Swallowing hard, I peeked over to Libby. Grace turned and pointed to Libby. “And you. Since we were fourteen you have asked me for pads or tampons because you never have any. You don’t think I haven’t noticed how you haven’t asked for any in about three months. You don’t think I haven’t noticed you not wearing blush anymore because the color of your skin is just radiating.”
Libby closed her eyes. “Shit. I forgot about the pads and tampons.”
My mouth dropped open. “Lib!”
Throwing her hands up in the air Libby pointed to a smiling Grace. “She knows, Luke.”
Grace started jumping up and down. “Oh my God!” Running over she placed her hands on Libby’s stomach. I watched as tears began to build in my baby sister’s eyes. “I’m going to be an aunt?” Turning to me she wiped a tear away. “I’m so glad you didn’t wrap your stick!”
I tossed my head back and laughed. “Me too, Sweet Pea. Me too.”
I PARKED THE truck and looked over at Libby. She was either wringing her hands together or biting her nails. “Lib. It’s all right.”
Placing her hands on her stomach, she began to cry. “They’re going to hate me. I failed at being a good daughter. I got myself knocked up halfway through college.” Her hands came up and buried her faced as her body jerked from sobs.
“Libby. Please look at me.”
Dropping her hands, she turned her face and looked at me. The look she was giving me reminded me of how Grace used to look at my parents when they lectured her in high school.
“Are you happy?”
Sucking in her top lip and jetting out her lower lip she nodded her head.
“I’m happy too. This is our miracle baby. Don’t ever forget that.”
Nodding her head, she spoke above a whisper. “I won’t. I promise.”
I slapped my hands together and jumped out of the truck. I jogged around the front and over to Libby’s side. Opening the door I looked down at her T-shirt. I smiled as I read it.
My daddy’s swimmers are strong.
Glancing down, I looked at my T-shirt. Grabbing Libby’s hand I led her to the front door. We had asked to talk to our parents and they informed us they were over at Gunner and Ellie’s place getting ready for the barbecue later this afternoon. Libby and I were heading back to A&M so that I could take summer classes and our parents wanted to have a get-together with everyone. With how I had busted my ass in school and with taking classes this summer, I was going to be able to graduate this December.
I knocked and opened the door. I peeked down at Libby and smiled. We made our way through the living room and into the kitchen. Ellie, Heather and my mother were all standing at the island. Each with their hands in something they were making. My father, Josh, and Gunner were across the kitchen. Gunner was sitting at the table husking corn. Josh was leaning against a counter with my father standing next to him.
Smiling, I turned to face them. My father looked over as he was lifting his beer to his mouth. The rim stopped at his lips as I watched his eyes read my shirt. He dropped his beer some and shot me a dirty look.
Libby hugged and kissed Heather before turning and kissing Ellie and then my mother on the cheek. She came up beside me and whispered, “Here we go. Your dad sees your shirt.”
Glancing down, I looked at my T-shirt again. My swimmers are strong.
I turned my head away and leaned to whisper in Libby’s ear. “He thinks it’s a joke.”
Libby turned and looked at me. Her hot breathe hitting my face and causing my dick to come to attention. Jesus. Even in a room filled with our parents, she turns me on.
“What? Why would he think—oh!” Libby said as she giggled.
“Hey, baby girl.” Libby and I both snapped our heads up as Josh came walking up to Libby. He slowed down and read her T-shirt out loud.
“My daddy has strong swimmers?” Josh looked up at Libby. “That’s not cool at all. Lib, I don’t think I like that T-shirt.” Stopping in front of us, Josh stood there looking at Libby and down to the shirt. Turning, Josh pointed to my father. “Your damn T-shirt ways have rubbed off on my daughter.”
Gunner laughed and shook his head. “Remember the beaver T-shirt?”
Josh turned and faced Gunner and they both laughed. I took a look at my father who was still staring at me. I leaned slightly over to Libby. “They all think it’s a joke and your dad thinks your shirt is talking about him.”
