Jocelyn's Choice (16 page)
Authors: Ella Jade
Tags: #virginity, #consequences, #teen pregnancy, #first love, #choices, #high school, #college, #young adult romance, #General Fiction
Five Years Later . . . .
I walked into the foyer, dropping my keys on the table and placing my backpack on the bench by the door. I felt a huge sense of relief over having just completed my last final. It had been a long four years, but I was finally finished.
So much had happened since I'd found out I was pregnant. Alex and I got married a few months after our daughter, Alexa, was born. We named her for Alex’s biological mother. I went back to school and worked toward a degree in Communications. We had a house built on the plot next door to Alex’s parents' house, and our backyards were connected by a beautiful, wooded trail. I liked having them close. They, along with Max, were very supportive and helped Alex and me as much as they could.
Alex did really well with the research project, and the doctor he worked for was so impressed with him, he offered Alex a full-time job on staff in the research department. And, because of the support from our parents, Alex was able to go back and get his Ph.D. and that helped him secure a higher position. He loved the work he was doing, and I was so proud of him, almost as proud as his father was.
Evan had recently gotten engaged to Cali. The two of them found their way back to one another about two years ago, and they’d been exclusive and happy ever since.
Alexa was over the moon that she was going to be in a wedding with me and her daddy. She was a little disappointed that her Uncle Evan was getting married to someone else, since she thought she was his one and only, but once he explained to her that no one could replace her in his life, and she was getting a new dress for the wedding, she was more than fine.
I was feeling overly tired, but most of my exhaustion was due to the past three days of finals, caring for my rambunctious five-year-old, and keeping up with my sexy husband’s overactive libido. Not that I was complaining about any of it, but I was feeling the effects, and my body was letting me know in no uncertain terms something really big was going on.
I followed the sounds of Alex and Alexa's giggles. They were sitting on the back porch coloring, so I stood in the doorway and listened to their very engaging conversation. They always made me laugh.
"Daddy?" Alexa asked in her high pitched, singsong voice.
"Yes, pumpkin?" Alex pushed aside the blond ringlets that had fallen into her eyes.
"Daddy!" she huffed.
"Oh, right." He laughed, shaking his head. "No pumpkin. Err, what was it again?"
I smiled; I knew what she wanted him to call her just as well as he did. She was on an obscure vegetable kick lately, and she had a new one practically every other day.
"Spaghetti squash." She sighed as she diligently colored. "You remember."
"Spaghetti squash." He ran his hand through his hair. "Where did I get you?"
"From Mommy’s tummy."
"So, what did you want to tell me?" he asked.
"That Grandpa Jack is on his way to get me?"
"Really? What makes you think so?"
"Because when you were on the computer, I called him and told him to come and get me," she said. "I pushed the button that said Dad on your phone."
"Did you?" He laughed. "And what did he say?"
"He’ll be right over," she said. "Can I have that blue crayon?"
"Sure." He kissed her cheek.
I could watch the two of them all day. Alex was perfect with her, and she adored him. Sometimes, he was the only one who could make it all better for her. She was a Daddy’s girl.
"Mama’s home," I said as I stepped out onto the porch.
"Mama!" Alexa screamed as she jumped off the chair and into my arms. "Are you smart now?"
"Yes." I laughed. "I think so." I carried her over to Alex and leaned down to kiss him.
"Hey, beautiful." He kissed me back. "How was the exam?"
"Good," I said. "But, I’m happy it’s finally over."
"You’ve worked really hard, and I’m so proud of you," he said. "I knew you could do it."
"I couldn’t have done it without you."
"Now we get to have the graduation party." Alexa clapped as she squirmed out of my arms. "I’m helping Grandma plan the party."
"Then it’ll be the best party ever," I said as I put her down. "Did you have a good morning?"
"Yes," she said. "But now I have to get ready."
"Oh." I smiled. "Have a date?"
"She does," Jack said as he came through the path that connected the two houses.
"Grandpa!" Alexa ran toward him and jumped into his arms.
He spun her around and gave her a tight hug. "Miss me?"
"Yes," she said. "What took you so long?"
"I had to take a call from Aunt Brenna’s doctor," he said. "But I’m here now, and Grandma is waiting for you. I hear you two are busy spending my money."
"Grandma said not to listen to you and your money talk," she said as he put her down. "We have to give Mama a party and Uncle Evan a wedding. I’ll be right back!"
"Where are you going?" Alex asked as she ran in the house.
"I have to get my bag," she yelled on her way into the house.
"Her bag?" Alex gave me a pointed look.
"It has a pack of fruit snacks, a juice box, and a pen." I rolled my eyes. "She’s an accessories girl."
He nodded and quietly laughed to himself.
"So"—Alex faced Jack—"Brenna’s doctor?"
"Everything’s fine," Jack said.
Brenna and Ryan were happily married, but it took them three years to get pregnant, and that was only after several rounds of in-vitro once Jack found her the best fertility specialist in the country. She was due in three months. It had taken Brenna a while to warm up to me, but once Alexa arrived, she proved to be a great aunt and an even better sister-in-law.
