“Now hey, you stop that right now Missy. You got yourself into this and we just gotta deal with it, okay? Stand up. Look at me. It’s going to be alright.” I slowly nodded.

“Oh Brynn! Damn I’m so happy for you! You are strong, independent woman, and if you choose to you can raise this baby with the help of your friends and family of course, but you can do it without a man. I know you can. And she’ll be a damn lucky little girl to have you as a mom!” I smiled at Viv weakly. She nodded toward my little bump. 

“Can I?” 

“Of course, Vivian.” I smiled with her. 

After a stop for ice cream, we got home. I introduced Allo to Buttons, and Viv came tromping down the stairs. 

“There you are! I was worried. And I borrowed some shoes. Oh Allo! Hey!” I watched as she went to hug and dote all over him almost cringing. 

“Going to go change.. stupid heels are killing me, I’ll get dressed to go.” Really, there were two things in the world I didn’t want to do right now, the first being go sit around by a pool, the second being go to a stupid party. But I knew it was important to Allo and Vivian, introducing their circle of friends to each other, so I figured a 30 minute drop in wouldn’t kill me. Plus, I obviously needed to tell Jake about the predicament we were in. 

As I came back down stairs, Allo announced he was going to go play fetch with Buttons. Vivian swooped right in on me, “Oh honey, are you alright? It’s going to be alright, you know that, right?” 

“Yeah, I just don’t know what I know, really.” I said trying to avoid her gaze. 

“Brynn you’ve got us, and we’ll always support you.” A big smile spread across her face, “a little baby girl, I’m so glad we didn’t tear down the nursery yet upstairs! Do you want to change it up? Something special for your little one? Or we could add a bedroom onto the garage for you and the baby, or I could live up there. Heck, we don’t even use the garage! I could have a bedroom in there!” All the things to be done, my life was going to change completely. I couldn’t moonlight in bars with a kid at home. I was glad Vivian didn’t want to leave, but it wouldn’t be long before the wedding, and it wasn’t fair to have them move in here.. it just seemed so mean of a thing to do to two newlyweds. This was my mistake, I needed to take care of it. I just buried my face on Vivian’s shoulder and cried a little more. 

The call with my mother went surprisingly well. She told me her news, which I was still shocked by. She kept on and on about how she never planned on another kid, and she didn’t even think she could have one, but it was a blessing all the same. She said she had to run in a meeting, and I stopped her, finally able to get my news out. She was silent for a second, and erupted with happiness. 

“Oh Brynn! A mother daughter maternity shoot! I’ll get my assistant to schedule it! It’ll be so perfect!” 

“Mom ew! No. I do not want to be photographed all gross and fat.”

“Trust me, Brynn. One day you’ll look back and cherish those pictures. We’re doing it, k? I love you, talk later.” Click. I look down at my phone, amazed that she had just hung up, amazed at her whole attitude about it. I called Dad next, and he was ecstatic, just like I knew he would be. I looked down at my stomach.. maybe this would be okay, maybe I’d be a good mother. If Vivian didn’t want to live with me I could go stay with my parents until her and Allo figured out where they were going to be living. I felt like everything hung on Tucker, and how he was going to feel about this. Maybe it wouldn’t be a big deal to him, either. 

I found Allo goofing around and asked if he could give me a ride home. He agreed, he was off in 15 minutes anyway. On our way out I stopped him, and asked if we could get some ice cream. Laughing he said of course. 

“Please stop crying, Brynn. I’m a guy, I don’t know what to do when girl’s cry. It will all be okay. Everything happens for a reason. And you’ve got me, and you know you’ll have Vivian. I’m sure Jake will be there and do the right thing if you want him to. It’s going to be alright. Just push all that nasty away.” 

My phone started ringing and I groaned, mom again. “Ugh, it’s Mom. Do you think she already knows somehow?” Allo laughed. 

“Well, no.. I think she’s pretty eager to tell you some news of her own.” 

“Let me guess? She’s been promoted to Queen of Everything?”

“Actually,” Allo snickered, “she’s pregnant.” 

I started laughing, really hard. I almost peed myself, but I didn’t tell Allo. 

“Wow. Well maybe she won’t kill me after all.” 

“Do you know what it is? Mom and Dad like to keep it a secret.”

“It’s a girl.” 

“Can I feel?” 

“I guess.” Allo was going to be a great Dad. He was so much like our Dad in so many ways. He gave me a big hug after he was finished whispering to my stomach.

