Nodding, I walked out of the room to the bathroom. Would it? I read the instructions to make sure I would know what the result meant and sat down to pee on the stick.
As soon as I finished I washed my hands and opened the door. A little person, half me and half Cole. The idea was perfect, but the reality? What if something happened to the child?
Cole paced outside the bathroom, wearing a hole in the carpet. “I’m scared,” I admitted, gripping the stick in my hand. A little blue cross would change our whole lives forever. He opened his arms, and I eagerly stepped into them. “What if I’m pregnant?”
“Then we’ll need to finally sort that second bedroom out.” That was it? No freak outs, just we’ll need to decorate?! “Oakley, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to get engaged, married, and have kids. I don’t care what order that comes in.”
I laughed through my tears. “You’re greedy.”
“Never said I wasn’t. Please don’t worry. Whatever happens I’ll always be here to protect you, and any children we have. Should we look now or…”
“Will you?” I croaked, holding the test out.
He nodded and took it from me. Cocking his head to the side, he frowned. What did that mean? “How do you tell? It doesn’t say anything. There’s a line in the ‘test’ window and a cross in the other one.”
I gasped and grabbed it out of his hand. A cross! It was positive. “What does that mean, Oakley? Negative? Why can’t it just say Pregnant or Not-Pregnant? Where’s the instructions?” He looked behind me, into the bathroom for the box.
“Cole,” I whispered. “A cross means positive.” His mouth dropped open. Oh God, I’m pregnant!
“We’re gonna have a baby? Wow.” He leapt forward and scooped me up in his arms, spinning me around. “Shit, I’m gonna be a dad!”
I couldn’t help laughing, getting caught up in his celebration. When he put me down he had the biggest smile, one that lit up his whole face and showed his dimple. He stroked the side of my face. I took a shaky breath; my knees felt weak. We were going to be parents. In that instant, I knew that I would do anything to protect this little life inside me. It would be okay because the baby would have us.
“We’re having a baby,” he repeated.
Cole’s hand trailed down my neck and chest and rested on my stomach. I bit my lip. It seemed like a dream. Smiling, he slowly bent his head and pressed his lips softly against mine.