with the one man that had the ability to end me. I could feel my palms gettin' sweaty and my heart rate increase.
"You okay?" Kayla whispered from beside me.
"Sure. Let's just get this over with."
I took a seat next to Kayla across from her grandparents and sucked in a deep cleansing breath. Here goes nothin'.
"Granddad, Grams, we have something to tell y'all. So, the day of Mr. Raine's funeral, I was feeling a little, off." I kept an eye on Mr. James as Kayla continued. I had already planned my escape route, just in case he came flyin' across the table for me. "Well, it would seem that I am pregnant."
The room fell to a deafening silence as Kayla sat back gauging her grandparent's reaction.
"Before the accident, I found out that I was ten weeks pregnant, now twelve. Now before y'all go sayin' anything or start blaming and pointing fingers. I just want you to know that Madison and I couldn't be happier about this. It's not like it just happened and we can't accept it."
"Are you done?" Mr. James sounded beyond angry and I sat forward in anticipation of his wrath.
"Yes, I think so." Her confidence had wavered and she now sounded scared. My grip on her hand loosened just enough for her to wipe a stray tear falling from the corner of her eye.
"How could you two be so irresponsible?"
I was amazed that this was the only thing he said. "Sir, with all do respect, with everything that had happened before and after I came back, it just happened. I know that is a horrible excuse, but I have every intention of marrying your granddaughter."
"Why, because she's pregnant? Because I don't think that is the wisest choice, son."
I was growing angry at the thought that he would think so little of me. "Of course not. I have wanted to marry her long before this happened." I quickly turned towards Kayla, remembering that I had never told her this bit of information. When I saw the look on her face, my heart raced and I felt an immense amount of love for this girl.
"I'm sorry. I should've told you this before, but it's true Kayla. I would marry tomorrow if you said yes."
Just then her grandmother cleared her throat. "I believe it is my turn to say somethin'. Now just how do you plan on supporting my grandbaby and great grandbaby? Where will y'all live?"
"Grams calm down a minute. This is all brand new to us too. We haven't gotten that far yet."
"Well, actually, I have." Kayla whipped her head around so fast I thought she was gonna get whiplash. "Just let me explain." I lowered my voice hoping to soothe her anxiety. "Sir, first off, I am selling my house back home. I've actually been looking at a few houses around here, but I wanted Kayla to pick the one she wants. I also recently found out that my grandfather left me quite a bit of money, but I don't want to solely rely on that, so my band and I have decided to accept the recording deal we were offered last month.
Shit! I totally didn't mean for that to come out just yet either, but if I was having to prove to her granddad that I could take care of her and our baby, then it needed to be said. I turned towards Kayla, just as she was jumping out of her seat and making her way into the kitchen.
"Kayla, wait let me explain. I was going to tell you first, I swear."
"Were you? Because from what I just heard, you've all but planned out our entire life for the next eighteen years. If we're going to be a family, don't you think we should have decided these things together?"
"Of course I do, pretty girl." I reached for her hand to pull her close to me, but she pulled away just as quickly. "Kayla, I had to do somethin'. He was questioning whether or not I could take care of my family."
"I know Madison, but these are huge decisions."
"I know darlin', and I never want you to feel like your opinion doesn't count."
"Madison, you took a record deal. That's a huge thing in my book. What am I supposed to do, raise our child on a tour bus? Are we just supposed to follow you around the world,
Tom Shales, James Andrew Miller