“It’s going to be okay, Brynn. You’ve always got your family. Go call mom back, she may surprise you.” 

I ran straight to the back of the firehouse to go in the backdoor, and there Allo was. Working out. He saw me and waved as I ran up to him. 

“Hey! Whats going on?” He got a better look at me, “have you been crying? Is something wrong?”

“I’m pregnant, Allo. I’m pregnant. I’ve ruined everything. I’m not ready for this, and with Jake? I don’t want a baby with Jake. I want a baby with Tuck- oh it doesn’t even matter does it? It doesn’t matter a bit. This is the baby I’m going to have, I can’t change that. I’ve just ruined it all.” Allo had a lot of different looks on his face, struggling to put the right one on. I couldn’t stand watching the struggle and leaned my head on Allo’s shirt, sobbing like crazy.  

I am the biggest idiot in the universe. My sinuses, ha! What a freaking fool. All the signs were there, and I stupidly missed every single one. A baby. And soon. A mother. I was going to be a mother. I was completely in shock, making another check up appointment, getting prescriptions for prenatal vitamins, and book suggestions. So many people telling me congratulations. 

I walked outside and had a complete breakdown. 

A good twenty minutes later, I pulled myself together. I had a missed call from Viv, Tucker, and my mother. What would they think? Tucker would be so angry, just when things were new and different and actually felt right with a guy and now this.. and my parents, they were going to be so disappointed. I was having Jake’s baby. Was he going to be mad? Would he help me out? How could Tucker even want to be a part of my life. From one stupid night, a few hours that I let all my insecurities take over, and now I was stuck with this.. reminder forever. 

I knew Allo was still at work, and I headed straight there. Ignoring my mother’s second missed call. Was it possible she already knew? That everyone already knew? 

I stopped to tell little Buttons goodbye before I left and a pain shot through my back. 

“You okay?” Viv asked. 

“Yeah, think so. Just a weird little twinge or something I guess. Come here my little pup!” I picked Buttons up and showered her with kisses. Teased Vivian about her cooking plumping me up, and headed out the door. 

Looking in the fridge for something to eat before I had to head to my doctor’s appointment, the only thing slightly breakfast-y besides cereal which I hate, was some leftover cobbler from our dinner party, so I cut a piece of that. Viv headed downstairs as I sat down to eat and started to fry something up. 

“So! Allo’s beach bonfire is tonight, wanna get ready early and head to the pool across the street and laze around?” 

“Did you actually take the day off?” 

“Har, har. Yes, I asked off for today. Just taking a long Love Day holiday, getting settled in and stuff.” Viv’s such a workaholic it really was a surprise. “Plus, I was thinking I could head to the pier a little early, you could make something fun and beach-y to drink, and I can grill something up.” 

She headed over to sit down and laughed, “You’re eating cobbler for breakfast?” 

“You’re eating fried cheese sticks for breakfast.. give me a break!” We both laughed. “But yeah, as soon as I get back from the doctor, we’ll head to the pool, that sounds perfect. I’m sure it’s just my sinuses. The drainage is probably making me nauseous. Probably won’t take long at all!” I got up, sticking my plate in the dishwasher. “See ya soon!”  

Buttons and I were woke up by the shrill ringing of my cell. I grabbed it not minding, I left it on a very loud ring because I knew Tucker’s cell was supposed to come in today. I pulled on some clothes, and got some sleep outta my eye and excitedly answered. 

“Bee? Oh it’s just so lovely to hear your voice again! I’ve been thinking about you like crazy.” 

“I’m smiling like a mad man right now, you’ve got no idea. I miss you so much, it’s so good to hear your voice again!” 

“Guess what?” 

“What?”

“I got my ticket to fly in for the wedding today! Just gotta make it through the rest of Spring and three quarters through Summer and I’ll get to see you again.” 

“Ahh, I really can’t wait! It seems like so long though!” 

“It’ll get here soon, Love. I gotta run back into class, but you have a fantastic day. Text me after your doctor’s appointment, and I’m sorry I called so early!”

“You can call anytime, Tucker. Talk soon, have a great day!” We both hung up, and I stood there enjoying the feeling. I imagined him half way across the world doing the same. 

I ran downstairs to check one of those online job listings, still no need for Stylists in the area. I was glad the blog pulled in enough to cover most of my half of the bills between ads and reader donations. I didn’t want Viv to think I was taking advantage of her or anything. 

Last Buttons Spam.. can’t help it!