Motherhood apparently gave ample opportunity for her to reevaluate the things that had once given her joy. Things like coffee, clubbing, bacon, and sleep.
“Courtney is speaking in the third person.” Linx handed over his coffee.
That was sweet, but she shook her head and headed for the fridge. The seltzer she’d put there last night was still there. Hot damn, maybe today would be her day.
“Are you okay, sis?” Linx asked.
“Okay” could mean oh so many things. She poured her seltzer into a glass and firmed every ounce of resolve inside of her. “Hey.” Courtney sipped at the liquid fizz. Best to just get this out there so she could escape from the scent of pork and find a cucumber to juice. “I have something I need to say.”
“What’s up, sweets?” Dad paused where he stood at the stove cooking bacon.
“Here’s the thing.” Courtney cleared her throat and fidgeted with the napkin holder in the center of the island. She glanced at Linx, then Becca, then Mom and Dad. “I need you not to freak out. Because I’m not freaking out.”
“Now we’re all freaking out, Courtney,” Linx said, full freak-out mode engaged.
“Honey.” Mom reached for Courtney’s hand. “What’s going on?”
Bandage time… One. Two. Three.
“I’m pregnant,” she said, extra cheery even though the words sort of stuck in her tonsils. She cleared her throat and sallied forth. “Before anyone says anything, I already decided to keep the baby.”
There. Boom. Done.
They had to say something now.
She waited as the bacon crisped and crackled. However, no one said anything. The only other sounds were the dripping coffee she couldn’t drink, an electronic pressure cooker letting off steam, and her stomach gurgling at the bacon.
Her gag reflex engaged, and oh crap. She was going to throw up. For real.
Excellent, if she did that, she’d just get it over with early today, then, and be able to move on without worry of puking.
Oh, who was she kidding? She dropped to a chair next to her mom and did the deep breathing thing that Dr. Carol had her do when she’d found out herself.
“Who is the father?” Mom asked gently.
Courtney’s cheeks heated. She quickly shook her head. She couldn’t tell them. Not yet. Because—
“He won’t be involved.”
Why did she have to go and say what she was thinking? She was pretty sure he wouldn’t be involved. But this wasn’t one of those 100 percent certainty times.
She’d tell him to give him the option, but she knew Brennan Baxter too well. He wouldn’t be part of this, and that was A-okay.
“Doesn’t seem like he has much of a choice,” Linx said, breaking through the moment. Linx seemed pissed, which was a little sweet.
“It’d be better if he’s not involved.” Courtney wished the coffee didn’t give her heartburn. “He’s not the fatherly type.”
Which was good for her, since she preferred to do things by herself.
“Does he know?” Dad asked. He’d ripped off his T-shirt sleeves like Linx had the night before when they arrived. Linx could pull off the style because Linx was Linx. Dad? Not so much.
“I’ll tell him once I’m further along, once we know it’s going to stick. They say the first trimester is the riskiest. I figure I’ll tell him after I’m through it. I’d like to keep it just with the family for now—and Becca, obviously.” Courtney traced a thin stream of condensation down the edge of her glass with a thumbnail.
Given the way that Linx looked longingly at Becca, Courtney had a suspicion that she’d officially be part of the family soon.
“This is going to be wonderful.” Dad clapped his hands in a one-two, one-two-three pattern. “I’m going to be a grandpa. This calls for celebration.”
That was the spirit she wanted, but maybe they could wait until things got more settled?
