Homecoming: A Secret Baby Romance (6 page)

I
was
a nervous wreck the next day. Though I knew in my heart I was pregnant as I had all the classic signs, taking a test would confirm it without a doubt, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t actually done it yet. I think I was mostly afraid that if I really wasn’t pregnant, I would have screwed up Max’s plans all for nothing. The thought terrified me.

“Nikki, can you watch over the food until I get back?” my mother asked as I stepped into the kitchen. The aroma of meat, pasta and baking bread wafted to my nostrils, making my stomach growl. I was extra hungry and hadn’t eaten anything all day. “We’re out of the special dressing that Jerry likes, and I need to run to the store and get some.”

I’d just got back from the drug store with a pregnancy test stuffed inside my purse to find mom cooking dinner. The plan was to take the test and then show Max the results when he returned from an emergency meeting he was having with some military official.

“I was just at the store, Mom,” I replied, feeling a little bit nervous because of what I had in my purse. “I could’ve gotten it for you.”

My mom, who was wearing an apron over a faded red dress, stared at me. “How the heck was I supposed to know that? I never even saw you leave the house, I was too busy cooking.” She peered at me. “Is Max back yet?”

I wiped at the sweat that was beginning to beat my brow. She had it sweltering in the kitchen, but I was also probably sweating because I was nervous. “No. He should back any minute, though. He said the meeting wouldn’t be long.”

She shook her head. “I’m so worried about that boy. I hope he doesn’t get into deep trouble for what he did.”

“I think he’ll be alright, at least I hope. But anyway, I’m sorry about not checking in with you before I left,” I apologized. After all the trouble I’d caused for Max, I was trying my best to be as polite and helpful as I could to everyone around me. “Would you like me to go back out and get what you need?”

She waved me away. “No, that’s alright. There are a few other things that I need to grab that you won’t want to be bothered with.”

“Well, what is it? I’ll get it,” I insisted.

“It’s okay, baby,” My mom assured me. “I just need you to watch over the food until I get back.”

I knew she must have been getting something top-secret, maybe something involving her sex life with Jerry, that she didn’t want me to know about so I dropped the issue. “Okay, Mom.”

She beamed at me, victorious. “Thanks, honey.” Untying her apron, she walked over to the stove and turned a knob. I’m going to turn this up on high but I’ll need you to turn it down . . .” She looked at the time on the overhang microwave. “In about ten minutes. Can you do that?”

“Absolutely.”

“Excellent. Be back in about thirty minutes, right before Jerry gets home.”

My mom gave me a quick peck on the cheek and scurried out of the house.

“She must really have something up her sleeve,” I muttered.

Going over to the microwave, I set the timer for ten minutes. After, I made my way to the living room and sat down my purse. Grabbing the remote, I turned on the TV and turned to the sports channel, Max and Jerry loved watching sports after they ate.

With how tense things had gotten between Max and his father, I was hoping a little male bonding would help out. I was just about to make my way upstairs and take the pregnancy test when Max arrived back home.

“Max,” I greeted him, my heart beginning to pound in my chest. “How did everything go?”

He looked sexy as hell, dressed in tight fitting jeans and a black, short-sleeved t-shirt that showed off his powerful biceps. His strong jawline looked as smooth as a baby’s bottom from his early-morning shave.

“It smells good in here,” Max replied, ignoring my question.

“Mom’s cooking dinner,” I said. “She just left out to go get the special dressing that your dad loves so much.”

And probably a few other things as well, I thought. “Good, I’m absolutely starving.” Max walked over and flopped down on the couch.

I placed my hands on my hips. “Well?” I demanded.

“Well, what?”

“What happened?”

“Luckily my paperwork hasn’t been put in the system yet. I explained my situation about my girlfriend possibly being pregnant. My CO was pretty understanding, and I’m supposed to call him back in a couple hours.”

“Okay.”

Max looked at me. “Did you get it?”

Instantly, I knew what he was talking about and I slowly nodded.

