There was one thing I knew for sure. I wasn’t ready to face Sam. I needed to mentally prepare and try to strengthen my resolve to resist him. Seeing him with another woman should have done it. That horrible sight should have cured me of this ‘Sam addiction’ I seemed to have, but I knew that I still wouldn’t be able to deny him anything he wanted from me. It was difficult to admit, even to myself, that someone else had that kind of power over me, but it was the truth.

“I need more time.” When Seth started to argue, I continued. “I know it’s only fair and that we need to tell them, all of them. I’m just not quite ready to face your brother.”

“Ab, he’s a huge part of my life. You can’t avoid him forever,” Seth said, amazing me yet again with how kind and understanding he was about this crazy, hurtful situation.

“I know. I just need some more time. Not long,” I hastened to add when I saw that he was getting ready to object. “We can announce it at your family’s weekly brunch a week from this Sunday.”

Seth nodded in agreement, and I quickly counted in my head. Ten days. I had ten days until I had to face the music. My stomach was already churning and, for once, it wasn’t due to morning sickness.

10

Suddenly, the days started speeding by in a blur. Quick as a wink, it was Sunday, and I was down to a week before I had to tell the Davis family about Peanut. I was glad to have the distraction of girls’ night to take my mind off the quickly approaching confrontation with my baby’s family.

Court and I had a longstanding tradition of meeting on Sunday evenings for tacos and margaritas at Joe’s restaurant, where she worked. Since finding out about the pregnancy, I had substituted lemonade for my margarita. Other than that change, we were adamant about maintaining our weekly ritual.

This week, Court had agreed to work the lunch shift because Joe was short-staffed. Seth and I decided to head over to the restaurant a little early, so we would be there when her shift ended. I was pretty sure that Courtney would not be pleased to see that Seth was joining us, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him he couldn’t come.

Proving that I knew her well, Court brushed by us carrying a tray full of drinks and asked Seth, “What part about GIRLS’ night do you not comprehend?”

Seth feigned a surprised look and turned from Court to me saying, “I thought I was one of the girls.”