Karissa and I picked up her car, then she took a nap and I worked out before I took a shower and cleaned. Who knew a random woman in my house is all it would take to motivate me enough to dust some baseboards and ceiling fans.
I help Karissa out of my truck, her stomach meeting me first. She holds onto my hand like it’s a lifeline.
“Ow,” I can’t help but say, because any harder and she’d break my hand.
“Sorry, but I can’t fall.”
“I’m not gonna let you fall.”
Her feet hit the gravel and she finds her balance quickly. She said she was due in six weeks…seems like a long way to go for as uncomfortable as she looks.
“You know, I didn’t really plan on meeting anyone while I was here,” she tells me.
“I know, but around here, you can’t really hide.” I stifle a laugh.
My siblings are way too nosey. Addison would be breaking down my door the second they saw an unfamiliar car in my driveway.
She sighs and I shut my truck door before we start toward the front steps.
I don’t even get my hand on the knob before it’s already opening. Mom.
She stands there, giving me a look I haven’t seen since I was a teenager getting caught breaking curfew.
“Cody,” she scolds gently.
“Not what you’re thinking,” I warn before she says anything else.
Addison stands behind Mom, staring at me, then Karissa and her belly, then back to me.
I take in a breath. “This is not my baby,” I say slowly, a nervous laugh escaping me. Mom exhales as if she wasn’t breathing. Maybe I should’ve called or texted to save her from an unnecessary heart attack.
Mom smiles. “I’m Maureen.” She holds her hand against her chest.
“Karissa,” Karissa informs them.
“I was at The Moose last night, she came in, and long story short, she needed a place to stay…so here we are.”
“Well, are you hungry? Come in.” Mom gestures, stepping aside. I press my hand against the small of Karissa’s back, guiding her through the house.
“I’m Addison,” Addie says with a warm smile.
Karissa nods politely, and then we round the corner into the living room where everyone’s gathered—Dad, Jesse, Cora, Mason, and Wesley. No sign of Ella, but maybe she’s in the bathroom or something.
“Oh. Wow. There’s a lot of you,” Karissa utters, and I laugh.
“These are my brothers, Jesse and Mason. Mason’s the cop. Cora’s Jesse and Ella’s…where’s Ella?” I ask, glancing around.
“Had a long night. She’s at home,” Jesse says, his shoulders a little tenser than usual.
“Oh, okay, you can meet her later,” I tell Karissa before I keep going around the room. “Then that’s Wesley, our neighbor; he’s dating my sister. And that’s my dad.”
Dad sits up. “Leonard.” He shakes her hand and gives me an eye.
“I met her last night, at the bar,” I say, but his shoulders are still tense. “For the first time. I met her for the first time last night,” I clarify. Then his body loosens.
“I’m just passing through,” Karissa adds.
“Where to?” Mason asks.
