“This is the funniest part.” Not really, but I’m trying to make light of the situation. “I’m pretty sure it happened when we were in Boston.”
“But you’re on the pill.” Another pause. “Right?”
“Yes. This is why I was afraid to tell you. I was scared you’d think I tried to trick you. We agreed that we wouldn’t try for a baby for at least a year, and then I go and get pregnant.” It was almost a relief, unloading all of that. For the first time in about two weeks, I feel like I can breathe easy again.
“Fable.” His husky voice is thick with emotion. “I can’t freaking believe it.”
“Are you upset?” Fear kicks in again, making my heart beat triple time.
“No. Hell, no,” he says quickly, his voice fierce. “I just … I think I’m in shock. Holy shit, Fable. We’re going to have a baby.”
“I know.” Tears form, slipping from the corners of my eyes. “I’m still shocked, too. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around.”
“And it’s weird, right? That we have that entire fight about having a baby and then bam, you get pregnant. I think that’s a sign.” He goes quiet again and I listen to his breathing, know that he’s still trying to process all of this, the poor guy. My poor, sweet, accepting husband. How did I get so lucky? “It was meant to be, Fable. This baby, us becoming parents at this time in our lives. It’s like God’s will or something.”
“Yes, I-I think so, too,” I say, sniffing discreetly, but he hears me.
“You’re crying, aren’t you?”
“Fine. Yes, I am.” A sob chokes me up and I let it out, beginning to cry in earnest. It takes me a moment to compose myself before I blurt out a string of words. “I was so afraid you’d be mad and think I tried to trap you into this. I have no idea what happened. I can’t tell you if I took a pill too late or what. It just … happened.”
“Birth control pills aren’t one hundred percent foolproof,” he says, Mr. Factoid. “We’ve been taking a risk for years.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“I wish you were with me,” he murmurs, the promise in his voice making my skin sizzle. Helping me momentarily forget my drying tears.
“I wish I were there, too,” I confess.
“Are you feeling okay?”
The question makes me laugh, because I have been the complete opposite of feeling okay. “No. This little booger does its damnedest to make me miserable on a daily basis.”
“How? Holy shit, Fable, I can’t believe you haven’t told me until now that you’re pregnant. All this time I could’ve helped you … do you need anything? Do you want me to come home?” He sounds panicked, and I immediately reassure him.
“No, I’m fine, really, and I have Owen. He’ll help me if I need it. And I have Jen. I just get morning sickness, like all the time, and I’m really tired.”
He doesn’t sound convinced, but he gives in. “Fine. Okay. As long as you’re all right.” Drew pauses and my heart lightens. He just wants to make sure I’m all right and I adore him for that. “I’m sorry, baby. I’d take care of you if I were there. Give you whatever you need.”
“I know.” I smile. “I’ll come see you when you get back.”
“No, I’ll come see you. It’s your lucky day because I have a bye week next week and no game to play,” he says.
“Really?” Hope lights my chest, filling it with warmth. A bye week means my husband won’t have a game to play or practice for. He can have a few extra days off. “Oh my God, Drew, that’s such great timing.”
“I know, baby. I’ll be home Monday. And I’ll take care of you all week, okay? I promise.”
“Okay.” I sniff again, more tears falling. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Fuck, I can’t believe I’m going to be a dad.”
I burst out laughing, even through the tears. “Well, get over it because it’s true. You so are.”
“And you’re going to be a mom.” His voice softens, full of wonder. “We’re going to have a baby, Fable.”
“Yes, I know. A baby, Drew. You’re going to be a daddy.”
“I didn’t even ask when you’re due.”
“I figure mid-June.” I sniff again. “Isn’t that perfect? You won’t be playing, you won’t be at training camp. I’ll have you all to myself, the both of us anxiously awaiting his birth.”
“His birth, huh?”
“Yeah, I think it’s a boy.” I love the idea of a mini Drew.
“What if it’s a girl?”
“I don’t care, as long as the baby is healthy,” I say truthfully.
“Amen to that,” he agrees, his voice soft and full of sincerity. “I love you, Fable. So damn much.”
His words mean so much to me, as does his easy acceptance. Why had I been so scared? Did I really believe he’d think I tried to trick him? He has more faith in me than that. I’m the one who lacks faith—in myself. “I love you, too. Call me tomorrow after practice, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
Drew
I spend the next few days walking around in a daze. At practice, I go through the motions; I talk to people, including the publicity team, who draw me into a twenty-minute meeting as to how we’re going to handle this entire “Fable Callahan is pregnant” thing. That’s what they actually call it. The Fable Callahan Is Pregnant event, or some such shit. They want to capitalize on it. Make me out to be a wholesome family guy who’s madly in love with his wife and taking care of her brother.