One More Chance (Chance, Part 2) (11 page)

Chapter Seven

The first month of my internship has been amazing. I absolutely love my job.  I get to interview people, as well as travel around the city.  London is breathtaking and I wish I wouldn’t have to leave to go back home in two months.

“You need to tell Mom and D
ad,” Kenzie says frustrated.

“I know, I’m going to now, I’m just nervous,” I say before picking up my cell phone.

“It will be fine.”

“Sure, easy for you to say,” I state as I dial the house number.

“Hey sweetie,” Mom says, obviously looking at the caller ID.

“Hi M
om,” I say nervously.

“How’s London?”

“Amazing.  Kenzie and I went site seeing and it’s so beautiful here.”

“Make sure to take pictures, I want to hear all about it when you come home,” she says jubilantly.

“I will, Kenzie’s going crazy with taking photos, so there will be lots to show you.”

“Good.  How’s the job going?” she asks every time we talk.

“Great, I love it,” I say trying to sound excited.

“Sweetie, what’s going on?” she asks
, calling me out.

“Mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Okay, what is it?” she asks worriedly.

“I’m pregnant,” I squeak out.

“Pregnant, what?  Since when?” she asks sounding anything but thrilled.

“
I got pregnant in December,” I state truthfully.

“December,” she practically yells, ‘It’s June Haley, why are you just now telling me?”

Tears start flowing quickly, “Mom, I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean to let you down.”

“Sweetie,” she says in a calmer voice, “You didn’t let me down, I just didn’t expect it.  I wish you would have told me sooner.”

“I didn’t want to disappoint you,” I say through the tears.

“You aren’t disappointing me or your father.  Tell me about your pregnancy honey.”

“I didn’t find out I was pregnant until March, but I found out I’m having a little girl,” I say excitedly.

“A baby girl?”
Mom coos.

“Yeah, and I plan to name her Lily.”

“That’s a beautiful name sweetheart.”

“Thanks
Mom. I’m due at the end of September, so I’ll be back in plenty of time before she’s born,” I say reassuring Mom.

“Sweetie, that’s great and I’m glad to hear it, but
Haley who is the father?” she asks softly.

“Umm…,” I stutter.

“Haley, you can tell me anything you know that.  What’s going on?”

“I need you to not tell
anyone, not yet anyway, please Mom,” I beg.

“I won’t tell anyone, but tell me what is going on,” she says a little more demanding now.

“Liam’s the father; he doesn’t know it yet though.”

“What?  But he’s with Nina.”

“I know, but Mom, you can’t tell Denise or anyone.  Please Mom.”

“I won’t, but I will be telling your father.  You need to tell Liam
sweetie.  I don’t like the idea of keeping things, especially something this important from Denise. She deserves to know she’s going to be a grandmother too.”

“I know and they will both know soon, I promise.”

“Are you back with Liam?” she asks confused.

“No, Liam is with Nina.”

“I don’t want to know how it happened, that’s none of my business.  I do want to know what’s going on from now on with your pregnancy.  Keep me posted Haley.”

“I will, I promise.
I love you Mom.”

“I love you too sweetheart.  I’ll talk to you soon,” she says before disconnecting the call.

It feels like a weight has been lifted since telling my parents.

“That didn’t go so bad,” Kenzie says as she stares at me from across the room.

“No it didn’t.  I’m glad they know.”

“You should have told them sooner.”

“Oh well, they know now.”

Just then my phone starts to ring,
“Hey you,” I say to Brody when I answer.

“Hey, how are you doing?”

“I’m great.”

“Good,” he says sounding different.

“What’s going on?”

“I think you need to tell Liam now.”

“Why?” I ask confused.

“Because
Hails, he needs to know.”

“I
know, but what aren’t you telling me Brody?”

“He’s getting married next month.”

“Already?”

“Yeah, before he has to be back for training.”

“Good for him.”

“No Haley
, it’s not.  He needs to know about Lily.”

“Stop it, B
rody!  Why do you think if I tell him, it will stop this wedding?”

“Because I know how he feels and he doesn’t want to get married.”

“Then he shouldn’t get married.  That should have nothing to do with me or Lily.”

“I
just think you should tell him,” he says sounding defeated.

“I get that and I will when I get home.”

“Seriously?” he asks shocked.

“Yes, I thought about it and you guys are right, he does deserve to know.”

“That’s great news.”

“I told my Mom and D
ad today, and that it’s Liam’s,” I admit.

“How did they take it?”

“They were shocked at first, but Mom’s excited.”

“I get that, but I’m glad she’
s excited.  Your Mom loves babies,” he says laughing.

“I know
, right.  She’s going to spoil Lily so bad.”

“That’s what grandparents do though.”

“True.  So how are you and Quinn?”

“Umm, alright,
” he says softly.

“What’s
wrong.”

“I don’t know.
I mean I like her, I really do, but we don’t have a whole hell of a lot in common.”

“That’s not true.”

“Then what do we have in common, Hails?”

