Trying Not to Love You
Page 57

I hoped he was right this time. "Ok let's get going."
On the drive back to my parents' house, I told Hunter that I was going to finish out the semester at ODU. I would transfer my credits back to a college in New Jersey close to the house. That way, I could still figure out how to get my teaching degree and be close to him where we would have help with the baby. Mom and Dad were in the kitchen eating lunch when we arrived. Mom smiled at us and Dad frowned.
"Hey Mom," I went over and kissed her cheek then went over to my dad and kissed his as well. "Hey Dad."
"Mr. and Mrs. Cahill, we, um, need to talk to you guys." Hunter, who never gets nervous, was standing before me, sweating.
"Well, I'm glad you two are back to speaking again." My dad spoke up and said. "I didn't like seeing you guys fighting. It was worse than you fighting with Mason."
"Um, dad, things might not be so well between us and Mason once he finds out what is going on." I reached over and grabbed Hunter's hand; I needed the connection with him.
Hunter squeezed my hand and cleared his throat, "CC and I are going to move in together when I graduate college in a few months."
Looking puzzled he asked, "Kenzie still has 3 years left of school." He looked at me for answers, "You want to transfer back home just to be closer to Hunter? That's not like you."
I looked from my Dad to Hunter then to mom, who gave me a small smile and nodded her head, and back to dad, "I'm pregnant Dad."
He had the same reaction as my mom disappointment, hurt. "I don't know what to say really.
"I'm sorry Dad, I know you're disappointed in me, and I'm more disappointed in myself." I started crying and he turned his head away from me, got up from his chair and went to stand by my mom who was at the sink. Hunter wrapped me in his arms and pulled me close to him.
Dad was rubbing his forehead with his thumb and index finger, something he always did when he was upset with one of his kids. "You know about this?" Dad asked mom. She nodded. "What are you going to do about school? You need to finish MacKenzie; you need a college education now a days."
"She'll finish, I'll make sure of it. We will do whatever we have to do to make sure she gets her degree. I have a job lined up when I graduate and I still have some money saved up from my inheritance. She will be taken care of Mr. Cahill, you have my word." Hunter told him. I was proud of him for standing up to dad and it made me fall a little more in love with him that he was so eager to take care of me. If you would have asked me this when I first got home on Thursday night I would have laughed.
Dad looked over at my mom and she grabbed my dad's hand. He looked at her. They were having their own private conversation. My parents were the perfect example of what I wanted to have. Mom and dad didn't always have to talk to each other. They had a connection so strong that words weren't needed to know what the other thought. There love was unbreakable, having four children was trying at times, always putting us first, making sure we never wanted for anything. Always involved in what we were doing, always being our biggest fans but at the end of the day they always made time for themselves even if it was only ten minutes. That is what I wanted with my future husband, Hunter.
"This isn't going to be easy Mackenzie; you are basically giving up your life, you understand that right? You are sure this is something you want? You are ready for such a huge responsibility?"
I looked up at Hunter and gave him a half smile then returned to my dad, "Yes this is what I want. I want to raise," I squeezed Hunter harder, "our child together Dad. I know things are going to be tough and I'll have to work extra hard but I have to do this."
"We'll do it together, always and forever, remember?" Hunter said softly mainly for me to hear.
"Hunter, you are in this for good now, right? You are going to take care of my little girl, protect her and my grandchild." Dad said sternly.
"Yes Sir. No one comes between us ever again."
"You know I already think of you as a son, but I'm glad it's you that this happened with and not some other ass**le. I'm not happy with it at all but as long as you give me your word I'll accept it."
Hunter cleared his throat and said, "You have it sir, she's it for it." He looked at me and winked.
"I take it your brothers don't know yet?" Dad asked me, and then asked Hunter. "And your Mom and sister don't know?
"No not yet." We said at the same time. "I'm actually going to run over there now since we wanted to talk to you guys first."
"I want to go with you. Um mom do you think you can invite everyone over for dinner so we can tell everyone together?"
"Yeah, I'll call your brothers and have them over for dinner tonight." Mom came over, hugged Hunter and kissed his cheek. "Thank you for stepping up and taking care of her. I knew you would turn out to be a great man."
"Thanks, that means a lot."
Hunter and I left shortly after that and went to talk to his mom, his sister was out somewhere with Cooper so she would find out later tonight when we told my brothers. His mom took it pretty well. She was disappointed, but that was to be expected, but was proud of her son for standing up and taking responsibility. She rode with us back to my parents for dinner.
Cooper, Jaylinn, Chloe, Jackson and Alex were at the house already when we got back but Mason was out picking up Hailey. Mom had dad grill so that the smell wouldn't turn my stomach, she was already helping me already so much with my pregnancy.
Mason finally showed up with Hailey looking a little flushed when she noticed I was staring at her she raised her eyebrows at me and shrugged her shoulders. I was being stupid I knew what she was up too. She already knew what was going on since I had been talking and texting her about it all along but she didn't know I would be telling everyone tonight. She didn't even know I talked to Hunter since I hadn't had time to call her a head of time.
As we served dinner, we all gathered around the dining table. I was sweating profusely and shaking. I decided to wait until everyone was mostly done with dinner before making our announcement. Everyone was talking about what was going on with their lives; Cooper and Mason were in the full swing of baseball. Jackson and Chloe were working on last minute details of their wedding that would happen in just a few months. Alex captured the attention of Mrs. McCormick, mom and dad.
I took my last bite of food set down my fork, Hunter grabbed my left hand Chloe, who I had told what I was doing while setting the table, grabbed my right. I looked at Hunter and cleared my throat, everyone quieted down. "So, I, um…" Hunter squeezed my hand giving me the courage to finish my sentence. I squeezed my eyes shut, "I'm pregnant." I whispered.