“Then what are you waiting for?” Max’s voice was filled with anxiousness.

I swallowed. “I’m telling you now, I’m pregnant. The test is going to be useless.”

“How can you know that if you never took one?”

“Because I know.”

Max shook his head. “That’s not good enough, Nikki, and you know it. I need to know for sure.”

I was really upset about how much Max was emphasizing that he would only stay if he knew I was pregnant. That’s how I get myself into this mess to begin with, I thought. Wanting Max to stay so badly that I lost all rational thought.

“Fine,” I said finally, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “I’ll take the damn test.” I know I should’ve been falling on my knees to do as Max wanted, but in truth I dreaded taking the test, fearing that I might’ve been wrong all this time.

I grabbed my purse and fished out the box. Then I got up to go to the bathroom down the hall. Filled with dread, I turned and made my way to the bathroom. Once inside, I took a deep breath and opened it.

“God help me if I’ve been wrong,” I muttered.

The whole process was only a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity waiting for the results to show up.

When the results came up, I gasped with relief.

I was pregnant.

“
W
hat were the results
?” Max asked immediately when I stepped back into the living room.

“Just like I said. I’m pregnant.”

Max was silent for a moment. “Let me see.”

I had to admit, Max’s response hurt. “You don’t trust me?” I know I had my nerve asking such a question given all that I’d done, but it still bothered me.

“I shouldn’t, but I do. I just need to see it for myself.”

“Okay, I’ll show you.” I took him back in the bathroom and showed him the pregnancy test.

“Those two lines mean that it’s positive,” I told him pointing at the screen.

His eyes were wide as he stared at the pregnancy test. “See? I wasn’t lying. I’d never lie about something like that.”

Max shook his head. “Alright. Well, that confirms it. I’m staying.”

A rush of relief swept through my body.

“I just don’t know what we’re going to do about it now, though. We have so much to worry about. Our parents think I’m a basket case, and you’re pregnant with my child. When this all is over, I might really be crazy.”

I wanted badly to comfort Max, wanted to assure him that everything would be okay.

“We’ll think of something,” I said, pulling him in close. Though Max wasn’t staying totally for me, I was still happy.

I kissed him hard on the lips. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for forgiving me for my terrible mistake and staying for our baby.” The words our baby made me feel incredibly light and fuzzy inside, probably my hormones at work.

I pulled away, turning to throw the pregnancy test away, but Max grabbed me by the arm and the small device flew out of my hand and into the sink.

I gazed at Max with surprise as he pulled me back close, pressing his hard body up against mine. I felt his huge bulge pressing up against his thigh. He pressed me up against the counter, and smashed his lips into mine, forcing his tongue into my mouth. I reached down and grabbed his ass, feeling the hard, firm muscles beneath his jeans. “This is one good thing about staying home,” he said in between passionate kisses and twisting tongues, “I can fuck you whenever I want.”

“Not quite whenever, but close enough” I managed to get out.

His lips quickly found my neck as his hands roamed all over my body. I threw back my head, moaning in his ears, my hands moving up his powerful back.

Grabbing me by the ass, Max picked me up and sat me down on the counter. Kissing me again, he ran his hands down to my thighs and then up my skirt. Deftly, he pulled my soaked panties aside and stroked at my throbbing nub.

I groaned, my head going back against the mirror above the counter.

I’d had enough, no more playing around. I needed a release. “Give it to me,” I begged. “Give me that big dick.”

Max began unbuttoning his pants. He grabbed my thighs, spreading them out wide. He was just about to penetrate me when a loud sound went off.

Max winced as the smoke alarm was going off. “What the hell?”

“Oh shit!” I cried, suddenly remembering. “The food.”

Pushing Max away, I slid off the counter and rushed into the kitchen, horrified. Smoke was everywhere. Coughing, I quickly turned everything off and turned on the microwave fan.

Meanwhile. Max rushed out of the bathroom and disabled the fire alarm.

