Page 28 of Unexpected

“Mom.” I interrupted her mid-question. I understood why she was freaking out, and I felt bad for alarming her.

“I’m just…tired. Chasing after a rambunctious six-year-old is hard work,” I said, hoping my answer would reassure her.

“You’re sure? Do you think we need to set up an appointment with Dr. Patel?” I heard her voice wobble, even as she tried to cover it.

“I’m fine, really.”

“Okay, but—”

“I know. And I’ll schedule an appointment if I need to,” I said.

“Thank you,” she sighed, and I could sense her relief through the phone. “Don’t wait for your six-month scan. If you think you need to be seen sooner, go sooner.”

I understood her concern, but still… “Okay, Mom.”

“Any updates on Sam?” she asked, knowing he’d started another round of treatment.

I shook my head before remembering she couldn’t see me. “He’s struggling. Indy says he’s losing a lot of weight.”

“Hmm,” she said, and we both knew that wasn’t good. “Let me know if I can do anything.”

“I will.” I appreciated the offer, even if I wasn’t sure there was much that could be done. It was heartbreaking to watch a friend struggle, to know their pain, their fear. “So, what’s up with you? How’s Dad?” I lay down on the couch, tucking an arm beneath my head.

“Good. Good,” she said, sounding lighter. “I want to hear more about your adventures with Sophia.”

I laughed. “Today we went to the children’s museum. She loved it. She’s so inquisitive and clever. And man is she funny.”

Mom laughed, and I felt myself relax. “You were just like that at her age.”

“Yeah?”

“And you were always so sweet to the other kids, especially the littler ones. Which is why it doesn’t surprise me at all that you’re a nanny.” I felt my chest warm from her comment.

“It doesn’t embarrass you that your twenty-six-year-old son is a nanny?” I asked.

“No,” she said immediately. “It’s a noble job. What you do is hard work. To love a child, to care for them as if they were your own, but ultimately to know you’ll say goodbye—that’s not an easy thing to do.”

I nodded, knowing how much I’d miss Sophia when the summer was over. Gabby would come back from Colombia, and I would return to classes full time. And Alexis… I sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

It wasn’t something I wanted to discuss, especially not with my mom. “Nothing. I should probably get going.”

“Wait,” she said. “A letter arrived for you from the university. I didn’t open it, but it looks important. Do you want me to forward it to you?”

“Can you just tell me what it says?”

“Of course.”

I could hear the sound of paper tearing and then a pause. She sucked in a shaky breath, and my anxiety grew with every moment that passed.

“What is it?” My heart pounded, and I bolted upright. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, honey.” I knew from the tone of her voice that I wasn’t going to like what she’d say next. But I was completely unprepared for the words that came out of her mouth. “Your scholarship. It’s gone,” she whispered.

My eyes went wide, and I leaped up from the couch. “What do you mean…gone?”

I was trying not to panic as I paced the floor. Surely there must be some mistake. I needed those funds. I was counting on them to finish my final year of school.