“I'm going to be a grandma!” Mom cried happily.
“Oh my God, I'm going to be a mom.”
Dr. Lowdry flipped on the lights and handed me the pictures of the ultrasound, “Now will dad be joining us for these? It's usually best if the fathers are here for everything.”
I didn't know what to say without sounding awkward, thankfully Claire spoke up, “Oh, my son will definitely be here next time.”
Man I hope she's right.
Once the rest of the appointment was done and we picked up my prenatal vitamins, the three of us headed for a pedicure before going home and waiting for Robert to come back from work. Mom couldn't wait until tonight, she had called him on the way to the appointment to let him know Chase was the dad, and apparently he was just as relieved. Crazy. When we sat down for dinner that night, he got misty eyed when we showed him the photos and joked with me about making him a grandpa so young. Everyone was smiling, including me, I just wish Chase could have been there too.
***
Don't ask how I did it, but I managed to only see Chase six times over the next four weeks, and I still had avoided having the talk with him. Mom and Dad were worried that he was going to find out and bolt since my clothes were getting tighter now and Bree was just flat out pissed.
“Harper, he hasn't been with another girl since August, and you're still worried he's going to leave you? You guys aren't even dating and he's committed to you!”
“I know, I know. But it's not so easy to just be with him Bree. I can't do that to Brandon yet.”
“Brandon already knows!” She reasoned.
“Yeah, but think of it this way. What if you got pregnant with someone other than Konrad. Even if you told him, would you be able to just start dating the other guy? Walking around the school on his arm, in front of Konrad?”
She didn't answer.
“No, you wouldn't. Because it would be cruel to Konrad and though you broke his heart you would still love him too.”
“You're still in love with Brandon? Well then tell Chase it's Brandon's baby and get back with Brandon.”
“What? No! That's sick. I could never do something like that to Brandon. That would be even worse than the conversation where I told him I was pregnant! It's like HEY! Let me twist the knife I stabbed in your heart.”
“Okay true. But you have to give Chase a chance here, just tell him, but say you guys need to lie low in public.”
“I know I'm already hurting Chase by blowing him off, but are you hearing yourself? That's bad too Bree. It would be like he was my dirty secret and I didn't want anyone else to know. It already takes everything in me not to run into his arms when I see him to tell him everything, and you expect me to tell him I'm pregnant with his baby and that we need to still stay away from each other? It's fine if I'm miserable, but I can't do that to him too.”
“I didn't think about it like that, but you have to figure out something.”
I sighed and fell onto the bed, “I know Bree. Trust me there's nothing you can say that I haven't already thought of. After that ultrasound, all I can think about is telling Chase. It's like my whole perspective changed and I'm finally ready to take that chance with him. But I know I have to wait a little bit longer. I owe it to Brandon to give him some time to get over his hurt, and I owe it to Chase to be able to fully be in a relationship with him once he knows.”
She laid down next to me and grabbed my hand, “But when will it be enough time for that? When you have a beach ball under your shirt?”
“No. I couldn't let Chase find out that way, that wouldn't be fair to him either. And I know what you're about to say, I'm starting to show a little, so it has to be soon.” I wasn't showing much yet, it just looked like I ate a massive meal, but it was looking more like an awkward bump with each passing day, and soon people would start talking.
“It hurts me to see you guys apart, but I understand what you're saying sweetie.”
We both sat up to see Mom standing in the doorway, I guess she'd heard most, if not all of the conversation.
“Since he's my son, I obviously think about his happiness before Brandon's, so naturally I only think about how this is hurting him. And while what you're saying is extremely mature for your age, I'll be happy when all this is behind you two and you can live your lives together.”
I hated that I was still hurting so many people. It was apparent Claire was hurting for Chase, he still wasn't coming around much, I'd messed up more than I thought. “I'm sorry Mom. I promise I'm not trying to hurt him or any of you. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to fix all of this, so when we do start a relationship, it's perfect.”
Bree squeezed my hand and Mom came to lay down on my other side. “I don't think you're trying to hurt people sweetie, we just only see one side of this.” Mom said with a sigh.
“I'm sorry for getting on you Harper, I just see how miserable you are without him, and I didn't understand why you were putting both of you through this when it's clear you guys want each other so badly. That wasn't fair of me.”
“It's fine Bree, you guys are still right, I need to tell him soon. This is just a lot harder than I thought it would be.”
We sat there in silence for a while until Mom glanced at her watch and stood up, “So I guess it's safe to assume he won't be at the appointment today!” She laughed and the tension slowly left the room. “Well that's fine with me, I'm selfish and want to be there to see it.”