Love & Fear | Book Two

Fifteen

I stared back at Michael, watching as the shock took hold. I watched as he put a hand over his his mouth and paced the area of the living room. Slowly and cautiously, I sat down on the couch as my mind raced. What were we going to do if I was pregnant?

"We can get a test can't we? We can find out if your-" His voice broke as I felt his worry.

"We can." I said, standing and walking towards Michael, "We can go right now. I just need to grab my purse."

My hands were shaking by the time I grabbed my purse. These past weeks have been insane. And I wondered how many more things would happen to us. Fumbling in my purse for my keys, Michael followed me outside into the humid air. As we entered my vehicle, I held my breath, trying to calm my nerves before I backed out of  the driveway and drove the twenty three minutes to Aberdeen, North Carolina. I knew there was a Walmart there and we would be able to take a test there.

We were both silent as I drove, the other not knowing what to say as we stayed in our thoughts. Wondering what would happen if the test came back positive. I just hoped whatever the result, we would work through it together.

"We'll be okay." I whispered as I parked the car and looked over at Michael. His eyes flickering their green color as he looked me in the eyes. "One thing at a time remember?"

"Yeah,your dad is going to kill me." He said as we exited my car.

"Um, let's hope not." I clipped, walking beside him as we crossed the walkway and into the Walmart. My hand instinctively grasping Michael's a feeling I hadn't known I missed until now as he squeezed my hand.

My heart raced as we made our way across the store and into the Family Planning section. Grabbing a box of tests off the shelf, Michael and I made a bee line for the checkout area, wanting to get checked out as quickly as possible so we could find out the news we needed to hear. After I paid, Michael and I waved to the cashier as we passed her and made our way to the bathroom. But once there, the family restroom was nowhere to be seen. I knew that he wanted to be with me when I took the test but I also knew that we couldn't handle the twenty minute drive home without knowing.

"I'll go in and take the test and I'll tell you when I get the results." I said, clutching the bag in my hand.

"Okay." He said, his voice full of concern.

"Hey," I said, walking towards him and giving him a hug, "We'll be okay alright. Whatever happens."

He smiled and I waved to him before walking away to enter the restroom. Making my way into the stall, I shut the door behind me and set the bag down on the floor. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the box and opened it, pulling a few tests out and skimming through the instructions. Okay, I can do this, I just got to pee on it and wait five minutes. But what if this one's a dud, should I do more than one?

Removing the plastic cap on two tests, I managed to pee on both and replace the plastic caps, being cautious not to get my pee on any of the surfaces, cause that would just be gross. I sat and waited for what seemed like hours when I knew it could only have been a few minutes. When my five minutes was us, I cautiously looked over at my test, both sported two lines. I couldn't stop staring at them, my throat went dry, and I wondered if Michael would react the same. Throwing the tests in the bag, I stood and exited the stall. Washing my hands before exiting the bathroom.

Michael sat on the bench, his leg bouncing up and down and his eye brow furrowed. I could practically feel his uneasiness coming off of him like waves as I approached him.

"Hey." I said before he looked up. "Let's go to the car. I don't really want to tell you here."

"Okay." He replied, standing and hugging me, his arms comforting me as I breathed in his familiar scent.

We stood there holding each other for a few minutes before pulling away, cupping each other's cheek before making our way out of the building and towards my car. As soon as Michael shut his door I turned to him, determined to tell him that he was going to be a father. That he was a father.

"What did it say Lucie?"

"I'm pregnant." I stated plainly, watching as his face went from worry to understanding.

"Okay."

"Okay?" I asked.

"Okay, we can do this." He said, reaching over and placing his hand on my stumoch, "Everything may have been a little fast, but that's okay. We will raise this child together."

For some reason I began to cry as I placed my hand on his. Through blurry eyes I watched him as he hugged me, my mind racing as I realized that I would be a mother and I would raise my baby with the love of my life.