Aedan gestured for his dad and Amy to head inside without him so he could talk to Cheri in private. He had the awful feeling that he was getting dumped and didn't really want any witnesses to his heartbreak. "I really don't like the sound of that." He said into the phone once he was alone. "What do I have to do to fix this... mess. Whatever this is. I don't even know what's gone so wrong, what I've done that's caused so much trouble, but I do anything to fix it. You want me to be home more? I'll cut back on work, I will quit if that's what it takes. Just please tell me what I need to do."
"What? No, Aedan it's not that, come on I wouldn't break up with you on the phone like that and without trying to work it out. Don't be stupid."
"Well, you're not yourself lately and I don't know what to think anymore."
"I know. I'm sorry. That's what I need to talk to you about." She went silent for a couple moments. "I'm not even sure how to say this" She sighed, "I really don't want a baby right now..."
"Okay? That's fine. Is that all? Seems like a lot to be so worked up over. But, okay, we can wait. You should have told me this sooner... we've gotta talk about these things."
"I know, but I didn't want you to be disappointed and I was trying to figure it out. I wish I had though. It's too late now." She sounded like she was about to start crying.
Aedan went to sit on the porch steps thinking the conversation might take a while. "Okay, well, we'll figure it out. It'll be okay. We still have a few months to get ourselves ready, maybe you'll change your mind."
"I don't think I will. I just... I'm so not ready to be a mom and I don't think that's going to change in the next 9 months or so... it's not that long."
"Well, we'll figure it out. We don't have to have it all figured out this second. We'll figure it out, we'll get through this together."
"I wish I was there, coming out here was stupid. I just want to hold me and convince me it's okay. It's not the same on the phone. I just feel like such a mess since I found out. My mom suggested it when I told her I've been so tired... which is why I've not really been doing the chores or anything. I'm so sorry, I should have told you that, too. I just thought it seemed pathetic when you work all day and then come home and work on renovations and all the chores I don't do. Anyway, that and the fact that I've been grumpy and out of sorts. So my mom suggested I find out and I didn't even want to, I wanted to live in denial. I still do, but I can't."
"You'll be home soon enough. Are you still with your mom? Or your dad? Or are you alone."
"I'm alone, waiting at the airport. I can't take any more of my parents right now."
"How long are you there for? Are you okay on your own? You could go see my mom, I know it's late there but you know she's probably up. I can stay on the phone as long as you want, too."
"No, it's okay. They're expecting to fly again about 6am, which is only a few hours really. And I'm really tired, so I'm just going to sleep anyway. You go entertain your guests. Oh and say hi back for me. I'll see you tomorrow. I'll let you know later when I'm getting in for sure."
"Okay. Love you, babe."
"Love you, too."
---
Amy and Aedan's dad were already digging into the pizza when he went back inside but promptly dropped the pieces they were holding to stare at him waiting for details about what happened. He wished he'd thought to stay outside for a couple more minutes to figure out what to say. They took his silence as he thought about it as confirmation of the worst.
"Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry, Aedan." Amy leapt up from her chair and threw her arms around him, "It wasn't... she wasn't mad that I'm here, was she?"
He pushed her away gently. "No, of course not. She knew you'd be here. And you're her friend too. She even says hi back." He paused for a moment still deciding just how much to say. He decided to just tell them everything, they deserved to know. "She's freaking out because she's pregnant and apparently she doesn't want a baby right now after all. But we're okay, we had a good talk, she'll be home as soon as she can but she's stuck due to weather. She's coming home though, and we'll figure this all out then."
"Well, I'm sure she'll feel better with time," his dad said. "It was the same thing with your mom when she was pregnant with your older sisters. Neither of us were ready actually, but once you're holding your baby for the first time it all changes. How are you feeling about this?"
"I want to jump up and down with joy. But I don't want to get too excited yet, until I know she's on board with keeping it, because I'm not sure she is."
"Hmmm... and how do you feel about that?"
"I don't even want to think about it, I don't know if I can handle that."