I backed away slowly, my mind racing with the news. I couldn’t believe my mom was pregnant. It felt surreal, like something out of a movie. “So, um, when did you find out?” I finally managed to ask.
“A few weeks ago,” she replied, still smiling. “I wanted to wait until I was sure before I told anyone.”
“Anyone?” I echoed, my voice a bit louder than intended. “Does that mean Mr. Logan’s dad knows?”
he nodded, her smile wide. “Yes, he’s really excited about it. We both are.”
Mr. Castlefield. My stepfather. And Logan-my stepbrother. Soon-to-be husband? My thoughts spiraled. How could this be happening? My mom was telling me she was pregnant, and everything felt so complicated all of a sudden.
Logan is my stepbrother. That’s already a twist, but now we’re going to be family in a whole new way? The idea of my mom having a baby while I’m trying to figure everything with Logan was overwhelming.
What the hell is going on? My heart raced as I tried to wrap my head around it all. This was not the life I expected.
“Are you okay, Audrey?” my mom asked, concern creasing her brow.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said quickly, though my voice trembled. “It’s just… a lot to take in.”
“I understand. It was a surprise for us too,” she said, her expression softening. “But we’re excited to expand our family.”
“Expand?” I thought, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. I wasn’t sure how I felt about sharing my home with a baby. “Have you thought about names?”
Mom grinned, her excitement shining through. “A little! We have some ideas, but we want to hear everyone’s thoughts first.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay, that sounds fun.”
As I stepped back, I felt the weight of the news settle on my shoulders. I needed to talk to Logan. I needed to understand what this meant for us, for our family, and how we would navigate this new reality together.
“Mom,” I said before I could leave the room, “are you sure this is what you want? A baby?”
She looked at me, her eyes filled with warmth and reassurance. “Yes, sweetheart. I know it’s unexpected, but I believe this will bring us closer. Family is everything.”
I took a deep breath, still grappling with my own emotions. “Okay,” I said quietly, even though my mind was still racing.
Leaving the kitchen, I walked through the hallway, feeling like everything had shifted. I spotted Logan outside, leaning against the porch railing, staring into the distance. He seemed lost in thought, and I felt a tug of uncertainty in my chest.
“Logan!” I called out, making my way toward him. “Can we talk?”
He turned to me, his expression shifting to curiosity. “Sure, what’s up?”
I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. “My mom just told me she’s pregnant.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Really? Wow, that’s… big news.”
“Yeah, it’s a lot to take in,” I said, crossing my arms. “I mean, with everything else going on, this just complicates things even more.”
Logan leaned closer, concern etched on his face. “How do you feel about it?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling vulnerable. “I’m happy for her, but I can’t help but think about how this changes everything for us.”
“Us?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, you know, us. You’re my stepbrother now. Soon-to-be husband, maybe?” I rushed out, the words tumbling from my mouth. “I’m trying to figure out how to be okay with all of this, but it’s hard.”
He stepped closer, his voice low. “I get it. This is a lot for both of us. But whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. We’re family now, and that means supporting each other.”
I looked into his eyes, feeling a mix of fear and comfort. “But what if things get complicated? What if I can’t handle it?”
Logan reached out, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “You’re stronger than you think, Audrey. And I’ll be here every step of the way. We’ll find a way to make it work, no matter what.”
His words calmed me, but I still felt a storm of emotions swirling inside. “Okay,” I said finally, trying to believe him. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”
“Exactly,” he replied, a small smile breaking through. “And we can always talk about it. Anytime you need to.”
“Thanks, Logan,” I said, feeling grateful for his support. “I really appreciate it.”