Hazel tried to concentrate on work for the next couple of days, waiting for Mike to come home.But her mind kept coming back to those two significant red lines.Neither she nor Mike had explicitly talked about marriage, other than knowing they wanted to be together in the future and wanted to foster a child or have children together one day.She realized now how out of order their plans were.They weren’t even engaged.And now she was about to have Mike’s baby.Something neither of them had planned nor even talked about wanting right away.
“Everything okay?”Mallory asked her.“You seem distracted, which is not like you at all.”
“I’m fine,” said Hazel, suddenly feeling sick.“Thanks for asking.”
Mike’s arrival home couldn’t come soon enough.She didn’t like hiding secrets from him.Especially this one.
###
Just before she left the office on the second day, her mother called.“Hi, sweetie!I’m just checking up on you.Your father and I loved the photos of Dottie.What a darling dog.I suppose she’ll be a substitute for any grandchildren until you and Mike decide to move forward.”
“I suppose so,” said Hazel calmly, unwilling to give anything away.
“Your father and I talked about Mike earlier today, and we both like him a lot,” said her mother, nudging Hazel uncomfortably.
“Yes, I like him a lot, too,” said Hazel.“I’ve got to go.Dottie is here at the office with me, and it’s time to put her out.”
“Oh, of course.We’ll talk later,” said her mother.
Frowning, Hazel ended the call and stared down at the puppy asleep in her bed.
Thinking of her predicament, her nerves burst into flames inside her body.She’d never felt such uncertainty in her life.How could she face the future when she didn’t know how the people closest to her would react to her news?
###
At home, Hazel had just put Dottie outside and was preparing her dinner when Mike walked into the kitchen.
“You’re home,” she said, running into his open arms.“I’ve missed you.”
“Me too,” said Mike,kissing her.
It felt so thrilling to taste his lips, feel his arms around her.She closed her eyes.The tension she’d felt for the past several days left her, and then suddenly ramped up again.
“Woof!”
Mike dropped his arms and turned as Dottie trotted into the kitchen.
“Hi, pup!”he said, squatting to greet her.
Dottie wagged her tail and leaped into his lap, wiggling to get into position to kiss him.
Laughing, Mike stood holding her.Hanging the pup out in front of him, he grinned.“You’re a real cutie.Have you been a good girl for Hazel?”
He turned to her.
“She’s been very good,” said Hazel.“Gage was right.She’s smart and wants to do the right thing for the attention she gets when she obeys.”
“Let’s drive out to my house.I want to see it, and we can show it to Dottie.I can’t wait until it’s the three of us living there.”
Hazel bit her lip.She wasn’t ready to tell him.“Okay, we’ll go to your house.I’ll bring the dog’s food with us.”
On the drive, Mike talked enthusiastically about getting his teaching job in Florida scheduled in such a way that it would allow both of them to have winter breaks in warmer weather.I hope you’ll be amenable to accompanying me occasionally.”
Hazel swallowed hard.She could do that for a while.But after the baby came, it would be harder.
Mike pulled into the driveway of his house, and after getting out of the car, he spent a few moments staring at it.
“It’s beautiful,” said Hazel, coming up beside him, holding Dottie.