“God, that thing was fucking annoying,” he complained after he got the damn thing to turn off. “Is the food okay?”

“I doubt it,” I said, coughing and fanning in front of me, I could hardly see. “Mom is going to kill me.”

Max gazed at me, and even through the smoke I could tell it was with longing. “How long did you say she was going to be gone?”

I coughed again. “About thirty. It’s had to be close to that by now since she left. That leaves us with no time because I have to try to salvage what’s left of the food and will need your help getting this smoke out of here.”

Max scowled. “Damn. Later then.”

I smiled and agreed. “Later.”

* * *

“
N
ikki said
you’ve been having some problems, son,” Jerry remarked at the dinner table. “That you’ve been battling some terrible demons. Is that the reason why you didn’t get on the flight?

We were all eating dinner. Fortunately, the food hadn’t turned out too bad, thank goodness. Only a few pieces of the chicken were burnt. And by the time mom returned, Max and I had been able to clear out all of the smoke. Mom said something about the food being burned, but that’s it.

“Well, Nikki’s wrong,” Max growled, taking a bite out of a large piece of his fried chicken.

Jerry ignored Max’s ungracious response. “You know if you have a problem, you can talk to us anytime.”

Max continued to eat, not bothering to reply. I sent a quick nudge under the table at Max’s feet. He looked over at me and I gave him a ‘c’mon expression’. There was no reason for him to be rude with his dad. His dad had no clue that I’d lied on Max to protect our secret.

“You know,” Jerry continued. “I’m worried about what will happen with you not showing up.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Max replied flatly. “I’m handling it.”

My mom reached across the table. “Max, honey, come on. Don’t be this way with your father. I mean, we hear all the time about people coming back from the service with problems like this. Some, if they don’t get the help they need, can wind up hurting themselves or others around them.”

Oh god.

Now I could understand why Max was being so rude. Dealing with my lie was going to be a headache.

And to make matters worse, it’s all my fault why they are doing this to him. I found it amazing that Max had forgiven me through all of it.

Max clenched his jaw, looking absolutely frustrated. “Look, I’m fine. I don’t know why Nikki told you guys that, but I don’t need help. Yeah, I’ve had a few issues while being deployed, but nothing you guys should worry about.”

“I think Max just needs a little time off is all,” I blurted. I wanted to try and get them off Max’s back before he exploded on them and the truth of what was really going on somehow came out — we definitely didn’t need that yet. “Can we just eat for now and talk about this stuff later?”

My parents stared at me as if surprised I’d suggest such a thing.

Mother broke the tense silence a moment later saying, “I guess I’ll go take a quick tinkle. The wine moved right through me.” Pushing back her seat, she got up and left the table.

I guess Jerry saw that as a hint to keep laying into Max.

“Provided that you’re not in trouble with the military, I’m going to set you up with a therapist,” Jerry said.

“Gee, thanks, Dad,” Max growled sarcastically. “But I don’t need it.”

“It’ll be good for you.”

The two began bickering with each other, not quite shouting yet, but getting there.

“Cut it, you two!” my mom snapped as she stepped back into the dining room. She walked over and sat back down in her seat, grabbing her glass and taking a huge gulp of wine.

Mom glanced between the two men. “Can we just please get off this now, Jerry? Max obviously doesn’t want to talk about this right now, so let’s not ruin dinner.”

Jerry stared long and hard at his son. “All right.”

I was so busy staring at Max, trying to tell him with my eyes to just go along with it for arguments sake, that I barely heard my mom’s next words.

“Besides, we have bigger things to talk about.”

A confused expression came over Jerry’s face. “What do you mean?”

Staring at me while shaking her head, she took something out of her lap and placed it on the edge of the table.

Oh my god.

Across from me, Max’s eyes went wide and his face turned white.

“Nikki, my dear,” my mom said, her voice low and dangerous-sounding.

“Yes?” I felt like I was going to throw up.

She pointed at the pregnancy test sitting right in front of her. “Care to explain this?”