Scars of the Future (14 page)

“You’re going to have a baby!” Linda moved towards me and engulfed me in her arms tightly. She let go of me and immediately wrapped her son up in a hug as well. The next few minutes were full of people coming over to squeeze us and after we’d hugged everyone, I finally sat back down.

Sydney pointed an accusing finger at me. “I knew there was something off about you. I just thought you were running yourself into the ground.”

Maddie nodded her head in agreement. “I should have known when you turned down Vegas because of the drinking.”

I shrugged my shoulders as I picked at my roll. “It’s been a busy few months and I couldn’t find the perfect time to tell you guys.”

I met Josh’s eye and he gave me a big smile. I glanced at David and he had a soft smile on his lips as he shook his head slightly.

“Just tired, Am?”

I gave him a sheepish grin. “I told you it had been a busy summer.”

“There’s a baby in your tummy?” Claire asked me from her seat next to her father.

I nodded and winked at her. “Yep. That’s kind of weird, isn’t it?”

Claire shrugged as looked at Sydney. “So it’s going to be my brother or sister?”

Sydney shook her head. “Your cousin.” A huge smile spread across David’s face as he listened to their interaction. David and his older sister had been foster kids growing up and having a big, accepting family was new for him.

“And Daddy will be the baby’s daddy?” Claire’s little brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of it all.

“No, Uncle Matt is that baby’s daddy. Your daddy will be the uncle.” Sydney ran a hand through Claire’s hair and smiled.

Claire frowned. “This is so confusing.”

Everyone around the table laughed at her cuteness.

“How far along are you?” Maddie asked softly.

“And when exactly did you two get together?” Sydney gave me a mock glare as she pointed her spoon between Matt and me.

“She’s twenty-two weeks,” Matt proclaimed, and his hand left my thigh to grip my hand that sat on the table.

“Holy hell.” Sean shook his head. “So you’ve been pregnant since, what? May? How unobservant are we?”

Sydney gasped and leveled me with her gaze. “The graduation party.”

I laughed and nodded in confirmation. “Yeah.”

“So, are you guys together then?” Maddie looked at her brother with her eyebrows raised.

Matt turned his head to meet my gaze, grinning happily. “Finally.”

Linda shook her head, a smile still on her face. “I can’t believe you were able to keep it a secret this long, Matthew. You are terrible with secrets.”

“I only just told him two weeks ago,” I said meekly, feeling terrible. “He’s been bursting to tell you all since.”

“I understand why, though.” Matt kissed my forehead softly. “You’re giving me a beautiful daughter, so you’re forgiven.”

Linda squealed with happiness. “It’s a girl?”

I nodded and the room erupted in conversation again, but Matt just stared at me with that smile on his face.

Chapter Fourteen

“How do you feel, Amanda?” Maddie asked.

We were sitting out on the patio watching the boys play ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’ with Claire on the grass. I smiled as she tapped Josh’s head and ran around the circle giggling like crazy. He scooped her up before she could sit down and tickled her until she was squealing. My best friends had surrounded me to give me the grand inquisition regarding the baby.

“Exhausted. If I could have one word to describe me it would be exhausted.” I nudged Maddie with my shoulder. “Any babies on the horizon?”

She let out a small laugh. “Not yet. Maybe in the near future, but not yet. Sydney might end up having babies before me.”

“You’re funny,” Sydney replied as she reached over to run a hand along my stomach. “I cannot believe how obvious this belly is now. You know, since dinner Claire has asked me four times if we could have a baby so she could have a sister. Thanks for that, Amanda.”

“Hey, blame Matt. His birth control failed.” I watched Matt toss Claire into the air, and I smiled. “He’s going to be a great father, though.”

Linda took a seat next to Maddie. “Yes he is. I am pretty sure Matthew was born to be a father.” She stared at her son for a moment before bringing her eyes back to me. “Who’s your doctor?”

“Dr. Eaton. Apparently he knows you.”

Linda brought her hand up and pretended to fan herself. “We
all
know Dr. Eaton. He’s a sweet young thing. He’s also a really good obstetrician so you’ll be in great hands.”

Craig laughed as he leaned down to give Linda a kiss. “What do the girls call him? Dr. Handsome?”

