"Here?"
No doubt he wondered why I was in a women's clinic in another town.
"I . . . ." I didn't know how to respond. "A friend referred me."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to pry, but I can give you a referral, if you'd rather see a doctor closer to home."
"Um, thanks, but it's just an annual thing, so I'm good."What were the chances?I hurried to change the subject. "I didn't realize you worked here."
"I'm consulting for a friend in the offices down the hall."
"Oh, well, I won't keep you."
"I heard my son wanted to come home last weekend." He smiled and shook his head.
"He did," I said "But we both decided it would be better if he didn't."
"I agree," he said. "He never would have wanted to leave after seeing you for only two days."
I nodded. My palms were sweaty, and my stomach was doing that gurgling thing. The thing it always did right before I threw up.
"Don't be a stranger. You don't have to wait until Alex comes home to visit us."
"Thanks." I smiled, but I wouldn't be heading to their house anytime soon. "Tell Sarah I said hello."
"I will."
"'Bye, Jack." I bolted toward the elevator. I pushed the button and stepped in as soon as the doors slid open. My heart pounded, and I felt nauseous. I was certain Jack would figure out what I was doing here, if he hadn't already.
I ran to my car and headed for home. I needed to tell my father before someone else did. Max would be devastated, but the longer I waited, the more hurt he would be.
It was going to be the hardest thing I ever had to do, but it had to be done. I could make this work. He needed to know I was pregnant, and I intended to keep my baby. I just hoped he would support me.
I knew I was running the same risk with Alex finding out as well, but with him being so far away, I felt he had less of a chance of learning my secret. Evan took a last-minute trip with some guys before school started, and Brenna and Julia never set foot in my part of town, so I didn't have to worry about them coming into the coffee shop. I knew there was a possibility that one of Alex's friends would see me, but it wasn't likely. I was confident I could keep this from him until he came home. It was almost September, so I only had two more months to get through, and then I would tell him everything.
But, first . . . .
"Dad!" I found him in the living room watching some sort of game on TV.
"Hey, where you been?"
"I had a doctor's appointment." I figured starting with the truth might be my best course of action.
"Are you sick?"
"No, not really." I sat on the couch next to him.
"Jocey." He muted the game. "What's up?"
"Dad." I hesitated because I didn't know how I was going to do this. He was going to be so disappointed.
"I know you miss him," he said. "But it'll be November before you know it."
I nodded.
"Classes are starting next week, so that'll take your mind off Alex for a while."
My eyes filled with tears when I thought about Alex coming home to me and our baby. He was going to be so shocked, and there was a possibility he'd be really hurt and mad I didn't tell him right away.
