Page 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Emerson

“Have you heard anything?”

I shake my head staring ahead at my reflection in the mirror. Alizabeth and I decided to give ourselves a spa day. We both had facials, pedi and mani’s, and now a trim. Honestly having someone play with my hair always puts me to sleep.

But lately almost anything makes me sleepy.

I haven’t been sleeping the greatest since I went and had bloodwork done at the doctor. The waiting was driving me out of my mind, constantly racing, and my stomach was a mess.

“They’ll call.” Liz reaches out and squeezes my hand reassuringly. “But no matter which way it goes, you know that everything is going to be okay, right?”

I didn’t but nod and offer her a smile anyway.

One of my biggest downfalls, I hated more than anything when people were talking about me or making assumptions. God I hated those too.

“Well hello, ladies.” I can practically feel the heat rolling off of Liz, the moment Libby pauses only a few feet away from us. She’s a thorn in Liz’s side and always has been. Always trying to outdo her, and the problems she’s caused for Kelton, those set Liz on fire.

“Out for a little tune-up I see.” She waves her hand in the direction of our heads.

“You should both consider a little coloring to brighten things up. Keep things interesting.” She shrugs.

“Never neglect yourselves ladies,” she adds with a smirk.

“Once you stop caring about your appearance, things go downhill from there.”

“I can tell,” Liz gives it right back and I instantly know I’m going to be forced to referee at some point. “Looks like yours are already slipping Libs, and fast. A girl your age shouldn’t already be sagging and looking so burned out.”

Libby’s eyes narrow.

“It’s got to be all those chemical peels, bad surgeries, and cheap hair products. Honey you are looking road hard and put away wet. It’s a shame, really.”

“How’s that handsome brother of yours doing?” Libby asks with a forced smile. “I’ve thought about catching a game and reconnecting.”

“Pretty sure we both know that if you were anywhere near the field he was playing, he’d have you removed. He can do that ya know? He’s sort of big time.”

“Oh I know he’s big.” She wags her brows suggesting she actually knows which is a joke.

“I think we both know Libby that nothing has or will happen between the two of you. He’s spoken for, and in a huge way.”

“There will be a day when he’s done fooling around and is ready to build something with someone.”

“Oh he has, he is, but that someone isn’t and will never be you.” My God it was like a boxing match with oven mitts. My head is spinning. “Isn’t that right, Em?”

And there it is, the shove that I know will push Libby over the edge and spiral out of control.

“You?” she says with a sarcastic laugh. “You’ve got to be joking, why would he ever settle with you?” Again she laughs, crossing her arms over her chest. “He has better taste than that.”

“You might want to retract that statement and back the hell up before Sarah here,” Liz points over her shoulder at the stylist behind her, “give me her shears and I go Edward Scissorhands on your ass. You should know though I am terrible with scissors, so I can guarantee bloodshed and loss of sight.”

“You’re insane.” Libby takes a step back.

“Bitch you have no idea.” I want to laugh, for the first time in days I feel like I could lose it and give in completely to the crazy.

Liz is glaring at Libby. Libby by the look on her face that crosses between fear and humor is unable to determine if Liz is being honest, it is almost too much.

Then throw Sara the hairdresser in the mix, with her hip cocked to the side, her hand resting there while holding her shears in her other hand for added flare. I’m teetering and about to topple over.

“You are a nutcase,” Libby finally says while backing away. She rounds the corner, going back to her stylist and I am done. I’m hunched over, tears rolling down my face. I’m talking laughing to the point of almost peeing my pants.

“You went all slasher on her,” I say much too loud, but I can’t seem to stop it.

“Edward isn’t all slasher, he has a gentle soul.”

“Gentle is not hinting around at stabbing someone in the eyes.” I am wheezing, barely able to catch my breath. Sara is in complete agreement.

“Girl, I wasn’t even the one being threatened and I feared you.” She laughs, getting back to work on Liz’s hair.

“Not me,” Armando who is currently combing his fingers through my hair says. “You aren’t even my type honey and you got me all tangled up inside. I think it’s the first time in my entire life I’ve ever wanted to test drive a vagina.”

And I’m sunk, sliding out of my chair, no hope of gaining control. Snorting, getting everyone’s attention and guess what, I don’t care. It’s the best I’ve felt in days, weeks even.

Until my phone rings in my bag and it’s like a cold glass of water, I am instantly alert.

Liz leans in, sees the doctor’s name lighting up the screen and I slide my finger over the green button quickly saying hello.

“Emerson Blake?”

“Yes, this is her.”

“This is Rita, from Dr. Jasper’s office.” I nod as if she can actually see me. “I just wanted to give you a call with the results of your blood test.”

“Okay.” I hold my breath, close my eyes tight and wait for the one piece of information that will decide my future for me.

“The test does confirm you are pregnant.” Again the tears reappear as my eyes start to burn. “We’d like to set you up with an appointment to come in and see Dr. Jasper. We can get you started on the needed vitamins and so forth.”

Again I nod.

“How does next Thursday work for you, say two p.m.?”

“That’s fine,” I say in a whisper.

“Okay sweetheart, and congratulations.”

The call ends but I don’t lower the phone. I am stuck in the same position as her words continue to roll around in my head on repeat.

You are pregnant.

Pregnant.

“Emerson?” Liz moves closer, taking the phone from my ear. “Hey.” She wipes the tears off my cheeks.

“I’m pregnant,” I say. “I’m pregnant,” I repeat a little louder.

“I’m going to be an aunt,” she says with her own tears filling her eyes. “My brother is going to be a daddy. And I already know he is totally going to rock at it.”

She hugs me and we stay like that for a few minutes, forgetting where we are.

“I don’t want him to know yet.”

“Emerson.” Liz sighs in disappointment.

“No, it’s not what you think,” I assure her. “I just think that hearing he’s going to be a daddy should be something I tell him in person, not over video chat or in a phone call. I want to give him the news face to face and I don’t want him to hear it from anyone else but me.”

“Okay,” she smiles, “then it looks like we are planning a trip.”

“I think instead of planning a trip we need to start organizing our move.”

“For real?”

“Yeah,” I nod, “it’s time.”

Thinking I was pregnant and knowing it for sure makes all the difference. I wanted to be with Kelton, and he wanted me there. He’s said it for weeks, and that wasn’t because I’m pregnant, it’s because he truly wants me there.

“We’re moving to Nashville,” Liz singsongs as she wiggles excitedly in her seat and Sara laughs.

“We are moving to Nashville,” I confirm with my own matching smile.