Sydney’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I know who Dr. Handsome is. I didn’t even realize he had a real name. He’s pretty yummy.”

“Who’s pretty yummy?” David had broken away from the game with Claire and settled Sydney with a hard look that made me squirm even though it wasn’t directed my way.

Sydney just sent a look of her own back before a sassy smile spread across her face. “Amanda’s doctor. All of the nurses have crushes on him.” Sydney could tell you the name of every person in the hospital. It wasn’t just because of her job, either. She was the most social person I had ever met. The job was just a plus for her and she loved it, but more than that she was excellent at it.

“Is he yummier than me?” David’s voice was low and I was pretty sure it wasn’t meant for any of us.

“No one is yummier than you,” Sydney replied quietly and I pushed on her shoulder.

“Geez. You two are worse than a couple of teenagers.”

Sydney gave me a grin. “I know. It’s amazing.”

We all laughed and Craig looked at Maddie. “So, Mrs. Richards, huh? Your students are going to be confused next week.”

Maddie sighed with a smile and nodded. “It’s going to be an adjustment for us all. I tried to talk Josh into taking Thomas, but he’s too stubborn for that.” Maddie was loving her sixth grade class. Like Sydney, Maddie had found what she was perfect at and she adored it.

Josh stood up from the circle and smirked at Maddie. “I prefer the term ‘manly’ to stubborn. I’m gonna get the stuff out of the truck.”

She nodded and clapped her hands together. “Oh, good idea. We brought you all souvenirs from the Caribbean.”

Josh reappeared a few minutes later and they handed out different things. Sydney, Linda, and I all received beautiful handmade pottery and baskets. Each one was different and they were all gorgeous. David, Sean, Matt, and Craig all were given hand carved masks that were neat looking, but Claire dubbed them ‘Scary’ as she clutched the handmade doll Maddie had handed her.

“I would have brought one back for both of my nieces had I known, Franklin.” Maddie gave me a halfhearted glare and I just shrugged back at her with a smile.

Not two minutes later, while Claire and Maddie decided what to name her doll, I felt a familiar sensation bubble in my stomach and I attempted to swallow as quickly as I could.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath as Sydney glanced at me with a concerned look.

“What’s wrong, Amanda?”

Everyone’s eyes darted to me and I just shook my head as my stomach churned. I stood as fast as I could and sprinted inside towards the bathroom. I moaned as I kneeled in front of the toilet, and I silently hoped that Dr. Eaton’s pills were magic. I heard Matt push open the bathroom door and he sat on the edge of the tub behind me.

“I seriously hate that you’ve seen me sick so much,” I groaned after I had stood back up. I rinsed my mouth out and sighed.

Matt hugged me to his chest and ran his hand through my long hair. “I hate that you’ve been so sick without me. We need to go pick up that medicine the doctor prescribed. I’ll get it in the morning.”

When we left the bathroom, everyone had come inside the family room and they were gathered around Maddie and a laptop.

“What are we looking at?” Matt asked as the two of us tried to peer over everyone’s shoulders.

Josh turned to grin at me. “Wedding photos. The photographer emailed the link to me about four minutes ago and Madelyn couldn’t wait until we got home to look at them.”

I let out a squeal. “I want to see!”

Josh laughed. “Once she gets logged on I’ll set it up so we can see it on the TV. That way we don’t have to gather around that tiny little laptop. Give me a minute.”

We were waiting for Josh to work his magic when Linda frowned at me. “What does the doctor think about you still being sick?”

“He gave me something today to help stop the nausea, I hope. I’ve lost a bit of weight and he basically told me not to lose anymore.”

Linda scrutinized me for a moment and nodded. “You do look like you’ve lost weight. You have the cute little belly, but you look thinner everywhere else.”

Matt stood behind me and reached around until both of his hands were on my stomach. “Hopefully this medicine works. Either that or I’ll force feed her pizza. That’s the first thing I’ve seen you keep down.”

“As long as you keep Sean’s pizza away from me.” I grinned at Sean.

He held his hands up in surrender. “If I’d have known a pregnant woman was coming by I would have cut back on the onions!”