“You both love action movies, you are in a fraternity and she’s in a sorority, you both love to drink.   Hmm…you both like the color green.  You both love summertime.  You definitely have more in common than you realize.”

“I guess.”

“
I’m right.”

“Umm…there’s something else,
” he says hesitantly.

“What’s that?”

“Liam asked me to invite you to the wedding,” he says changing subjects.

“I can’t, I’m in London.”

“I know, I told him that.”

“He asked me to ask if you could try and make it.”

“Shit.  When is it?”

“July 21st
.”

“That’s in
three weeks,” I shriek.

“I know.”

“There’s no way I can do that much flying with being pregnant.”

“I know, I was about to say that
, but I stopped myself.”

“Thanks.  I’ll call him later and talk to him.”

“You’re going to tell him over the phone?” he asks surprised.

“No, that’s something I need to do in person
, but I may have to tell him I’m pregnant.”

“K
eep me posted on how he takes that,” he says on a laugh.

“It will be fine.  Dinner’s almost done
, so I will talk to you later.”

“Okay, be safe
Hails.”

“Always,” I say before disconnecting the call.

Kenzie made spaghetti that looks incredible and I can’t wait, because I am beyond famished. “This is delicious,” I say as I stuff my mouth causing my sister to laugh at me.

“I’m glad,” she says as she takes her own bites.  I fill her in on my conversation with Brody and decide to call Liam after dinner.

Once the dishes are washed and put away I grab my phone and dial Liam’s number.  I’m not sure I even have the right number anymore, but when it starts ringing, I have a little hope.

“Hello?”

“Liam?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey, it’s Haley.”

“Oh hey, what’s up?” he asks surprised.

“I talked to Brody a little while ago, so I wanted to give you a call.”

“Okay, how’s London?”

“It’s great.  I love the scenery and the job.”

“That’s great
Hails.”

“But what I was calling for is to let you know that I won’t be abl
e to make it to your wedding.”

“I fig
ured it would be a lot of traveling in a few short days.”

“
It is and in my condition that isn’t really going to work,” I say nervously.

“What do you mean?”

“Liam, I’m pregnant.”

“You’re what?” he asks
, sounding utterly shocked.

“I’m pretty far along too, so it wouldn’t be easy.”

“When are you due?”

“End of
September.”

“That’s
in two months, you can’t fly when you’re that close to birth,” he says, like I’ve lost my mind.

“I know
, but I still have some time.”

“How are you feeling?” he asks kindly.

“I’m tired, but good.  I’m ready to not be pregnant,” I say laughing.

“Why didn’t I know this already?”

“You’re busy; you have your own life going on.”

“Is there anything I can do?”
he asks sweetly.

“Just be happy
.  Do what makes you happy Liam; you deserve that.  I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it, but I’m sure I’ll see you sometime soon.”

“Thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it.”

“Have a good night.”

“You too
Hails,” he says before hanging up.

“You told him?” Kenzie asks looking shocked.

“That I was pregnant yes, not that it’s his.”

“Oh, I missed that part,” she says as she takes a seat. 
“You are getting bigger and bigger by the day woman,” she says as she looks at my growing bump.

“Thanks, like I haven’t noticed or felt it.”

“I think you look cute preggers though.”

“
Glad someone does,” I mumble.

The rest of the evening is us hanging out at the house until I decide to head to bed and Kenzie decides to go out for the night.

Thursday comes quickly and before I know it I’m back at work.

“Haley
, can I see you in my office?” Aidan asks.

“Sure,” I say as I pull myself up and out of my chair.  I waddle across the hall and into his office, “What’s up?”

“Take a seat,” he says as he sits behind his desk.  I do as he asks.

“Everything alright?”
I ask confused.

“It is, but I wanted to talk to you about your plans for the future.”

“Oh, well I’m going to finish the internship out and go home, Lily’s due the end of September, so my best friends are going to help me with her, so I can continue to take my classes and graduate on time.”

“Good, I’m very glad to hear that.  You’re great at your job and if you keep it up you’re only going to get better.  I want to make sure this is what you want to do, because it can be stressful at times.”

“I love my job; it’s definitely what I want to do,” I assure him.

“Good.  I’ve talked to some people and if you finish school
, there will be a job waiting for you.”

“Really?”
I ask shocked.

“Yes.”

“Here in London?” I ask surprised.

“No.  Since you’re having your baby and your family and friends are in the states it’s a sister company to this one.  I’ve told them
about the work you’ve been doing and I’ve also showed them some of the interviews.  They are very impressed.  The job would be in Michigan where you are already living.  Are you planning to stay in Michigan after school or are you planning to move?”

“No, I have a house in Michigan
, so I’ll be staying there.  Thank you so much Aidan, this means the world to me,” I say feeling completely overwhelmed right now.

“You’re welcome, but you did all the work.  I will have everything drawn up for you, paperwork wise, and as long as you graduate
, the job is yours.”

“Thank you so much,” I say as I stand to shake his hand.

“You’re very welcome Haley,” he says with a smile.  I turn to head back to my office, “Oh and Haley?”

“Yes?”

“Your job ends at the end of the month.”