Page 10

Peyton

Knox and Mom picked me up from the airport, and the three of us went for dinner. Now we were back at the house, and I lay in the spare room watching TV. Lorelai was in bed, Mom was watching TV in the living room, and Knox had gone out with the guys.

The moment I got into the car, Mom immediately asked me if I was planning to move to Vancouver, and while I wanted to tell her yes, I hadn’t. Things had changed since I found out the news of the pregnancy. If this were Tor’s baby, which it very well could be, but probably wasn’t, then he had the right to be in his child’s life. If it was Clay’s baby, well, he had a right as well, but until I found out just how far along I was, I’d have to wait to give her an answer. It was the only conclusion I’d come to on the flight here.

The worst part of the entire situation had been the searing look I’d gotten from Knox as he stared at me through the rearview mirror when I’d told my mother, followed by the look of disappointment at my answer.

I couldn’t get the look out of my mind as I rolled over onto my side and picked up my phone, messaging Elsie. I’d done as she suggested and left my doctor’s office with her number instead of my cell phone. I didn’t want to be questioned about anything right now. I was scared, confused, and felt so alone in all this. I wanted to tell my mother and my brother, but I knew he’d jump to conclusions and finish it with ‘I told you so.’ That wasn’t exactly the support system I needed right now.

I quickly messaged Elsie, then placed my phone back on the table, turning my attention back to the movie I was watching. The moment my phone vibrated; I grabbed it.

Elsie: Appointment booked for next week.

PEYTON: Okay.

Elsie: Did you talk to Clay?

PEYTON: No, not yet. He doesn’t even know I’m in town. Plus, I didn’t think going out tonight would be wise. I really don’t want to rock the boat right now with my brother. He’s already angry with me again.

Elsie: Why? What happened?

PEYTON: Mom asked me when I was planning on moving out here when they all picked me up at the airport. I was honest and told her I didn’t know yet.

Elsie: Why would you say that? I thought you made up your mind.

PEYTON: I was being honest. That was what Knox wanted.

ELSIE: Yes, but I don’t understand, you wanted to move.

PEYTON: I do, but…

ELSIE: Then I don’t get it. What’s the bloody issue?

PEYTON: What if the baby is Tor’s don’t you think he had the right…

Elsie: Peyton, stop. We both know that it’s not Tor’s. We also both know, or at least I know, that even if it was, he’d want no part of it. I think you know that as well, but because you are afraid it might be his, you’re afraid of admitting the truth to yourself.

PEYTON: What truth would that be?

ELSIE: That if it were Tor’s he’d not want any part of it, and even if he said he did you’d definitely not want him to be a part of it.

I stared at her words. God she was so right. There’d be no way I’d want him involved, even if he wanted to be. I already knew that. I closed my eyes and rested my head on my pillow. My head was pounding.

PEYTON: Can I message you in a bit?

ELSIE: Of course you can. I’ll be up. I need to finish this paper I’m working on.

PEYTON: Oh, what time is my appointment

ELSIE: Two in the afternoon on Wednesday.

PEYTON: Thanks, talk to you soon.

I shut my phone off. I didn’t want to be bothered. I needed to spend time alone, figure things out. I shut the TV off, rolled over and faced the wall, closing my eyes. Things would work out. They had to.

“Peyton, how about you crumble the cheese for the lasagna?” Mom said, passing me the containers of ricotta cheese and a bowl.

I swallowed hard as I looked down at the cheese in the container, feeling my stomach turn. I’d been sick most of today. Thankfully, Knox had left early for practice, and Mom and Lorelai had gone grocery shopping, so each time I’d been sick, I’d been alone. It happened first thing in the morning while I’d been in the shower and then again late morning just before they’d returned.

“If you’d prefer to deal with the noodles, I can do the cheese.” Lorelai said, a look of concern on her face as she looked at me.

“Thanks. I never liked the feel of this cheese,” I said, glancing at my mother, who gave me a curious look.

I switched spots with Lorelai and stirred the pot of noodles.

“They should be almost done,” Mom said. “We don’t want to overcook them as they will continue to cook in the oven.

“I know. Who’s all coming for dinner?” I asked, stirring the pot again before placing the strainer Lorelai had given me in the sink. “Looks like there is going to be enough food to feed and army.”

“Well, we asked Lucas and Ella, Dylan and Aurora, of course, and the two new players on the team, Levi and Colton. But so far, we’ve only heard from Dylan and Aurora. It’s okay though, because even if no one else shows up, Dylan and Knox eat about as much as the four of us do.” Lorelai giggled.

“That they do,” Mom said. “Your grocery bill must be huge.”

“It is.”

“Oh, did you hear if Clay was coming? He seems like such a nice young man,” Mom asked.

My head perked up when I heard Clay’s name. I wasn’t expecting to see him this visit.

“No, Clay hasn’t accepted either,” Lorelai answered. “Although, I don’t know if Knox even asked him when I told him to. He was supposed to invite him when I first brought it up, which was when they were out in Vermont, but the man apparently had other things on his mind. Something about winning some hockey game.” Lorelai giggled.

“That sounds like my son.”

“I don’t know how you dealt with him, Reese. I really don’t.” Lorelai giggled.

“Has he asked him yet?” I questioned, swallowing hard. I could hear the anticipation in my voice.

“He’s apparently doing so today. We shall see,” Lorelai said, still crumbling the cheese and not paying any attention to the sound of my voice, thankfully.

I glanced over to see my mother staring at me. Her face held another questioning look, but all she did was give me a small smile.

“Peyton, honey, those noodles are probably done,” she said.

I shut the stove off and drained the pot of noodles into the strainer, then placed the strainer inside the pot and filled it with cold water to stop the noodles from cooking, just like my mother had taught me.

