Free Beginnings of the Heart by J. J. Nite

tell me.”
    â€œI just shared some of my thoughts. Nothing I haven’t already told you so you can stop worrying she’ll run out of the house screaming, ” Cecelia said.
    â€œUh-huh. So, where do you want me to start?” Cole obviously was going to let it go for now, but I was quite certain he would ask me about it later.
    â€œWhere we always do. I’m sure Morgan can help you. Maybe if she climbs halfway up behind you…” his Mom trailed off.
    Cole was shaking his head. “She’s not allowed to climb the ladder. She might fall.”
    Cole’s mom tipped her head slightly to one side and narrowed her eyes slightly. Now I knew where Cole got it from. She seemed to be working something out in her head, but she recovered so quickly I couldn’t be sure if she suspected I was pregnant or not.
    â€œOkay, I’ll climb up behind you, and she can hand the garland up to me. Does that meet with your approval?” she asked, watching Cole the whole time.
    â€œOkay. Just let me get the ladder set up and we can start. Morgan, did you look at the menu yet? We should order something soon.”
    â€œNo not yet,” I answered, “but I’ll look at it now. Just let me know when you’re ready.”
    I was sure his mom suspected something, and after looking at Cole, I knew he was thinking the same thing. He kept looking at his mom, almost assessing her body language for an explanation. I kept expecting Cecelia to say something, but she never did.
    The rest of the day passed as pleasantly as it had begun. Cole’s dad, Mark, made it home with the biggest Christmas tree I had ever seen inside a house. We all decorated it together, and like the other rooms of the house, it was perfectly coordinated.
    As I said goodbye to his parents and thanked them for allowing me to help, I thought I saw a speculative glance from Cole’s mom, but it was gone so quickly I wasn’t really sure it had even been there.
    Cole stayed for a while, and like the night before, I fell asleep on his lap and woke to him saying he had to go home.
    After I crawled into bed, I remembered I hadn’t talked to Cole about his mom. I was sure he had thoughts on the matter, and I was wondering what he might have come up with. I guess I would have to wait until tomorrow.

Chapter Eight
    The final run up to Christmas went by in a blur. The usual wrapping, baking, and candy making went off without a hitch. School let out for break four days before Christmas, which gave everyone a chance to finish up those last minute details.
    Amazingly, I didn’t have much to do. All my shopping and wrapping was complete and under the tree waiting for Christmas morning. With all the spare time I did a lot of thinking. Not always the best idea for me as I seemed to dwell on, well, everything.
    It was a little scary to realize next year there would be a baby to shop for and spend a first Christmas with. Of course, the baby would only be about five months old, but it would still be fun. I also couldn’t help but worry over my parents’ reaction to the announcement coming very shortly after the holiday.
    Their reaction, my mother’s in particular, worried me. I knew they would be disappointed and probably a little angry, but would they lay down ultimatums as well? And if they did, what would they be?
    My speculation ranged from sending me away somewhere so no one would know, to just kicking me out of the house, disowning me, and everything in between.
    I talked about all of these possibilities with Cole, and he patiently listened before dismissing all of my concerns. He was of the opinion both of our parents were going to be disappointed, but they would accept our decisions and we would work to get past it.
    I thought he was a little too optimistic, and I told him so. He, of course, disagreed with me. I held to my opinion and quietly resolved to prepare myself mentally as best I could. I was sure there