A Baby In The House

“Would you rather sit outside by the pool?” she asked when Krystal glanced through the patio door.

“No, this feels good.” As she passed the family room she saw a piano. “Where did that come from?”

“Joe’s parents bought it for Emily.” She nudged her toward the kitchen. “You sit while I make us some tea and get you something to eat. What sounds good?”

“Nothing,” she answered honestly.

Carly grinned. “I know that feeling. How about if I toast you an English muffin? I have some fresh raspberry jam.”

Krystal shrugged. “That’s fine.” She took a seat at the breakfast counter on one of the tall stools and watched her sister move about a kitchen that looked like something out of a magazine.

“So tell me what happened at Mom’s,” Carly ordered as she set two china cups on the counter.

“What did she tell you?”

“Not very much,” she answered, filling the teakettle.

Krystal knew her sister was being diplomatic. “You don’t need to worry about my feelings, Carly. I know Mom’s upset. I’m sure she sees my being pregnant as just another one of the many things I’ve done to disappoint her.”

“We both know she has high expectations of us,” she noted.

“Yes, well her expectations were met when it came to you. You have a beautiful house, a great husband, and an adorable daughter.” She sighed, not out of envy but because she knew it was the truth. Carly had fulfilled their mother’s dream for her. She, on the other hand, hadn’t even come close.

Carly frowned. “She didn’t drag my name into it, did she?”

“No, she didn’t say anything at all. There was no time. I blurted out, I’m pregnant, she slapped me and gave me this wounded look, then I left.”

Carly gasped. “She slapped you? She didn’t tell me that!”

“It’s probably not something she wants to admit.” The memory was enough to make Krystal’s eyes misty. “If there was one thing Mom never did to us when we were growing up it was hit us.”

“No, which means she must be really upset to strike you now,” Carly concluded.

“She’s upset? What about me? How does she think I feel?” They were rhetorical questions she didn’t expect her sister to answer. “The one time in my life when I could really use her understanding, she treats me as if I’ve shamed her.”

“You haven’t shamed anybody.”

“Tell that to her.”

“I already did. I’m on your side, Krys. You ought to know that. I always have been.” She reached for Krystal’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Thanks, but I don’t want to put you in the middle between me and Mom.”

“Isn’t that where I am anyway?”

Krystal nodded soberly. They both knew that their mother had put them in that position by setting “married with children” as a standard by which she judged her daughters. Krystal knew it made Carly just as uncomfortable as it did her, but there was really nothing they could do about it.

“Part of the problem is she takes everything so personally,” Carly continued. “As if every mistake we make is her fault.”

“You mean every mistake I make,” Krystal corrected her. “Let’s face it. I’m the one who was always getting into trouble. And she hasn’t liked one single boyfriend I’ve brought home.” Her voice broke as she struggled not to cry.

“I can sure tell you’re pregnant.” Carly handed her a tissue.

Krystal blew her nose. “I thought I was emotional before I got pregnant. Now it’s ten times worse.”

“Maybe it’s better if we don’t talk about Mom. Let’s talk about you.”

“Then for sure I’ll be mopping up the tears,” she warned her.

“Aw, come on. It can’t be that bad.” Carly came around to Krystal’s side of the counter and put her arm around her. “Where’s that ‘the glass is always half full’ sister of mine?”

“She discovered her glass is almost empty,” she said miserably.

“No, it isn’t,” Carly contradicted her. “You are going to be a mother, Krystal. That in itself is a miracle and a blessing.”

“I know, but right now I’m having trouble seeing the blessing part,” she confessed.

“Of course you are. It’s too early in your pregnancy for you to see this as anything but unexpected and scary. But you have a little person growing inside you. Someone who’s going to be so happy to have you for a mom.”

She sniffled. “Someone’s who going to wish I also had a husband.”

“Listen to me.” Carly grabbed Krystal by the shoulders and forced her to look into her eyes. “You don’t need a husband to be a good mother. And your baby has a father—a man you’ve told me is a good guy and one you know won’t turn his back on his child.”

Krystal nodded. “I know. I’m trying to stay positive about all of this, but it’s just such a big mess.”

“A mess that can be straightened out,” Carly stated reassuringly. “I know you want to wait until after Dena’s wedding to tell Garret about the baby, but I wish you’d do it now. You need to know what he plans to do. His reassurance that he’s going to be a part of the baby’s life would ease some of the stress you’re feeling. Plus then you wouldn’t have to keep this big secret from everyone.”

“You’re right. I will feel better once Garret knows, but I have to wait to tell him, Carly,” she insisted. “Do you realize what it’s going to be like at 14 Valentine Place when everybody hears of this pregnancy? Leonie’s the unsuspecting grandmother who lives downstairs, Samantha’s the unsuspecting girlfriend who lives upstairs, and Dena’s stuck in the middle trying to plan a wedding, one in which most of the Donovan family has a part. In a few weeks she’ll be married and it won’t matter what’s going on in the house, but for now I don’t want my problems spoiling what should be a happy time for Dena.”

“All right.” Carly hopped down off the stool to tend to the teakettle that whistled on the stove. “I won’t bug you about it again. Let’s talk about something fun. Tell me about the wedding. I want to know all the details. It’s not every day my sister’s a bridesmaid in a professional hockey player’s wedding.”

Krystal told her about the wedding shower and just about everything she could think of that Dena had told her about her plans, including the list of celebrities and professional athletes who’d be attending. It was the diversion Krystal needed to forget about the scene with her mother.

When Joe didn’t come home for dinner, Carly ordered a pizza for the two of them. By the time they’d finished, they were laughing and they’d forgotten the tears that had been shed earlier in the day. Even though she’d had the scene with her mother, Krystal was glad she’d driven to Fergus Falls for the day. Carly gave her something no one else could—a sister’s love and understanding.

When it came time for her to leave, she wasn’t surprised when her sister said, “I think you should go back to Mom’s. She cares about you, Krys.”

“Don’t you ever get tired of playing peacemaker between me and Mom?”

“Uh-uh. I love you both. And I know she loves you. And if you had heard her on the phone today, you’d know she does, too.”

Krystal sighed. “I’m not sure she’s ever going to speak to me again.”

“Of course she will.”

Krystal looked down at her fingers. “You didn’t see the look in her eyes when I told her I was pregnant.”

“You broke the most important rule she ever set for us. Do as I say, don’t do what I’ve done.”