“No, I haven’t. Not yet, anyway,” she admitted. “I keep finding reasons to put it off. At first, I wanted to wait until I was sure the pregnancy would stick. Then I wanted to wait until I knew the gender, because I was hoping that would soften them to the news.”
“You think they’re going to take it hard?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Nellie lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “I think I’m afraid of their indifference.”
I drew in a breath. I could acknowledge how indifference would sting, even over anger and disappointment. With anger and disappointment, you knew it came from a place of caring. With indifference, though…
“We can wait until you’re ready to tell them about the baby, but I do want them to meet you.”
“Okay, yeah, I can meet them,” Nellie nodded, as if convincing herself. “But I’d like to hold off a little on telling them about the baby. At least until I work up the courage to tell my parents.”
“That makes sense.”
Chapter Thirty
Nellie
* * *
“Oh my gosh, look at her sweet little face!” Sage cooed, peering at the ultrasound picture I brought out for her and Tabitha to see later that afternoon.
Tabitha looked over Sage’s shoulder, her smile wide. “Aww! This is giving me serious baby fever.”
“No! Absolutely not! Not happening!” Parker’s frantic voice called from the living room, where he was currently undergoing an intense makeover session with Bella, Brielle, and Daphne. When I’d walked in, Bella was applying so much blue eyeshadow, Mimi from the Drew Carey Show would be proud.
“How did he hear that?” Tabitha whispered, covering her mouth to hide her giggle.
“He must have supersonic hearing.” Sage smiled.
“Supersonic selective hearing,” Tabitha muttered, rolling her eyes with a smile. “Anyway, when’s your ultrasound, Sage?”
“Monday!” Sage replied. “Nix and I are going to pull Daphne out of school so she can come, too.”
“Oooh, yay! Then we need to get planning some baby showers,” Tabitha said gleefully, clapping her hands and giving her hips a little wiggle.
“I still need to tell my parents. And Noah wants to tell his soon, too.” I groaned, putting my head down on the countertop.
“You haven’t told your parents yet?” Tabitha sounded surprised.
“I know I need to, and I will. But. Ugh.” I sighed, and Sage put her arm around my shoulders. “I haven’t talked to them since their brief call on Christmas morning.”
“Rip it off, like a Band-Aid,” Sage suggested.
“Did you tell your mom?”
“Yeah, last night, over text message. She replied with a thumbs up, so…” She shrugged. If her mother’s reaction wounded her, she didn’t let on.
“Ouch.” Tabitha frowned, looking hurt on behalf of Sage.
“It’s fine, I expected it. My mother hasn’t been out to visit once since we moved to Hartwood Creek, and she knows where we live. She’s never even met Nix.” Sage pursed her lips. “It’s her loss. Nix’s parents and Auntie Em and Uncle Ed are excited enough.”
“Laurel and Keith are amazing grandparents, and Em and Ed will be, too. They were made for it.” Tabitha smiled, then turned her attention to me, fixing her warm blue eyes on my face. “And no matter what your parents’ reaction is, your baby is going to be so loved and spoiled by Noah’s parents. Aunt Gloria and Uncle Will are very involved with Damien’s daughters.”
I smiled, feeling bolstered by both Sage and Tabitha’s reassurance. I knew from what Noah had shared about his family that the reception would probably be a lot warmer than whatever I’d get from my parents.
An hour later, I trudged back up to my apartment feeling motivated enough to call my parents. It was time to tell them, if only to get the painful process out of the way so I could focus on the things that were good with my life.
After a day of being with Noah and an afternoon of hanging out with Sage and Tabitha, I could admit there was a lot of good in my life—a lot of supportive people who were excited for this baby.