“So, I know Dylan and Aurora, but Lucas and Ella?” I questioned.

“Yeah, Lucas Clark and Ella Larson, although now it’s Clark. Ella works in the PR department, but they aren’t coming. They already had plans to have dinner with her father. He owns the Dominators,” Lorelai said.

“Oh, he’s dating the owner’s daughter?”

“More like married the owner’s daughter. In Vegas, she thought the entire thing was fake. It was crazy.”

“Fake?” I questioned.

“Yep, she thought those little chapels all over Vegas were all fake. I guess she’d read somewhere that some of them were fake and figured they all were, so when his mother put forth the idea of marriage, she accepted.”

“Oh wow, I’d love to hear their entire story. Too bad they won’t be here.”

“Don’t you worry. When you move here, you’ll be on the inside. I’ll drag you to every game and we’ll have girls’ nights when the guys are on the road. You’re going to love it. Maybe we can even find you an eligible bachelor on the team,” Lorelai said, shoving the bowl of ricotta into the centre of the large kitchen island.

“Clay would be a good option; don’t you think Lorelai? Do you know if he is involved with anyone?”

“Don’t believe so, at least I never hear him speak of anyone.”

I could feel my face heat at her suggestion. I looked over at my mother and noticed she was watching me, a curious look on her face. I had to do something besides just stand here with flushed cheeks, so I let out a laugh and held up my hands.

“No, no hockey guys for me. I lived with my brother, remember? I know what sort of trouble they can be. Plus, I’ve had my fair share of trouble with the guys I have dated, so I think, to be fair to myself and give myself a chance to heal, I might just stay single for a while,” I said.

“You say that now but just wait. Wait until one of them sinks their teeth into you. They are persistent when they set their eyes on something. Just as persistent as they are about the game. Trust me.”

“Did Aurora feel that way, too?” I asked.

“Oh goodness, yes. Her situation was different, though, but Dylan wouldn’t give up either once he found her again. Another thing about these men, they can also be hard to say no to.”

“Reminds me of Knox’s father. He was like that as well, persistent and impossible to turn away,” Mom said.

“That must be where he gets it from.” Lorelai giggled.

“Be thankful that is the only quality he got from that man,” Mom said, building the layers of the lasagna.

“So, Peyton, when are you thinking of moving out here?” Lorelai questioned.

I glanced over at my mother. Lorelai hadn’t been with Knox and Mom when they’d picked me up last night, and while I didn’t know her all that well, I knew she always made me feel welcome when I was here.

“I’m thinking maybe a month from now,” I answered.

The moment the words fell from my mouth, my mother turned and looked at me. I could see she was wondering why I hadn’t answered her that way last night, but until I’d talked to Elsie and she’d made me realize that, even if Tor was the father of my baby, I wouldn’t want him in my life, I knew moving was the option to choose.

“Well, we can’t wait to have you closer. Same with you, Reese. I am so happy that you’re both moving out here.”

“Well, hopefully we are. If we can find a place to live, that is. That last place was gorgeous, but man, it was costly.”

“It was, but like Knox said, he has no problem paying the rent for the year until you are situated here and have a job. Especially if you liked the place. Plus, the doctors here pay way better too for any office administrators than they do out there as well. If you get into a specialist’s office, which I can’t see you having a problem with what with your experience, then you’ll be set.”

“We’ll have to see. I want Peyton to like the place as well. I’m sure she’ll want a say.”

I nodded and passed Mom the noodles, just as my stomach spun.

“Peyton? Are you feeling okay?” Mom questioned.

“Yes, why?” I asked.

“Honey, you’re pale.” She said coming over and placing her hand on my forehead. “Clammy to the touch as well. I think you should go lie down for a bit.”

My stomach spun again, and this time a rush of saliva filled my mouth. Swallowing hard I nodded, “I think I’m just going to go lay down for a bit,” I said, looking at both Mom and Lorelai.

Neither of them said anything as I left the room. I felt hot but cool at the same time. I’d just shut the door to my room and sat down on my bed when the door opened, and my mother walked in.

“Peyton, are you alright?” Mom asked sitting down next to me. She yelled at Lorelai to bring a glass of water.

“I’m fine. Just tired,” I answered. “I didn’t sleep all that well last night.”

I felt my stomach turn, and before I could shove Mom out of the way and run to the bathroom, I grabbed the garbage pail in my room and emptied the contents of my stomach.

Lorelai appeared in the doorway with a glass of water, just as I threw up again.

“Lorelai, honey, can you grab a cool cloth,” Mom asked, holding my hair back.

When I felt the cloth on the back of my neck and my stomach stopped spinning, I looked up at my mother. She cleared her throat as she placed the cloth on my face, wiping away the sweat from my forehead.

“How far along are you?” she questioned, giving me a knowing look.

I could feel my cheeks heat as she stared at me. Then I looked over at Lorelai to see her standing there, watching everything unfold.

“I don’t know. I’ll find out when I see the doctor next week,” I replied knowing there was no point in trying to hide this.

“Do you know who the father is?” Mom questioned.

I slowly nodded but didn’t respond.

“You don’t have to tell me, but I hope you will confide in me when you’re ready. I want you to know that this won’t go any further than the confines of this room, right, Lorelai.”

“You got it. Secrets are safe with the two of us,” she added.

Mom handed me the cool cloth and got up off the bed. She walked to the door, pulling it closed, and the two of them left me to rest. I was sure that I wasn’t fooling either of them. They weren’t dumb, they’d be able to put two and two together. My questions about Clay, the sound of my voice, surely would have given the answer away as to who the father was. I just prayed they’d keep the secret away from my brother.