I curled up on my couch with a warm blanket over my lap and dialed my mom’s phone number. It rang a few times, and I was convinced I’d end up getting her voicemail.
After the sixth ring, she answered. “Ellen? Is everything alright?”
To her credit, Mom sounded a little concerned. I suppose it wasn’t common for me to call out of the blue anymore. On holidays and special occasions, absolutely, but I’d long since stopped calling them to chat casually. I always felt like I was pulling them away from some important engagement.
“Hi, Mom. Yeah, everything’s fine. I’m calling with some news.” I didn’t want to beat around the bush, but it was harder than I anticipated to blurt it out.
“What news? What’s going on? Are you okay?” Instantly, she was on edge. I could hear it in her voice.
“Is that Ellen? What’s happening?” I could hear Dad’s voice in the background.
“I’m fine, Mom. Better than fine, really. I’ve got some exciting news to share.”
“What?” Mom sounded suspicious, and I couldn’t blame her.
Drawing in a deep breath, I repeated Sage’s words in my mind: Rip it off, like a Band-Aid.
“I’m pregnant. I’ll be having a baby in July,” I said, hating how my voice wobbled.
“What? How can that be! You aren’t even seeing anyone!” Mom exclaimed, sounding scandalized.
“Actually, I have been seeing someone. His name is Noah, and he’s from Hartwood Creek.”
“And he’s the father?”
“The what?!” I could hear the outrage in my dad’s voice.
“Hush, Herb, I’m trying to get to the bottom of this,” my mom scolded him. It sounded like she’d covered the receiver, as her voice was a little muffled.
“Yes, he’s the father. He’s excited about the baby, and so am I,” I said, thankful that my voice was sure and stable.
“I thought your endometriosis made you infertile?” Mom asked, sounding as if she couldn’t wrap her head around the news.
“I thought so too, but evidently not,” I answered. “I’m having a girl.”
My mother was silent for several beats. “Oh. Well. Congratulations, I suppose. You are in your thirties.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I’d hoped you would be married before bringing children into the world. How does this…Owen…feel about marriage?”
“It’s Noah, Mom.” I sighed deeply. “And marriage isn’t a requirement to parenthood,” I added. I wasn’t about to get into the circumstances of the situation for her. I knew she wouldn’t understand. My parents were very traditional and rigid with their beliefs.
“Raising a child is a serious job, Ellen. Knowing that you have a stable partner is crucial. What if this…Noah…takes off? Or isn’t up for the task?”
“Marriage wouldn’t prevent him from leaving if that’s what he wanted to do.” I massaged my temple, trying to ease the headache this conversation brought on. “Anyway, I’m pregnant, and I’m happy about it. I wanted to let you guys know.”
“Oh, well. Thank you for informing us.” My mother’s voice was formal and lacked warmth. It shouldn’t have surprised me or stung, but it did.
I felt both defeated and relieved when I finally hung up the phone after a terse goodbye. I suppose I should be happy that my parents’ reaction wasn’t the indifference I feared, but I could have gone without the blatant judgment.
* * *
Noah
* * *
Nellie left work on Friday at her usual time, heading home to pack a bag for the weekend with plans to meet me at my place around five thirty, then we’d drive over to my parents’ house for dinner.
