“Jake? It’sme,Emma.”
“I know,” he chuckled. “What’sup?”
“Oh, well, I…” my voice broke. Man, I was really trying to control it, but there was no suppressing the emotions this baby was tugging outofme.
“Are you okay?” There was immediate concern in his tone. Bless him. Jake cared. Not like that weaselKeith.
“I tried to call Keith, and he wouldn’t pick up… four times, Jake, four times I called him,” I wept into the phone. “I mean, he doesn’t do shit. Why can’t he pick up the damn phone? And so I called you… not that you’re a second choice, but I need… I need… I don’t know whatIneed.”
“Whereareyou?”
“Athome.”
“Okay, I’mcoming.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to bother you if you’re busy,” I sniffled pathetically. Actually, I really did want to bother him, and he only lived twentymilesaway.
“I’m sure. I’m leaving now. I’ll be there inanhour.”
ThiswasLA,afterall.
* * *
By the time Jake arrived,I’d calmed down. He’d slipped in wearing a baseball hat and hoodie but promptly removed it all the minute he steppedinside.
“Is that get-up because you’re going incognito or because you’re afraid to catch something in these parts?” Iasked.
“Definitely the latter. I read somewhere that chlamydia was now airborne over theValley.”
“Oh, ha ha, because of the porn industry. Good one,” I repliedsarcastically.
“It’s nice to see you back to your grumpy old self. Did I just rush over here fornothing?”
“That was rushing?” I teased. “It took you well overanhour.”
“Not for lack of effort. Is it my fault your emotional breakdown happened during rush hour? You better have a good reason for making me drive all the way over here in bumper-to-bumpertraffic.”
“Trust me, you’ll be duly rewarded for your effort. I’mpregnant.”
Jake’s head snapped to attention.Yep, you heard me right. I ripped that Band-Aid clean off.My brother didn’t react exactly as I’d hoped. Instead, his lip curled up and he laughed. I waited, arms hugging into myself, and grimaced at his idea offunny.
“Wait, are you serious?” he asked, after getting an extended look at mysomberface.
“I’ve never been much of ajoker.”
Jake finally closed his wide-open mouth and said, “I just… I never… Sorry. That’s not funny at all, is it? Are you allright?”
“Um,” I bit my lip as the stuttering breaths opened the way for more uncontrolled sobbing. I was really starting to hate this new me. “Notreally.”
Jake swathed me in his warm embrace, and I sank into him with no shame. I’d offered him enough support over my lifetime. Now it was his turn togiveback.
“I’m sorry I dragged you all the way out to the valley to get chlamydia and everything, but I didn’t know who toturnto.”
“It’s okay, Emma, really. How long have youknown?”
“About seven hours. I’m three monthsalong.”
Jake pulled away and searched my face for reaction. “Three months?Wasthat…?”
