She lowers her voice to a tense whisper. “You were right. Something is going on with me.”
“What is it?”
“I’m pregnant.”
I take one look at Ginny’s wide, horrified eyes and know this was definitely not something she and Dave planned.
Thoughts of Mama’s own unplanned pregnancy with me flood my brain.
“Does Dave know?” I whisper as we continue floating down the river, the sun beating on our heads and the cypress and oak trees passing by as the current carries us along.
“I mentioned it to him. I’m pretty sure he’s in denial.”
I look ahead at Dave laughing with Logan and trying to balance his beer can in the river.
“Look, it floats!” he says.
“Yeah, he’s having a hard time handling it,” Ginny says in a sad voice. “Macey, what’s it like to be a single mother?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been with child.”
“You don’t need to give birth to be a mother. Come on, everyone knows you raised your three siblings. Your daddy was drunk, and your mama was…busy?”
My jaw tightens defensively.
But I can’t say she’s wrong. I did half-raise my three siblings. More than half, really. Mama kind of dropped off after birth. She loved being pregnant, but those infant and toddler years were a real bitch for Mama.
“You won’t be alone, Gin. Dave has always said he wants to be a daddy.”
“By drinking and partying every night?” she says. “He hasn’t changed since high school. That’s the problem.”
I frown. “Well, he’s going to have to pretty darn quick. Talk to him again.”
“I will. I just have no idea what to do. My daddy’s going to be devastated. You know how traditional he is.” She sighs. “We’ll have to get married.”
I whip my head over to her. “Gin, are you sure that’s what you want? I know you love Dave, but you don’t need to force a marriage if you’re not ready.”
“But I want to marry the father of my child,” she says. “That was always my plan.”
“I know. And sometimes men change when they marry,” I say encouragingly. “They grow up.”
At the loud splash, I look up at the two floats in front of us. One of them is now empty, and a sputtering Dave pops up out of the water. Still holding his beer.
“Good Lord.” Ginny shudders. “What have I gotten myself into?”
I reach over and grab her hand. “We’ll figure this out, honey. Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”
* * *
The next day, as I organize the glasses and check the taps to make sure all is in order behind the bar, my mind wanders. I can’t focus on work.
I text Ginny to check in.Are you okay?
On my way over, she writes back.
While I wait for her to arrive, I scroll through the pictures on my phone from our trip to the river yesterday.
I smile at the photo of Logan looking at me when Ginny and I were teasing Dave for falling into the river. His mouth is tipped up the way it always gets when he’s trying not to laugh.
