Anything but Normal - Melody Carlson [57]
Sophie pressed her lips together and looked down at her nearly blank notepad. So much for the Christmas story. There was a long silence, finally broken by the loud blowing of Leah’s nose.
“Sorry,” Leah muttered. “I didn’t mean to lose it.”
“It’s okay.” Sophie closed her notebook.
“So . . . are we done now? I mean, I think I’ve said way more than enough.”
“Yeah, we’re done. Thanks.” They both stood, then Sophie reached out and put a hand on Leah’s arm. “Things aren’t always what they seem, Leah.”
Leah looked slightly confused, but she nodded like she got it.
“I’ll see you after Christmas, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” There was a strong note of cynicism in Leah’s voice as she turned to leave.
Sophie held on to Leah’s arm. “Wait a minute.”
“Huh?” Leah looked startled. “What’s wrong?”
“I will see you after Christmas, Leah.”
“Yeah, sure . . . whatever.”
“I mean I’ll see you here—here in the pregnancy center.”
“Another article?”
“No.” Sophie’s heart was pounding. “I’ll be coming here.”
“Oh, let me guess. You’re going to do one of those assignments where the reporter comes in and pretends to be one of us for a day or two?” Leah rolled her eyes. “Wear one of those pregnancy packs?”
“No, Leah. I mean I’ll be here as one of you.” Sophie couldn’t believe she was about to say it. “I’m pregnant.”
Leah looked skeptical. “Yeah, right.”
“I really am.” Sophie pulled up her baggy shirt, exposing her rounded tummy.
“Oh.” Leah’s eyes grew wide.
“I’m not even a full five months yet, but I’m showing.”
“Yeah.” Leah nodded. “You are.”
“And you’re the first person I’ve told.”
She blinked. “Really?”
Sophie pulled her shirt back down. “Really. So I’d appreciate it if you’d keep it quiet for now.”
“I understand.”
“I planned to tell my family this week . . . but it’s been hard finding the right moment.”
“Good luck with that.” Leah shook her head in a dismal way.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Suddenly Leah reached out and hugged Sophie. “It’ll be okay. You’ll get through it. Somehow we’ll all get through it. Right?”
Sophie had tears in her own eyes now. “I hope so.”
17
Sophie had been praying for an opportune moment to break the news to her parents. When her mom came home from work early, it seemed the time had come.
“I need to talk to you.” Sophie was sitting at the kitchen table, watching her mom put away a few groceries.
“Sure, hon.” Mom closed the fridge door, then reached for a box of Raisin Bran.
“Uh, you might want to sit down.”
Mom turned and looked at Sophie. “Something wrong?” Sophie felt the blood draining from her face as she nodded.
Mom set the cereal on the counter and came over to the table. “What is it? Something bad happen at school? You didn’t wreck the car, did you?” She shook her head. “No, I saw it on the street. It was—”
“Mom.” Sophie wanted to break the rambling flow of her mom’s words.
“What is it?”
“I’m pregnant.”
Mom’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“I said, I’m pregnant.”
“Are you just jerking my chain, Sophie, because if you are, this isn’t even a tiny bit funny.”
“I’m totally serious.”
Mom reached for a kitchen stool, slowly lowering herself onto it with her eyes locked onto Sophie. “You’re pregnant?”
Sophie just nodded, waiting for the full realization of this to sink in.
“You’re really pregnant?” Mom shook her head in disbelief. “How is that even possible?”
Sophie frowned. “I think you know all about the birds and the bees by now, Mom.”
“No, I mean, how is that possible?” Mom’s voice was louder now. “Sophie, you don’t even have a boyfriend. How can you possibly be pregnant?”
“If discussing and analyzing this could change the outcome, I’d be all for it. But the hard fact is that I am pregnant.”
“What about your purity pledge?”
“Unfortunately it’s not an inoculation