Page 82 of The Texas Ranger: Saddled Up
“We have but you did ask.”
“I promise to not overreact.” Aasia stiffened as she waited to hear what Phoebe needed to divulge.
Phoebe smiled faintly, “Can I trust that?”
“You’re acting weird.” She picked up her cup and took a careful sip, her gaze fixated on her sister who was being silly.
“I’ve decided I want to go to college to become an art teacher. Pedora said she would help me with tuition at the community college, and I could live here. I’ve already applied to several jobs in Fin’s Creek.”
“That’s wonderful news, but why was that so hard to admit?”
“I’m pregnant,” Phoebe blurted.
Aasia laughed then realized Phoebe was dead serious. A sharp, choked gasp slipped from Aasia’s throat. The mug slipped from her grip, hitting the table with a cracking sound, splashingcoffee onto the table and poor Sammich who jumped onto the floor to flick the wetness off his ears.
“You promised you wouldn’t overreact.” Phoebe plucked a napkin from the holder on the table and blotted the coffee from her face.
Three heartbeats of silence lingered between them. Aasia couldn’t seem to work any words around the clog in her throat. Finally, she managed… “You’re having a baby?”
“Well, it’s certainly not a puppy,” Phoebe joked.
“Are you sure?”
“That it’s not a puppy?”
“That you’re pregnant?” The news was a bit overwhelming to Aasia. She grabbed a handful of napkins from the holder and wiped up the spill.
“Yes, I am.”
Aasia jumped up from her chair so fast she knocked it to the floor with a loud bang. She launched herself over to Phoebe and dragged her in for a tight hug. Both started to cry—tears of joy. They clung to each other, realizing the magnitude of the journey ahead.
“What in tarnation is happening in here?”
At the sound of Pedora’s thunderous question, Aasia pulled back, looking at the older woman through more tears. “Sorry. Did we wake you?”
“Did someone break in?” Pedora pointed her gaze from the broken mug to the upturned chair to Aasia’s wet face.
“No. No one broke in.” Aasia looked to Phoebe, silently questioning whether she wanted to spill the news to their aunt.
Phoebe nodded and sucked in a breath of bravery. “I was just telling Aasia my secret. I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Pedora’s eyes widened behind the thick glasses. “You? Having a baby?”
“She’s not having a puppy,” Aasia said through laughter.
“For heaven’s sake. This calls for celebration. I’ll grab the ‘shine. No, wait. That won’t work. Not with a bun in the oven. I’ll make French toast. Just the way you girls like it. Sprinkles. Whipped cream. Chocolate shavings.” Pedroa raced around the kitchen gathering the ingredients she’d need to make her famous breakfast.
“Is she going to be alright?” Phoebe whispered, watching Pedora bounce around in a flurry.
“She’ll be fine. When she gets excited like this, she needs to work off all the restless energy.”
“Are you happy? Not angry?”
Aasia met Phoebe’s worried gaze. “Angry? Why would I be angry?”
Several expressions flicked over her features before she leaned in and whispered, “Because I don’t know if I’ll keep the baby.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
