sister, Kathleen, couldn’t make it because she’s just started her senior year, and is so busy that she can’t get away. I guess I’ll break the news to her over the phone.

Sammy, my parents’ first born who graduated from college three years ago and married her college sweetheart, Logan, lives just down the street from our childhood home. So she shouldn’t be a problem.

When the cab pulls up to my parents’ house, Mom, Dad, Lucas, and Sammy are standing outside on the porch.

They all have worried looks on their faces as I climb out of the taxi.

Mom is the first to step forward. The rest follow. Her black hair, which is the only thing I didn’t inherit from her, whips in the wind as she comes to me.

She pulls me into a hug. “Sweetie, what’s going on? Lucas said you wanted to talk to the whole family?”

I nod. “Let’s go inside.”

I’m so glad this conversation is happening here. This is the place I feel the safest in the whole world.

We all settle on the couches in the living room that my parents bought in the early aughts.

“So, what’s going on?” Sammy asks.

I wring my hands in my lap and stare at my tangled fingers. “I have some news.”

“Good news or bad news?” Dad asks.

“Of course, bad news. Look at her,” Lucas says.

“What’s going on?” Mom asks.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt.

I look up and they’re all staring at me all wide-eyed.

No one says anything for a long while. When the silence becomes too uncomfortable, I say, “Can somebody say something?”

“What do you want us to say?” Dad retorts. “You’ve ruined your life. That’s it for you.”

“No, it’s not,” I say.

“You think so?” he asks “Do you think a child is a small responsibility? You’re going to have to drop out of college. That’s if you want to have this baby.”

“Yes, I want to have this baby, but that doesn’t mean I’ll drop out of college. I know it’s going to be hard, but I can do this if I have your help.”

Dad laughs, but the sound is harsh. “Who is going to help you? Not us. This is your mistake. You’re going to have to deal with it on your own.” Dad shoots to his feet. “Kayla, how could you be so irresponsible? Who even is the father?”

I pause and swallow hard. “He’s nobody. Just some guy I met at college at a party during orientation. I don’t even remember his name.”

“Oh my God…” Dad shakes his head then walks out of the room.

When the front door closes behind him I can’t control it. I burst into tears and bury my face in my hands.

Mom stands and comes to sit on the arm of the couch, where I am. She puts her arm around my shoulders and pulls me into her. I sob into her chest.

“Kayla, everything is going to be fine,” she says.

I pull away from her and wipe the tears from my face. “How is any of this going to be fine? You heard Dad. I’m not going to be able to do this on my own.”

“You’re not going to do it on your own. You have us,” Sammy says.