Sam

Ian and I went to his doctor friend and the examination found baby and mom both to be in good health. He was hesitant to prescribe medication for nausea unless things get worse but did suggest I track everything in a little notebook for a week or so; when I get sick, what I eat, and so on, to try and identify potential triggers. He recommended a local OB-GYN and will get back to us with someone near school so I have options either way. Lexi has become a militant surrogate mom texting me daily to see if I’ve eaten, what I’ve eaten, if I’m taking it easy, and then calling to yell about any answers she doesn’t like. Honestly, it’s a totally new side of her and deep down I appreciate that she cares so much.

My parents are pushing for a going away party for me next weekend because the new semester starts in two weeks, so Ian and I have decided to talk to them tonight. Well, technically, my family has been invited next door for a cookout with his family since Will came home from camp yesterday. I can’t bring myself to think about how this is all going to go down. It was bad enough being home with the folks last night and trying my damnedest to act normal. My mere presence at home for dinner was enough to get questions flying, when I didn’t disappear immediately after both parents took notice and assumed something was wrong. Thankfully, today is Friday and I have the house to myself until evening because I doubt I could hide the retching at this point.

By the time six o’clock arrives, Dad is home and sporting his signature casual wear, which consists of a brightly colored polo shirt and golf shorts with a belt. God, he is becoming such an old person. He’s on his second beer of the evening while Mom puts the final touches on a ‘fresh from the bakery’ apple pie and transfers a tub of homemade potato salad into a large mixing bowl, to complete the illusion I suppose.

“Hon, it’s getting to be that time, are you joining us this evening?” Dad yells up from the base of the stairs.

This is it chick. You’re about to inform your parents you’ve been sleeping with a man twice your age, have since become pregnant by said man, and in case Dad is still conscious, it’s his friend and neighbor of two decades. Should all be fine, right?

“K Dad. I’ll be down in just a minute.” I know he’s rolling his eyes, he’s heard that line a bazillion times and knows it implies a time range from five minutes to quit bugging me. This time, however, I don’t make him wait because I have been without my Ian for almost an entire day already. I head down and we all walk next door together, a walk I have made countless times over the summer. So many times, I have to fight the urge to use my ninja skills of sticking to the shadows and avoiding our windows. Somehow, I just know my parents would find it unusual.

We are greeted at the door by both Ian and Will and exchange pleasantries about how much Will has matured, and his experiences at camp while Dad snaps back beer number three or four. By the time we move out to the deck I’m starting to wonder if he’s going to make it long enough to hear our news. I sit down at the table with Will to catch up and regret my outfit almost immediately because his eyes can’t seem to focus on anything except my tits. Yeah, this isn’t going to be weird at all.

“So Will, what rank are you in the Scouts now?” I ask trying to bring his attention to something else.

“While I was at camp I completed the community service requirements for the Life rank, and have all the merit badges I need so I will meet with the board of review this fall.”

“Wow, that’s great. So, um what does it mean then? Life rank?” Dad interjects.

Thank you, Daddy—way to take one for the team!

Before my window of opportunity closes, I slip away to grab him another beer so they can keep talking and immerse themselves in Scout philosophy and procedures. When I return, I hand Dad his beer but continue on to the grill where Mom is chatting up Ian as he flips the burgers and dogs. He has managed to play things very cool so far, this evening. I’ve had a stray glance, or quick smile when absolutely no one else was looking, but otherwise, he must have his head in the game because he’s paid me very little attention. Maybe it’s the hormone change, but all I want right now is to kick everyone else out so I can curl up in his arms. I’ve been spoiled with the time we have had to ourselves this summer.

Dinner is served amid topical conversation and the evening continues on with a light enough feel, which leaves me wondering how and when are we going to drop this nuclear bomb, and what will happen after? Mom has finally downgraded Dad to sweet tea, and as soon as he sits back down with his second piece of apple pie Ian stands, requesting everyone’s attention.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.

“Everyone, I want to take a moment to thank you Rick and Lilly, and Samantha of course, for joining Will and me this evening.”

Dad tries to talk through a mouthful of pie but Ian continues on. “But there’s another reason I wanted to get this group together. I want to share some news that affects every one of us…”

“We’re not moving, are we?” Will asks.

“No son, that’s not the plan, but let’s see how things go before we lock that down, OK? Where was I? Uh, well, this summer has been ... Um, Rick. Lilly. I want you both to know that…”

I interject. “Shit. Mom. Dad. Ian and I have been seeing one another all summer and we’ve fallen in love.”

Mom brings her hand to cover her mouth but doesn’t seem nearly as surprised at the news as I expected. Dad, on the other hand, pushes back from the table in a huff shouting every curse word he can muster in Ian’s direction, only to catch a leg of his chair on the decking and flip himself right over onto his back. Guess mom didn’t cut him off soon enough. She moves to help him up but gives him an ear full to let him know she is irritated with his drunkenness at this moment.

“Wait, there’s more,” I say before pausing. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt.

Ian moves to my side, putting his arm around me, and resting his other hand on Will’s shoulder.

“But! Oh, Samantha, what about school? What about your career? Your life hasn’t even started yet.” Mom asks. If she wasn’t fully surprised by the news about my relationship with Ian, the second piece of information seemed to do the trick.

So much for the light feel of the evening.

Several minutes pass in silence leaving my words to linger in the air around the table. Finally, my dad who has been slumped over in his seat nursing a fresh bruise on the back of his head, looks up at Ian and coldly asks, “What are your intentions with my daughter, you son of a bitch?”

“DAD.”

“No Sam, it’s a fair question, and your dad is right to want to know,” Ian replies. “Rick, we’ve known each other a long time. You’re a good man and I know you love your family. You want only the best for them and you’ve put in the time and energy to provide just that. Well. To answer your question, I guess my intention is to take it from here, if I have your blessing that is.”

My brain hasn’t processed what his words mean, but I look to my dad in time to see his face relax slightly. When I turn my attention back to Ian, he is digging around in his pocket, fumbling for something. Nothing about this moment is registering for me until he finds what he is looking for and raises his eyes to meet mine. They have a sparkle in them as he drops to his knee and presents me with a small, red velvet box.

“Samantha Rogers, I’ve had the rare pleasure of knowing you since you were a young girl. Even then, something about you stood out as special. As you grew and became a young woman, I appreciated how intelligent and driven you were in achieving your goals and chasing your dreams. But when I saw you standing at my door this summer, it was like I saw you for the first time. The freckle-faced girl with pig tails was gone, replaced by a kind and caring, beautiful woman. As we spent time together, I fell deeply in love with that woman. And darlin', if you’ll let me, I want to spend the rest of my life making you smile. So, will you make me the luckiest man in the world, and do me the honor of being my wife?”

“Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes,” I say, hugging him.

Finally, Mom speaks up, “So, I’m going to be a grandma? Rick, you’re going to be a grandpa. Oh my goodness, it’s all so exciting.”

Mom and Dad weren’t all too pleased to hear I was putting school on hold, but let’s be honest, compared to all the other information, there wasn’t much left to say. After a couple of days hearing the morning sickness firsthand, they came around. Besides, their daughter is going to end up local after all, and how much closer could they really want than right next door?