When I step into the kitchen, Maddy and Ryan are dancing to one of those old, twangy country songs. They’re gazing at each other with such love that I hate to interrupt their moment.
“I hear my daughter is spending the night?” I clear my throat, letting them know I’m here. Watching them makes me feel like I'm perving on them or something.
My thoughts drift to the black box in my gym bag, sitting on my passenger seat. I’m asking for his permission tonight. Then I’m asking the love of my life to be my wife.
“Where’s Amberlee?”
“I’m not sure. She’s not in her apartment. I figured she’d be home by now. Maybe she stopped by the store or something.” Ryan’s eyebrow raises.
“I want to ask you something, Ryan.” Maddy gets a huge smile on her face and fists her hands nervously.
“What is it?” he asks skeptically.
“I know it’s fast, but I’ve loved her for a long time. I’d like your blessing to marry Amberlee.”
He just looks at me, no expression on his face, leaving me confused as to what he’s thinking.
His cell phone rings, and he looks at it before answering.
“This is him,” he responds to the caller.
His face goes white as he listens to whoever is on the other line, both mine and Maddy’s interest peaked.
“I’ll be right there,” he tells the person and ends the call, slipping the phone into his pocket.
“That was the hospital, Amberlee has been in an accident. I’ve got to go.”
“I’m coming with you. Can you watch Angel for me, Maddy?”
“Yes, go, please call me and let me know she’s okay…” But we’re already running out the door before she finishes her sentence.
Chapter 29
Amberlee
About an hour earlier
Maddy sent me anemail as soon as she heard from Ryan that they were coming home early. I’ve been getting sick at random times over the last month.
My thoughts drift to this morning.
I stopped in the house to eat breakfast with Maddy before heading to school and had to rush to the bathroom. The smell of bacon caused my stomach to revolt.
“Are you pregnant?” Maddy asked from the doorway.
“I don’t know. Maybe,” I say through gasps.
I’ve been suspicious, but I’ve also been ignoring the symptoms, thinking I’m just nervous with the new job. But when my period didn’t come last month or this month, the thought became more of a real possibility. I bought a test two days ago, but I haven’t had the courage to take it yet.
“Oh, sweetie.” She steps into the bathroom, sitting down gingerly on the edge of the bathtub, and starts rubbing my back. “I think you are, and you need to take a test.”
“I have one,” I confess weakly.
“Where?”
“In my laptop bag, in the living room.” Yeah, my plan was to tell Jeremiah and take the test together. But he’s been busy, and I’ve been too scared to tell him, afraid he’d think I was trapping him like Sylvia did.
“I’m going to get it and we’re going to find out together.” She stands and waddles out of the room. A few minutes later, she returns with the paper bag in hand. Standing up, I take it from her, and she steps out, giving me some privacy.