“Ew,” Libby said in a whisper.
I looked into my father’s eyes and gave him a smile. It didn’t take long for him to figure out what our T-shirts meant. I held my breath. Glancing over I noticed Gunner stopped laughing when he looked at my dad. Turning back to look at Libby and me, a smile grew across Gunner’s face. “Josh, you still like whiskey?” Gunner asked.
Josh laughed. “Hell, I haven’t had whiskey in a long time.”
Looking up at Josh, Gunner said, “You’re fixin’ to need some.”
Libby grabbed my hand. I wanted to drop her hand ‘cause it was all sweaty from her being nervous, but I held onto it. Closing my eyes I took in a deep breath and glanced back over to my dad. He pushed off the counter and walked toward Libby and me. He stopped in front of Libby and searched her face. The slow smile caused me to let out the breath I was holding. “Just tell me one thing.”
Libby sniffled next to me. I knew she was scared to death. “Anything.”
“I’m not really going to be called Pappy, am I?”
Libby started laughing. “You can be called anything you want.”
Josh walked up. His mouth was gaped open. Libby’s smile faded and tears streamed down her eyes. “Daddy, please don’t be disappointed in me. I couldn’t take it if you were.”
A tear escaped the corner of Josh’s eye and he shook his head. “Isabella, I could never be disappointed in you. Do I wish it was years later? Yes, but I’m certainly not disappointed in you.”
“Are you angry with me?” Libby asked as she squeezed my hand.
Reaching up with his hands, Josh wiped Libby’s tears away with this thumbs. “Are you happy, baby?”
She nodded her head and whispered, “Very.”
Josh pulled her into his arms and Libby began crying. “I love you, Daddy.”
Grinning, my father reached out and pulled me to him. “Is this the reason for summer school? Graduating in December?” Pulling back, he looked into my eyes. “Yes, sir. The sooner I can start working, the sooner I can get a place for us.”
“What in the world is going on with y’all?” my mother asked as she walked over. I turned around and saw Heather watching Josh and Libby. My mother was looking at Josh and Libby also before she looked at me. “Is everything okay? Why is Josh crying? He never cries.”
My father walked up to my mother as Heather made her way over to Libby and Josh. “Do you know you are going to be the hottest grandma around?”
My mother chuckled and then looked at me as her eyes moved down and read my T-shirt. Her hands came up to her mouth and I watched as tears filled her eyes as she shook her head. “Mom, she’s our little miracle.”
“Okay everyone just hold the fort here. What is going on?” Heather asked as she looked around.
Libby walked up to me and I wrapped my arms around her as I rested my chin on the top of her head. “Mom, please don’t be angry.”
Heather turned and looked at Josh and that’s when it hit. A sob escaped her mouth as she turned back and looked at Libby. “Libby? You’re pregnant?”
Libby nodded her head and Heather quickly walked over and pulled Libby from my arms into her arms. “Why in the world would you think I’d be angry?”
“I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me.”
Heather placed her hands on the sides of Libby’s face as my mother walked up to me and hugged me. “Oh Luke, honey.” She pulled back and smiled. “A baby?”
I nodded and glanced back to Libby and Heather.
“Libby Hayes, there is no way I could ever be di
sappointed in you.”
“This is what I want, Mom.”
Heather nodded and looked at Josh and then me. Smiling she looked lovingly at Libby. “Let’s all talk about everything later okay?”
Libby bit down on her lip and nodded. I knew Heather wanted Libby to have a college degree and so did I. I would do whatever it took to make that happen.
Gunner walked up and grinning like a fool. “I gotta tell ya, you handled that a hell of a lot better than I would have. Had that been your son,” Gunner slapped Josh on the back, “I’d have killed the little bastard.” Josh turned and looked at me.
“Believe me, that urge is there. I’m thinking a walk down to the barn may be in order.”
I took a step back and everyone laughed as Ellie hugged Libby. “Does your brother know?”