"I was just getting a progress report," he told us.
"I’m ready!" Alexa said as she came running out of the house. "Don’t wait up."
Alex and I smiled at our little angel.
"Come on." Jack took her hand. "We’ll see you two for dinner. Evan and Cali are coming over too."
"Okay." I kissed his cheek. "Thanks again for the education."
He returned my kiss. "It was my pleasure, Jocelyn," he said. "I’m just so proud you got your degree."
"Not yet," I said.
"I’m sure you passed your finals," he said. "You always do."
I smiled and leaned down to kiss Alexa.
"Be a good girl," I said.
"I’m always a good girl, right, Grandpa?" She looked up at him with her father’s green eyes.
"He’s not a good one to ask." Alex kissed the top of her head. "He’s biased. We’ll see you in a little bit."
"Take your time," she yelled as they headed down the path.
Alex let out a sigh and plopped down on the lounge chair. "She was in rare form today." He laughed. "My little chatterbox."
"She’s full of energy, isn’t she?" I crawled in next to him.
He turned to face me and slowly kissed my lips. "You look tired, baby," he said and felt my head. "You okay?" He was always taking care of me.
"I’m fine." I smiled. "Just glad to be done."
"Now what do you want to do?" he asked. "You can do anything you want."
"I know. But, I was thinking."
"About?" He gently kissed my lips, but quickly deepened it, moving his hand up and resting it on my hip.
"Hmm," I mumbled against his lips, but then I pushed him away. "Wait!"
"Jocelyn?" he said. "We have the house all to ourselves for at least three hours. Do you know how many times we can do it in three hours?"
"I do." I giggled. "And I wanna take you up on that, but don’t sidetrack me yet."
"Okay," he said. "I apologize. What were you thinking about?"
"Well, I know I worked really hard to get my degree, and I did it in four years, even though you said I could take my time."
"There was no rush," he said. "But I admire your dedication and determination all while you took care of me and Alexa. You’re amazing."
"Thanks," I said. "You were a huge help, and I couldn’t have done it without you or your family."
"I personally think you should take the summer off and think about what you want to do," he said. "You’re still young and have plenty of time to think about a career."
"Actually." I bit my lip.
"Don’t do that." He bit my lip. "You know it distracts me."
"Sorry." I giggled. "I don’t want to work right away."
"That’s fine," he said. "I’ll support whatever you want."
"I’m glad I have the degree, but I still want to raise Alexa for now," I said. "And, I got some news this morning I wanted to share with you."
"What kind of news?" He smiled as he kissed me again.
"It’s big." I grinned. "And
this
time, I wanted you to be the first to know."
"This time?" He thought for a few moments, and then I saw the realization cross his face. "Are you?"
I nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"I took a pregnancy test this morning. I’m only a week late, but since I was on the pill, I wanted to make sure."
He pulled me toward him and kissed me softly, wrapping his arms around me. "I love you."
"You’re not mad? I mean, I know we weren’t planning this." I honestly didn’t know what happened. I took my pill every day, so I figured this was just really meant to be.
"Mad?" He kissed my forehead. "I’ve wanted to ask you if you’d be ready for another baby, but I wanted you to finish school first. I can’t believe it."
"Me neither. I love you so much, and I’ve wanted to have another baby for a while. I was afraid the age gap was getting too big between Alexa and a sibling."
"She’ll be so excited." He took my face between his hands and slowly kissed me.
"This is perfect."
"So much different than the last time," I said.
"That all worked out though," he said. "I love my girls, and now we get a new baby."
He slipped his hands over my stomach. "I can’t wait to feel him move."
"Him?"
"I was right last time, wasn’t I?"
"You had a fifty percent chance." I giggled. "I can’t wait for you to feel the baby move too. I always felt so connected to you when you would lie in my bed at Max’s house and feel Alexa moving inside me. Do you remember that?"
"It was my favorite part of the pregnancy." He smiled. "Well, that, and your aggressive sex drive."
"Hmm . . . ." I inched closer to him. "I liked that part too."
He ran his hands through my hair, and then gently stroked my cheek.
"You’re happy." His feelings were written all over his face.
"Very."
"You’re always doing everything to make sure I’m happy," I said. "You provide for us. You’re the most incredible father, and everything I’ve accomplished these past five years was all because of you."
"You’re wonderful all on your own."
"You’ve helped me so much and knowing I can give you another baby and you’re so thrilled about it makes me feel good inside."
"I love the fact that we’re sharing something so special together." He rubbed my stomach.
I cuddled into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. I felt so relaxed and at peace in his arms. I closed my eyes and drifted off, but one thought kept running through my head.
Alex is with me from the beginning this time around.
We’d get to experience the entire pregnancy together. There were no more secrets.
~The End~
About the Author
Ella Jade has been writing most of her life. For as long as she can remember, she always had a pen and paper in hand and the dialog always played out in her head. Now, as an adult, the laptop is never far.
She lives in NJ with her very patient husband and her two young boys. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
Learn more about Ella online at http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com/
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