“Oh God,” I looked down at the stick to make sure that it said what I thought it did. I shook it, tipped it upside down and sideways, anything possible to make sure. And it did, “Oh God, oh God, oh God…” my stomach turned in knots as the panic set in.
Looking at myself in the mirror, none of this felt possible. Being 25, I’d always told myself and my family that I would be at least 30 before considering children. This was despite my parent’s constant badgering that they wanted a grandkid right now. I boggled my mind trying to figure out what I could have done wrong. I took my pill every night at precisely 9:30. When there was any doubt or either of us felt sick, we always used alternative forms of birth control too. Yet here I stood, 3 weeks late.
“You aren’t patient enough to have children. Think about it, that woman at the grocery store cut you off this morning and you cussed her out like a sailor. You can’t talk like that in front of a baby! Not to mention this house,” I looked from my reflection to the rest of the condo Evan and I had called home for the past 3 years of marriage. While it was great for a starter home for Evan, myself, and our two cats Willow and Piznarski, it was in no way large enough to raise a family in.
In the distance my phone began singing. I threw the pregnancy test into the trash and did the usual dance throughout the house until I found it, “Hello?” I answered breathlessly.
“Olivia! Mom and dad are going to kill me,” It was Annalise, my 21 year old sister with a flair for the dramatic. She’d been in New York attending Parson’s School of Design for the past couple of years. As far as we could tell she loved it, but she never told us much.
“Anna, will you just chill out! You aren’t the only one with a problem right now,” Taking a deep breath I attempt to start over, “What’s going on?” I made my way to the living room and sat on the sofa.
“I can’t come home for Christmas. I know mom and dad already bought the plane ticket but my boss is harping on me and there’s absolutely no way-“
“I’m pregnant!” The words spewed from my mouth before I had a chance to swallow them.
“Olivia Jade, you have got to be kidding me!” Her voice rose, squeaky with excitement, “How long have you known? What did Evan say? Have you told mom and dad yet?”
“No, I just found out. Literally. I haven’t had a chance to tell Evan or even process this information for myself!”
“YES! There’s nothing like being the first one to hear the greatest news ever!”
“Anna stop, this isn’t a good thing,” I tried but at this point she was already singing.
“I’m gonna be an aunt! I’m gonna be an aunt!” In my head I pictured her twirling around the room with her arms doing the cabbage patch. I had to admit a smile broke through.
