Lahat ng Kabanata ng Pregnant By My Ex-Boyfriend's Father: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

Luna's high school graduation was surreal."How is she eighteen?" I asked Alexander for the hundredth time."Time. Mathematics. Biology.""That's not helpful.""It's accurate."I was forty-seven. Alexander was seventy-three. Our oldest daughter was about to graduate high school and leave for college.Somehow, impossibly, eighteen years had passed since that tiny preemie baby was born.Luna appeared in her cap and gown—red, her school colors."How do I look?""Like you're about to graduate high school and make me feel ancient.""Mama is NOT ancient. Mama is distinguished.""I'm forty-seven. I'm ancient.""Dada is seventy-three. THAT'S ancient.""Hey!" Alexander protested. "I'm distinguished too!""You're both distinguished. Now can we PLEASE take photos? My friends are waiting!"Thomas, fifteen and all teenage attitude, rolled his eyes. "Can we just GO already?"Leo, twelve and still our wild child, was adjusting his tie. "This thing is CHOKING Leo!""It's been five minutes. You'll sur

Luna's wedding day dawned bright and clear.Perfect October weather. Crisp air. Golden sunlight. Like the universe was cooperating."She's getting married today," I said, staring at myself in the mirror.Fifty-three. Mother of the bride. When did that happen?"She is," Alexander confirmed, struggling with his bow tie. "Can you help me with this?""You've been wearing bow ties for sixty years.""Seventy-nine years, actually. And they still defeat me."I fixed his tie. Adjusted his boutonniere. Looked at my husband.Seventy-nine years old. Gray hair. Distinguished lines around his eyes. Still the most handsome man I'd ever seen."You look good," I said."For an almost-octogenarian?""For my husband of twenty-six years.""Twenty-six years. We're old, Bella.""We're experienced.""That's just a nice word for old."---Luna's suite was controlled chaos.Victoria managing hair and makeup. Catherine, now ninety-four and in a wheelchair but still sharp, supervising everything."The flowers ne

The phone rang at 6 AM.Never a good sign.I fumbled for it in the dark, careful not to wake Alexander."Mom?" Luna's voice was shaky. "Are you awake?"I sat up immediately, heart racing. "I am now. What's wrong? Are you hurt?""No. I'm fine. I'm... I'm pregnant."Silence.The word hung in the air between us."Mom? Did you hear me? I'm pregnant.""I heard you." I took a breath, tried to process. "Are you... how do you feel about that?""Terrified. Panicked. Completely freaking out.""Okay. Tell me what's going on.""I just made junior partner three months ago. JUNIOR PARTNER, Mom. I worked six years for this. Marcus is working eighty-hour weeks at the hospital. We barely see each other. Our apartment is the size of a shoebox. And now I'm PREGNANT and I don't know how to do this and—""Luna. Breathe.""I can't breathe! I'm PREGNANT! At the worst possible time! My career is just starting! We're not ready! We don't have a nursery or baby stuff or any idea what we're doing!"I smiled desp

Marcus woke up at 6 AM.Force of habit from years of residency.I felt him slip out of bed, heard him in the kitchen.At 6:30, he was back with a tray."Breakfast in bed for the mother of my child."I sat up, touched. Toast. Scrambled eggs. Orange juice. Ginger tea."You made ginger tea?""Googled 'morning sickness remedies' at 5 AM. Ginger was number one.""It's 6:30. You've been awake since 5?""Couldn't sleep. Too much to think about."That should have been my first warning sign.---By 9 AM, Marcus had created a spreadsheet.An actual spreadsheet."BABY PREPARATION TIMELINE" across the top in bold."Marcus. What is this?""Our plan. Look—Week 8, first doctor's appointment. Week 12, announce to family. Week 16, start nursery planning. Week 20, anatomy scan. Week 24—""You made a spreadsheet for my pregnancy?""Our pregnancy. And yes. We need organization.""It's been twelve hours since you found out.""Exactly. We're already behind."I stared at him. "Behind on what?""Everything!

Sunday dinner at my parents' house.A tradition that had survived twenty-seven years of family chaos.Every Sunday. Six PM. Everyone who could make it showed up.Today, that meant:- Mom and Dad- Thomas and his wife Sophia- Leo (on fall break from college)- Uncle James and Aunt Sarah- Emma (their daughter, my age)- Mason (their son, sixteen)Big group. Big announcement.I was nervous."What if they're not happy?" I asked Marcus in the car."Your mom already knows. She's thrilled.""But what about everyone else? What if they think we're too young? Or not ready? Or—""Luna. Breathe. They're going to be excited.""You don't know that.""I know your family. They're going to lose their minds. In a good way."I hoped he was right.---We arrived at 5:45.Mom answered the door, already knowing. She hugged me tight."How are you feeling?""Nauseous. Terrified. Excited.""Perfect. That's exactly right."Dad appeared. "Luna! Marcus! Come in!"At eighty, Dad moved slower. Used a cane someti