Libby shook her head. “No, we wanted to tell y’all first.”
My father slapped his hands. “Well hell, this just turned into a party!”
“Wait!” Heather called out. Looking at Libby she smiled. “How far along are you?”
My mother jumped up and down. “Oh yeah!”
Libby’s face blushed. “Twelve weeks.”
My mother looked like she was counting back. “Before the accident? Did you know you were pregnant then?”
Nodding her head, Libby smiled.
Heather’s shoulders dropped. “Oh, Libby. I wish you would have told us, honey. You went through all of that alone.”
Peeking over to me, Libby smiled. “We weren’t alone, Mom. We had each other, and a very magical older couple.”
Grinning I winked at Libby. Turning back to her mother, Libby asked, “Mom, can we talk later about Grandma and Grandpa Lambert?”
Pulling her head back in surprise Heather said, “Sure we can.”
Alex came walking into the kitchen and looked around. “What’s going on?”
We all looked at each other. My mother tilted her head and gestured for me to tell Alex. “Well, um, we were just telling our parents how November sixth is going to have to be a clear schedule for everyone.”
Colt came walking into the kitchen. “Why the heck are y’all blocking the kitchen?” Colt stopped talking.
Colt looked around. “What’s going on?” Shifting his head he looked down at my T-shirt, eyes widened in surprise. Spinning around he read Libby’s T-shirt. “Holy shit.”
“Hey, watch your mouth young man,” Ellie said as she slapped Colt across the back of the head.
Grinning like a fool, just like his daddy had been earlier. “Awe man.” Reaching his hand out to shake mine, I pulled Colt into a hug. “Congratulations, dude.”
“Wait. What is going on?” Alex said as she threw up her hands.
“Libby and I are expecting a baby, Alex. November sixth.”
Alex’s mouth dropped open and tears quickly formed in her eyes. Alex walked over and pulled Libby into her arms. “I’m so happy for y’all!” Pushing Libby back to look at her, Alex smiled bigger. “We’re totally going shopping for maternity clothes!”
Libby giggled and nodded her head.
“Does Will know yet?” Alex asked.
I walked up and took Libby into my arms. “Not yet. We wanted to tell our parents first.”
Colt laughed. “Dude, please let me be there when you tell him. I want to see him kick your ass.”
I glared at Colt. Josh started laughing as Colt laughed harder.
It wasn’t long before everyone started making their way over for the barbecue. The rest of the day was spent talking, planning, talking some more, and then eating. Grams and Gramps invited Libby and me over for lunch the next day. Josh took me outside and threatened my life if I didn’t make Libby and the baby happy every day for the rest of their lives. My father insisted he wasn’t to be called Pappy. My mother made plans to go to Paris to buy clothes for the baby, and Heather watched Libby’s every move. I wasn’t sure how to read Heather. I couldn’t tell if she was happy or not. She said she was happy for us and even talked about Josh building the baby’s furniture.
If only her eyes didn’t tell another story.
MY MOTHER AND I walked arm in arm along the dirt trail. I was exhausted. Once everyone found out Luke and I were expecting a baby, everything got crazy. What plans were being made? Would I keep going to school? What about my degree? Where were going to live? It was endless. When my mother pulled me to the side and asked if I would take a walk with her, I was somewhat relieved.
We walked along in silence for a few minutes before I couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re upset aren’t you, Mom?”
Turning to look at me with a stunned expression, she shook her head. “No, I’m not upset with you, Libby. I do have to ask you one thing though.”
Inhaling a deep breath, I got ready for it. “Okay.”
She stared straight ahead as we walked. “Did you use some form of birth control?”
I stopped walking. “Yes. Mom, I didn’t purposely get pregnant. I was on birth control. I’ve been on birth control ever since you took me that one time.”
Her eyebrows rose. I looked away embarrassed for some reason. “Luke wore a condom any time we were together, up until Christmas break. We were together one night and it just felt right and magical. I feel so embarrassed talking to you about this.”