We all laughed and Craig shook his head. “I have no idea where his weird taste in pizza comes from, but it’s always been like that.”

True to his word, Josh put his technological skills to use and I sat between Matt and Linda on the couch as Maddie flipped through different pictures. The posed pictures had turned out fabulous, but the candid photos were the best. The photographer had caught so much love in those frames, it was almost unbelievable. There was one of David and Sydney while they talked at the table, and you could feel the passion pouring off of them. The ones of Josh and Maddie made my heart flutter as you looked at their faces. One of Matt twirling Claire appeared on the screen and I bit my lip to keep from crying. They both looked so happy and I couldn’t wait to witness that with our own daughter.

I sucked in a breath. “I definitely need a copy of that.” I looked over and Sydney was nodding her head in agreement.

“Geez,” Claire said from Craig’s lap. “I looked good.”

Everyone laughed and Craig kissed his granddaughter on the head. “You always look beautiful, princess.”

The next photo showed up of Matt dancing with Kristen, and I felt my face warm. Maddie hurriedly clicked out of it but you could see Kristen’s feelings on her face as she looked at Matt. The sad part was that the feelings definitely were not reciprocated by Matt.

No one commented on it and Matt just squeezed my hand with his own.

We flipped through more photos and laughed as we found ones of Sydney and I preparing to catch the bouquet, Claire sticking her finger in the icing, and the guys doing the Electric Slide on the dance floor. We came to one of Matt and I dancing, and I inhaled sharply when I saw it. We were gazing into each other’s eyes like no one else existed and it was apparent that we loved each other. I wondered if it had been as transparent in person, because in print there was no doubt.

“I want a copy of that, please,” Matt said quietly and Maddie nodded. “Of course.”

We were coming to the end of the photos and the last bit were ones as we got ready. There was one of Josh in his tux where he was gazing in the mirror, a determined look on his face. There were several of Sydney and I fussing over Maddie’s hair, and one of Linda crying once she had gotten a look at Maddie in her dress. When Maddie pulled up the next one, my eyes went wide.

It was me. My hair was done, my make-up on, and I was in my dress. I obviously had no idea the photographer was taking a picture as I stood in front of the full length mirror on the bathroom door. I had my stomach cradled in my hands as I gazed at it and a soft smile played on my lips. The way my hands were positioned, it was obvious I was pregnant, but the affection for my child was written on my face.

Maddie didn’t change the picture and no one spoke for several heartbeats.

Matt cleared his throat. “And that one, too, please.”

Josh nodded and looked over at me. “If you hadn’t told them about the baby at dinner, they definitely would know now.”

Everyone laughed quietly and I smiled as I stared at the picture. I glanced at Matt and he was gazing at me. He didn’t say anything as he leaned over and kissed me gently on the lips.

We finished going through the pictures and everyone sat around chatting. Claire took the spot Linda had vacated and asked me several questions about the baby.

“Will she like Legos?”

I shrugged with a smile. “Not for a little bit, but I’m sure she will.”

Claire frowned. “Why not?”

I explained to Claire about how long it took for babies to grow into toddlers and she looked frustrated by the time I was done.

“So she won’t even play with me when she’s born?”

I gave her an apologetic smile. “Not at first, no.”

Claire huffed and I couldn’t help but laugh as I hugged her to me. “You’re going to be a great cousin, Claire. You’ll teach her all she needs to know.”

David tried to explain what I’d left out, and I turned to say something to Matt but he was gone. I stood from the couch to go find him and when I got closer to the kitchen I could hear voices.

“So what’s going on with Kristen then?” Maddie’s voice was gentle and quiet.

“I broke up with her after the wedding. I tried with her, I honestly did, but I’m in love with Amanda.”

I heard Linda sigh. “I’m glad you all finally figured it out, but Matthew-be with Amanda because you are truly in love with her and not just because she’s pregnant.”

“Mom’s right. You hurt her and I will seriously kick your ass. Amanda’s been through enough in her life and she’s way too good of a person for it all.”

“Stop. I know, you guys. You forget that I’ve known Amanda just as long as you. I’ve been there through it all, too. You don’t have to worry, okay?”

