Free That Baby by Jillian Dodd Page B

to me.  
    It doesn't take long for us to pass the candle three times and for Chelsea to blow it out.  
    “Now, show us the pose,” I tease.
    “What pose?” she asks, looking confused.
    Lori and I dramatically put our rings out to be admired, causing Chelsea to giggle.
    “The pose of the happy, newly engaged girl, what else?” I tell her.  
    She mimics us, laughing, as Lori says, “This will be the question you will hear over and over. So, Chelsea, have you set a date?”
    Chelsea laughs again. “No, but I was thinking my parents have that beach house in Florida.”
    “Spring break heaven,” I say. “We had fun, didn't we? What an epic road trip. Then the guys showed up.”
    “That was one of our almosts ,” Chelsea admits. “We were alone on the beach, both a bit drunk. But he had a girlfriend. Even though I was kinda mad at the time, looking back, it's good to know he didn't cheat on her. He's a good guy, right?”  
    “Yeah.” I hug her. “He's a really good guy.”
    “So, what do you think? The beach in Florida? A few good friends?”
    “Have you told your families?” Lori asks.
    “Not yet. I’ve been too busy freaking out. Can I tell you both a secret?”
    “Yeah,” Lori and I reply.
    “When I was in high school, I got pregnant and had a D&C. I know it was the right choice for me then, but I’ve always felt guilty and I’ve been so afraid that, when it came time for me to want a baby, I wouldn't get pregnant. Like I would be punished or something. So even though I was shocked, I am happy it happened.”
    Phillip wanders upstairs looking for me. “What's going on up here?” He sees the candle and smiles.   “Looks like I need to serenade you,” he says then launches into one of their frat songs.  
    His deep, sexy voice makes me melt.
    I know that I’m so incredibly lucky.  
    And I say a little prayer that I won’t be moody or emotional during my pregnancy.  

    When we clean up after the game, Mrs. D and Mrs. Mac tell us, “The pregnant women get to go sit down and put up their feet. We've got this.”
    “This is crazy,” I say, perching on the living room sofa. “All of us pregnant at the same time.”
    “So exciting, though,” Lori says, seemingly happy we are now in the pregnancy boat with her. Not only that, she’s an expert compared to us. “So how are you feeling?”
    “I feel permanently hungover,” I admit.
    “Ohmigosh,” Chelsea squeals, “me too!”
    “I wish I could tell you it goes away in a few months,” Lori says, “and for some women it does, hasn’t for me though. I’m still sick most of the time. Although, now it’s all day instead of just in the morning.”
    “They say one in five pregnancies end in miscarriage. Right now, even though it was a shock that I got pregnant, that’s what I’ve been worrying about the most,” Chelsea says quietly. “Every time I have a little cramp, I’m so scared.”
    “Isn’t it weird, how protective we are of the pregnancy? Even though mine wasn’t planned. Even though I feel crappy. It’s like the most important thing ever,” I tell them.  
    “Speaking of that, Jade,” Lori says. “Just last week you were crying because you got your period. How are you pregnant? Did you go to the doctor?”
    “It’s kind of crazy. When I was sick, I was freaking out because I didn’t want to be pregnant. But then, I got what I thought was my period and was super sad. That’s when we decided we’d start trying. But the next day, my period was gone and I didn’t know why. Then when Danny was cooking bacon and I got sick again, I started wondering. As soon as Phillip left for work on Monday, I took a pregnancy test and couldn’t even believe that it turned positive. I saw your OB-GYN that day. Turns out I just had some spotting.”
    “That’s crazy,” she says. “How did you tell Phillip?”
    “With the shirts. I wrapped his up and gave it to him, then showed him mine. He was pretty shocked. He just kept