I turned away from her. She walked up and put her arm around me as we continued to walk. “Libby, you’re a grown woman and I don’t live with blinders on. Your father and I knew you and Luke were in a sexually active relationship. I was your age once too, you know.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
“Gross mom, I just threw up in my mouth some.”
She laughed as she moved her arm and we walked together holding hands now. “Libby, I’m not going to judge you or say you did something wrong. You used protection and you’re not upset about being pregnant. I’m glad you’re being honest. It’s just, I would have rather you waited a few more years.”
Nodding my head, I stopped and turned to my mom. “The day I found I was pregnant was the day we were leaving for our camping trip. I was scared, Mom. I knew you and Dad were going to be upset with me. I didn’t want to disappoint either of you. I didn’t know how Luke was going to react either. When Luke graduates, we had already decided he was going to get a job close to A&M, maybe at a ranch or something. Being apart wasn’t an option.”
“Did you ever talk about kids?”
I chuckled. “No. I mean sometimes we would talk about our future and we both wanted kids. The plan was to wait a year or so after I graduated. I would stop taking the pill. If it happened, it happened. Then, I started to feel sick. Like I was getting the flu. My period was a few days late, so I bought a test. I was positive I wasn’t pregnant. I mean, I was on the pill. I took them every single day at the same time of the day.”
Clearing her throat my mother asked, “Libby, did you ever talk to your doctor about being sexually active?”
“I was planning on it when I went to her for my yearly. Why?”
“Were you still taking the same birth control pills? I mean your doctor hasn’t changed the type of pills or anything has she?”
I shook my head. “No. It’s been the same pills I’ve taken all along. Why?”
Stopping my mother looked at me with such a loving face. “Baby, you were on the lowest dose of birth control pills. You were supposed to talk to her before you became sexually active.”
Thinking back to that day in the doctor’s office, I remembered the doctor telling me I would need a higher dose once I became sexual active. My mouth dropped in horror as I slammed my hands over my mouth. “I’m so stupid! I totally forgot about her saying that, Mom.”
Shaking her head she winked. “Well, what’s meant to be will be.”
“Luke says the baby is a miracle. That she saved his life.”
Lacing her arm with mine, we began to head back toward Gunner and Ellie’s house. “How so?”
“Mom, it was bad on that trail. Luke had lost so
much blood and he kept going in and out of consciousness.” I shuddered as if I could still feel the cold wind blowing on me. “A cold front had moved through and the temperature dropped so fast. I was beginning to think Luke wouldn’t make it through the night. Then Mr. and Mrs. Lambert showed up.”
My mother stopped walking. “Who?”
“It was this older couple. We had met them before we went hiking. They walked by our campsite and it was really weird because they even warned Luke to watch where he stepped when we went on a hike. And Mrs. Lambert even told me to bring my phone. I thought it was kind of ironic that their last name was the same as your maiden name.”
My mother was just staring at me. “Keep going, Libby.”
I continued. “I don’t even know what time it was, but it was dark. I heard someone talking and I looked up to see Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. I was shocked they were out late and in the cold. I was panicked and asked for them to go get help. I didn’t want to leave, Luke. That’s when the really strange thing happened.”
“What?” my mother asked in a whisper.
Thinking back to that moment I got a chill. Inhaling a deep breath, I slowly blew it out. “Mr. Lambert told me I had to give Luke hope because he was giving up. I cried and told them I didn’t know how. Mr. Lambert smiled and told me I did know how, I needed to tell Luke my news. Luke had let out a moan and I turned toward him. When I turned around—they were gone.”
My mother let out a gasp. The look on her face was like none I had seen before. I couldn’t tell if she was shocked, scared, or just plain confused. The color in her face had drained as she continued to stare at me. “Go on, Libby. Keep talking,” she whispered.
“Then the paramedics came. When I asked them if the Lambert’s had told them where to find us, he said they had received a call saying someone was badly injured on the falls trail so they immediately came looking for us.”