Ten minutes later, our bowl-shaped plates—the superior kind of plate if I do say so myself—are piled high with pot roast, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. We sit chatting lightly about Tates work and the wedding, enjoying our meals for a few moments before our blob decides that they are not enjoying the meal as much as I thought.
Tate leans in, whispering under his breath, “Are you okay?”
“Nope, bathroom.”
“First door on the left.”
I’m out of my chair and leaning over the toilet before Tate could say anything else, and I hear him get up to follow me, based on the grating of his chair legs across the floor.
“Sorry, you had to witness that,” I sigh. I rinse my mouth in the sink and snag some mouthwash from the cabinet underneath. “We only have eight to ten more weeks of this, at least that's what the internet says to expect... Hopefully.”
“I’m sorry, D. You okay to go back in there?”
“Yep.” We make our way back to the dining room where everyone else is still eating.
“Darcy, are you okay sweetheart?” Rose asks, her eyes seeming to see right through me; her furrowed eyebrows and pursed lips cluing me in that our blob may not be a secret any longer. Tate pushes my chair back into the table after I’ve sat. I look up at Tate, attempting to gauge if this is the time to break the news or not. Taking his seat beside me again, he gives me an encouraging nod.
“The food is delicious, Rose, really. I would have liked to eat some more of it. I just… well… I can’t…” I sputter, feeling more nervous about sharing the news with Tate’s family than my own. Despite feeling welcomed here, I’m still uncomfortable at the idea of just spitting out such big news.
“What Darcy is trying to say,” Tate announces, taking over for me, “is that she was enjoying dinner until our child decided that they didn’t enjoy it.” Tate, in a show of support, moves his chair closer and wraps his arm protectively around me just like he did at family brunch three weeks ago—only this time, it feels more like a comfort rather than a shield.
Simultaneously, Tessa and Tinsley begin squealing about becoming aunties, Walter chokes on his water, and Rose starts to sob.
“Now, before anyone gets too excited,” interrupts Tatum, shooting a pointed glare at his sisters that quiets them almost immediately. “We have some important details you all should know. We are not in a romantic relationship, and we might never be. We spent one night together, this,” continues Tatum, gesturing towards Blobby, “pregnancy happened, and we decided that we want to raise this child together under one roof as a co-parenting family rather than separately.”
“Ew, Tate, you didn't have to spell out that you had sex,” Tessa groans, while Tinsley mimes barfing, to my amusement.
“Well, I must say that I am surprised, but still so excited for the both of you. I’m going to be a Gramma,” Rose says, batting at some tears. “Regardless of your relationship status, you are now a part of this family, Darcy, and will always be welcome in our home.”
My heart pinches in my chest, tears prick the back of my eyes and I feel Tate’s hand rubbing circles on my lower back.
“Thank you, your support means so much. Our kid is going to be lucky to have all of you in their life.”
“And they will be really lucky to have you both as parents.” Walter smiles beside his tearful wife, I can see emotions swimming in his eyes. The happiness, the surprise, the excitement.
With full bellies, and overflowing hearts, we eventually move over to the living room with Tatum and Walter leaving us girls to chat. Rose delves right in, asking me how I’m feeling, how my parents reacted, and a multitude of other questions regarding my life and pregnancy. The twins offer to babysit for a hefty fee, drawing Rose’s ire. She wastes no time, telling them that, as aunties, they provide babysitting for the low price of free—it’s written into the job description. Eventually the men return, joining us, and we play one very long and very competitive game of Monopoly before Tatum and I have to head out.
The next morning, to our surprise, we open our front door and find a giant box addressed to Tate and me. Within, we discover a plethora of baby clothes, preggy pops, baby bottles, stuffies, and books—along with a note from Rose. Sniffling as I read the note, I am overtaken by the overwhelming amount of love and support given by Tatum's mom.
Darcy and Tatum, I couldn’t help myself, I had to start my Gramma shopping this morning. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. Please call me if you can think of anything you need or, Darcy, if you are ever wanting someone to talk to about pregnancy or motherhood with. I love you both, Mama Rose.
Is this what family is supposed to feel like?
Chapter7
Vitamin D
Darcy || 13 weeks pregnant, September
“So you’re telling me that the way he stood up for you to your Dad didn’t make you feel any sort of warm, tingles down there?” Kodi asks, crudely gesturing to my crotch. While it absolutely did, I am refusing to admit it. It’s been a few days since dinner at the Reed’s, and I am finally getting to sit down and talk about the family drama with my best friends. I could’ve texted them, but this felt like something I needed to talk about in person.
“Nope,” I respond, popping the P for added emphasis. Kodi, Sin, Harley, and I decided to have a girl's night, Bella included, where we are enjoying charcuterie and wine—sparkling apple juice for me and Bella, though, before she went to bed for the night. The guys are away for a game, which is, of course, playing quietly in the background.
“Uh-huh. For some reason, I don’t believe you,” Harley murmurs, smirking down at her phone.
“Okay, Mrs. Secretive. Who’s got you smiling like that?” I ask, attempting to change the subject.
“You guys are going to be mad at me,” she responds, and I immediately know she’s talking to Benji for the fourth time this year. They fuck around together, he does what he calls “at-home date nights” so he doesn’t have to take her out in public, and he’s always making up some excuse as to why he can’t be in a relationship with her—leaving us to pick up the pieces. The boy isn’t even anything special, a finance bro taking advantage of our sweet friend over and over again.