I turned and moved back to the family room to where everyone else was. The three of them returned just moments later and Matt wrapped an arm around me, pulling me to his side.

Everyone started to file out the door, and I was hugged by each and every one of them. Maddie squeezed me tight and told me to let her know if I needed anything. Sydney embraced me and then dropped to my stomach, telling the baby that Aunt Sydney would teach her all she needed to know.

Linda hugged me the longest though, not saying a word until she pulled back. “Thank you.”

I smiled at her and shook my head. “No need to thank me. I should be thanking you for bringing me into your family.”

Matt walked me to my car and bent over to look at me once I was in. “The guys are going to come over tomorrow to help me move the furniture and pull up the carpet. So you need to go home and choose a carpet.”

I stared up at him and smiled. “You’re going to come and help me, right?”

“I’ll be right behind you, sweets. I just need to stop and grab a few things from my place.” He gave me a quick kiss before shutting my door for me.

Once I got home, I changed into my sleep clothes and sat on the couch flipping through the carpet samples for the hundredth time. Matt knocked on the door fifteen minutes later and we spent the next hour arguing over carpet samples.

“No, we’ll do this one. It’s fine.” I pointed to the sample I had picked out.

Matt shook his head and flipped back to a different one. “You really want this one, and you should get it. Amanda, this is where my child is going to live. Let me contribute.”

I shook my head quickly and pulled the book out of his hands. “No.”

He ran his hands through his hair and let out a frustrated sigh. “Why not?”

“Because.” I almost cringed when I heard how immature that sounded. “Matt, we aren’t married. Hell, we’re barely together. I’m not taking your money.”

“Barely together,” he repeated before standing up and walking into the kitchen.

I didn’t move from my spot but closed my eyes in my own frustration. I realized Matt wanted to help, but I couldn’t justify taking his money. I had enough money saved to do the remodel slowly, and I knew I’d be hitting Matt up to help with baby items soon enough.

I stood and moved into the kitchen to find Matt. He was standing in front of the sink, looking out into the dark backyard. I walked up behind him and slid my arms around his waist, leaning my forehead against his back.

“Matt, I don’t want to fight, especially over money.”

He sighed before he turned around to look at me. “I just want to help, Amanda. For the past seven years I have had basically no bills, but yet I earned a paycheck every month. I cannot think of anything better to spend it on than getting this house fixed up before she comes.”

“Can we compromise? How about we’ll get the more expensive one, and I’ll let you pay the difference.”

“I think you should marry me.”

I froze in his embrace as I stared up at him. His face was very serious and I had to force myself not to laugh at the ridiculous suggestion. Slowly, I shook my head.

“No Matt. We aren’t going to be those people who get married because it’s what’s best for the baby.”

“It’s not what’s best for the baby, it’s what’s best for us. I love you. Do you love me?”

“Yes, but…”

“There is no but. Either you love me or you don’t. I really don’t like this ‘barely together’ bullshit.” Matt tried to keep his face firm, but I could see the hurt from my words lingering there.

“Of course, I love you.” I gave him an pleading look. “You know I do. Matt, I am not ready to get married, okay? One day, but not today. And by ‘barely together’ I just meant we haven’t been together that long. I am yours, got it? One day we can talk about marriage, but in the meantime can we just be together?”

Matt stared at me for a few moments and then nodded his head. “Fine. One day.” He bent down suddenly and captured my lips with his own briefly. “Let’s go to bed.”

---

Over the next few weeks the house was slowly transformed. The boys came and moved all of the furniture out of the carpeted areas and stored them in a portable storage unit I’d rented to keep in front of the house. The carpet and padding was pulled up and the ugly shag carpet I’d seen since my childhood was placed in the dumpster.

We’d taken every picture and trinket off the walls and I had spent almost four hours trying to decide what would go back up and what would go into storage. Matt had been patient with me as I shed quite a few tears during the process. I tried to include him in on a lot of the decorating decisions as I wrestled with approaching him about moving in. I knew I wasn’t ready to get married and that we’d only been together for a very tiny amount of time, but Matt and I seemed to be doing everything backwards. Besides, we’d known each other half of our lives and I knew that the three of us living here as a family was what I wanted.