I was going to announce it at Christmas when the whole family was together again. After what happened, I had no idea if my marriage would make it that long. If I were thinking clearly, I would have realized what happened and it would never have blown up the way it did. I was so shocked and hurt, nothing made sense in that moment.
I grabbed the phone and called Ken. As soon as he answered, I started shouting, “Ken, come back. You can’t leave me, I’m pregnant. I need you; your family needs you.”
There was silence and then he asked, “What? Did the condom break?”
A moment later the call ended. I didn’t know how to fix it and he thought the baby wasn’t his. I died a little bit inside.
A few minutes later, my mom and dad burst into the house and found Isabella and me cuddled on the couch. My darling angel was helping cheer me up. It wasn’t working but she was so cute in trying, I let her.
“What happened,” mom asked as she pulled me into a hug. My daughter ran to grandpa for her hugs and kisses. He was always her favorite.
“I don’t know, mom. Ken found a condom wrapper and thinks I cheated on him. I can’t figure out how it got there. I just can’t think right now.”
“Was it Joe’s?” dad asked.
“He said no, and I believe him. He saw Ken leave me. He’d have admitted it, surely.”
Dad set my child down and sat on the couch. “Could someone have played a joke on you? A housekeeper maybe? Your sister?”
My head snapped up, “What did you say?” I asked. She wouldn’t. I’ll kill her if she did.
“I asked if maybe it was Mel. You don’t think…”
Yeah, I thought it.
***Melanie***
I quickly texted Keri I needed her as soon as possible, then I called Ken. He didn’t answer but I heard screeching tires in front of the house. I ran to the window and saw a pissed off Ken charging up the driveway.
I threw open the door and ran out into the cold November morning, barefoot.
“Tell me you did it. Tell me it was you!” he shouted.
“Ken, I’m sorry, it was me. It was only a joke.”
I ran into his arms, and he pushed me away. “How could you do something so cruel. I called my wife a slut because of you! I accused her of being pregnant by another man, because of you!”
I was crying and Keri ran out of her house. “Ken, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d react like this. I thought you would realize it was a joke. She sent the condoms to my room, and I was so mad I vowed to get her back. I didn’t want you to dump her.”
Keri asked, “What the heck is going on.”
Ken looked at her and said, “Your dumb ass friend, left a condom wrapper in my bedroom to make me think Lainey was having an affair. She thought it would be funny fucking with my marriage.”
I was crying harder, “Ken, please. Let’s go to your house so we can make this right. I’m so sorry.”
“No,” he growled. “You’ve done enough already.”
He turned and ran to his car. Just as he pulled away, my phone started ringing. It was my sister.
“Lainey,” I answered. “I’m sorry, Ken was just here. He’s on his way home. I told him it was a joke. I’m so sorry.”
There was silence and I realized she hung up. I feared I lost my sister. I didn’t even realize he said she was pregnant until much later.
***Lainey***
I was pissed. I threw my phone at the wall after hanging up with Keri. At least she said Ken was on his way home. I wasn’t sure if I should have been pissed at him for not believing me or pissed at myself for not realizing it was her immediately. I decided I was both.
Mom must have seen something in my eyes because she said, “Lainey, it isn’t Ken’s fault. He was angry and said some hurtful things, but it wasn’t his fault. You understand that right?”
“He didn’t believe me, mom.”
“Would you have believed him if you found it?”
I couldn’t answer because I knew I’d have thrown him out without a second thought.
“Thought so,” she said with a smirk. “Calm yourself down and get ready to make up with him. We’re gonna take our granddaughter for a few hours. Talk it out, don’t argue it out, okay?”
I nodded and shouted, “Joe!”
“Everything okay?” He asked as he hustled into the room.
“I hope so,” I said. “Joe, I need some time alone with my husband. Why don’t you take my car and go visit with my sister for a bit?”
He gave me a smirk and said, “Sure, no problem. I have an afternoon flight back to school, so I’ll just head straight to the airport after I see her.”
My dad said, “Why don’t you grab your stuff and ride with us. No need to deal with getting Lainey’s car back here then.”
“Great, thanks,” Joe said before he ran upstairs.
***Melanie***
I was crying on the couch when my parents walked in with Joe and Isabella. I really messed up and couldn’t believe I was so stupid. None of them looked happy to see me, well, except for Isabella. She gave me a hug and kiss hello.
Joe sat on the chair across from me in silence. My mom took my niece into Lainey’s old bedroom, which she had set up as a room for Isabella. Dad went to the kitchen. It was eerie and I was scared. No one said a word to me which was worse than if they had come in and yelled at me.
“Hi, Joe,” I said quietly.
He shook his head. “How can you do something so cruel?”
“I’m sorry. It was a horrible idea. Everyone hates me now.” I sobbed and my dad walked in with a beer in his hand.