Baby & Bump (The This & That Series) by Brooke Moss Read Free Book Online

a few days.”
                  “And you’ll raise the baby yourself?” There was a spark of jealousy in her brown eyes, but she kept it at bay and forced a small smile.
                  “Yes. I’m…” I looked at my mother, and my tears finally spilled over. “I’m happy. I know it’s crazy, and I know it will be difficult. But when Nate left me, and Marisol and I started the catering business, I honestly thought I would never be a mother.” My hands went to my flat tummy. “This is my chance, you guys.”
                  My mother watched me with a frown. “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. You have no idea how hard it is to raise a child with two parents, let alone one. You’re being foolish.”
                  “You know what?” I stood up from the table, taking my picture back, and tucking it into my back pocket. “I’m ready to learn. I’m ready to be responsible for someone other than myself. And…” I wiped my nose on my napkin. “I really hope you’ll all support me.”
                  I looked down at Corbin and Andrea, who both looked like they’d fallen off their ladders at work and had the wind knocked out of their lungs. “I never meant to hurt you guys. I didn’t plan for this to happen.”
                  Corbin nodded. “I know, Lex.”
                  I turned my gaze to my mother. “I’m gonna go now. I feel like I’m going to hurl, and I think you need some time to process this.” I started towards the door, and nobody made a move to stop me. Just as I was about to turn the handle, I looked back at my mother, who was still standing at the end of the table with a hand pressed to her chest.
    “I’m sorry, Ma.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
                  “Hey you! I didn’t know you were coming.” Candace held her front door open so I could enter, and I skulked past her with my head hanging low.
                  “Thanks,” I mumbled. My nose was still stuffed from weeping as I drove the eight miles between my mother’s house and hers.
    “Hey, have you been crying?” She shut the door behind me. “What’s wrong?”
    “It’s nothing.” I crossed through her foyer to her kitchen amidst a chorus of cheers exploding in the next room. “I’m sorry. Do you have company? I can come by after work tomorrow.”
    Candace just shook her head an d pointed at a chair. A tray covered in a variety of meats and cheeses rested on the table. “Sit down. You’re always welcome here. Have a snack.”
    Eyeballing the meats, I tried not to inhale and sat as far away from the tray as possible. Another rouse of applause came from the living room. “Seriously. Did I come at a bad time?”
                  She rolled her eyes. “No. The Seahawks are spanking the Patriots. Brian and all of his friends are losing their minds.”
                  “It’s a miracle.” I picked up a napkin and wiped my eyes. “When is Brian going to accept that the Seahawks suck?”
                  “I heard that.” Brian’s voice echoed in the living room, amidst the chatter of all of his friends.
                  “Sorry, Bri.” I laughed.
    “They’re not sucking today.” Candace sat down across from me. “So.” She propped her chin on her fist. “You told your mom tonight.”
                  I looked at her strangely. “How did you know?”
                  She shrugged. “Aunt Patsy called my mom. My mom called me. She was ticked off that I already knew your big news.”
                  “Sorry to disappoint her.” Aunt Dory liked to be the bearer of any and all juicy gossip. I looked at the platter wearily. “Can you move that?”
                  “You know, if you eat some protein, you’d probably feel better.”
                  My