Page 109 of Pinch

“I’ve heard.”

“What about morning sickness?” Mom’s brow furrows, and empathy lines her face. “I was so sick the whole time I was pregnant with you.”

“There was that one time at your house. Once I ate a pear, and it came right back up.” I look up at Gavin, and we say the next part together. “So no more pears.”

We laugh, and Dad slaps him on the shoulder. “Good work, son.”

“Her due date is right at the start of our off-season, too,” Gavin continues. “Her doctor has recommended somebirthing classes, but that’s been tricky with games and everything.”

“I can go with you if you need help.” Mom rubs my back gently. “Or Gigi. I’m sure she’s excited, too.”

I nod, thinking how my cousin was exactly right. My family is baby-obsessed.

“I’d really like to be there, so I know what to do.” Gavin’s warm eyes hold mine, and my stomach flutters… or maybe that’s the baby moving?

“So what are you having?” Dad’s blue eyes search mine, but Mom pulls his arm gently.

“They might not want to know, Hen.” Her voice is quiet.

Gavin is quick to reassure her. “No, ma’am, we wanted to know. We just haven’t told anyone yet.”

Mom’s eyes light. “Is it a secret?”

“Not really.” I scrunch my nose, looking up at Gav, who shrugs. “It’s all been kind of surprising and fast, and we only just told Gigi and Mav we were pregnant a few weeks ago.”

“Spill it, P,” Dad teases. “Don’t leave us hanging!”

Reaching out, I take Gavin’s hand. My chest fills with excitement, and it’s like I’m cutting into a confetti-filled cake or popping a smoke-filled balloon.

Gavin smiles, and that dimple pierces the side of his cheek. I’ve never seen his blue eyes so happy… Well, I have once before, and it was on the day we found out.

He nods, and I turn to my eager parents, holding out my hands and with a breath announcing, “Mom, Dad, we’re having a girl!”

Mom lets out another shriek, jumping forward to hug me. “We love little girls.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Mrs. B.” Gavin holds my back.

“You have to call me Raven, now.” She grabs his shoulder,pulling him down for a hug. “Have you picked out a name?”

I look up at him again, and he’s still giving me encouragement to keep going. “We haven’t decided on her full name yet, but we definitely know we want to name her Lucille after Grandma Bradford.”

“And you,” Gavin adds, nudging my side. “I always thought Lucy was a cute name.”

“I love Lucy,” Dad says, and it’s all noises of agreement.

This night truly is golden, unlike that day in the park when I was so afraid, when Spanky knocked me into a bush. Thanksgiving feels so long ago, and now we’re here together, surrounded by love and family.

I can’t even remember what I was so worried about…

We regret to inform you,you are no longer qualified to represent the International Princess Woman organization. The title of International Princess Woman will pass to the first runner up…

Cold air touches my cheeks as I walk across campus in the late evening twilight. Numbness pushes on my shoulders, and I pull the cardigan tighter around my body. I slide a hand over my growing stomach, thinking about the little cauliflower-sized baby hidden inside me.

To think only a week ago we were all at my parents’ house laughing, hugging, talking about baby names and picking out little outfits online.

“It doesn’t matter, Lucy,” I whisper, comforting the little girl in me. “You’re so much more important than a crown.”

You will be allowed thirty days to repay the scholarship awarded. If you need longer than thirty days…