Thorn (Carmichael Series #5)✔️

Spilling The Beans

Tanner placed a heaping turkey sandwich in front of me and a PB and J with apple slices in front of Calla.

"So, honey, Mommy and I have something we want to tell you," Tanner started off, leaning over the counter with his weight resting on his elbows.

"Okay," She chirped before taking another bite of her sandwich.

"Well...um, do you have any friends with little brothers or sisters?" Tanner asked instead of just flat out saying what we were trying to say to her.

"Mhmm," She answered, her mouth full of food. I snickered under my breath at her apparent lack of care to the subject we were discussing. It was clear he was trying to get more than a one word answer out of her - maybe even get her opinion on having siblings, but she simply wasn't budging. Tanner sighed before rubbing his face in frustration.

"What would you say if I said you were going to be a big sister?" He asked, just coming right out with it. She finished chewing the bite she had in her mouth before giving him a questioning look.

"What?" She asked quietly before switching her gaze to look up at me. I couldn't get a read on her emotions at all, something that was extremely rare for me.

"You're going to be a big sister, baby. Mommy's pregnant," I whispered, bringing my hand up to cup the side of her face and rub my thumb gently over her pudgy cheek. Her eyes widened comically before she hopped off the stool and took off towards her room at top speed.

I felt my heart break. I knew this reaction was a possibility, but I was really praying it wouldn't be.

"I'm gonna go check on her," I hiccuped, feeling like the biggest let down ever.

"Baby, are you sure right now is the best ti-"

"Yes," I growled irrationally. Sauntering into her bedroom, confusion clouded my head as she was bustling around with her back to me.

"Honey, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Practicing!" She exclaimed sounding stressed. I was about to ask again when she turned around, a baby doll in one hand and a diaper in the other. I threw back my head, laughing as a few more tears slipped down my cheeks. I dropped to my knees and took the sweet little girl in my arms, showering her cheeks and forehead with kisses.

"I thought you were upset with me and daddy," I confessed after pulling away.

"As long as it's a girl I'm happy, mommy," she beamed. I just laughed again, choosing not to tell her that these things couldn't be decided and that it was up to God.

"We'll keep our fingers crossed then, won't we?" I asked to which she nodded excitedly and then went back to changing her doll's diaper. Tanner appeared in the doorway, the worry on his face disappearing the second he saw me showing Calla the proper way to do up the diaper.

"See? Worried for nothing," He stated smugly.

**

Two Months Later

I fidgeted in my seat, trying to find a position that didn't put excess weight on my lower back. I was also sweating bullets from the intense June heat, but Scar just had to ask for a table outside and no one else protested. Not wanting to be the debbie downer, I kept my mouth shut, but now I was really regretting my decision. Scar and Tanner had been laughing over random things here and there while simultaneously ignoring both Evan and my's presence completely. Well, sorta. I was royally confused earlier when Evan looked confused to see me with Tanner, giving him and I a suspicious look. Halfway through the lunch, I'd finally come to the only conclusion that she didn't recall the conversation we had months prior at all. I could see the way she kept glancing down under the table, obviously noticing the way Tanner had been rubbing my upper thigh under the table or playing footsie with me.