Nikki was setting up her classroom for the year the Friday before school started.
"Nikki, do you have a second," Julie Williams, her best friend asked.
"I was about to come find you," Nikki said, "close the door."
Julie closed the door.
"What happened with you and Jeff," Julie said, sick of beating around the bush.
"He left," Nikki said.
"Nikki there's more than that," Julie said .
"I don't want to talk about it," Nikki replied.
"You're not okay," Julie said, "you skipped girls night on Saturday after a breakup Nikki what's wrong?"
"Don't say a word to anyone," Nikki said.
"I promise," Julie replied.
"Jeff left because I'm pregnant," Nikki said, "eight weeks . I'm not going to announce it here. I'll talk to Catherine in a few weeks and let her know but no grand public announcements. You're the only person other than my mom and Owen to know."
"Teddy," Julie asked, knowing how close Nikki and Teddy were.
"She knew first," Nikki replied.
"Are you okay," Julie asked suddenly concerned.
"I'm okay," Nikki said, "tired and worried but physically I'm fine and the baby looks good. I don't know what it is and I want that surprise."
"When can I be awesome auntie Julie," Julie asked.
"April," Nikki said, "they should be here April 12."
"Your back to school outfit," Julie asked, "we bought that yesterday."
"It'll be fine and that cut is loose over my stomach anyway," Nikki said, "I actually feel really cute in that. Mom and Teddy said I have a while. Teddy's having another, March 5th so this one will have a cousin to play with."
"You should come tonight," Julie said, "I know Jeff hated you hanging out with the people from our old group but tonight you need us. Nikki come back."
"What are you doing," Nikki asked.
"Kendra's for coffee dessert and a catch up," Julie said, "we took the summer off. I'll text her that you want to come."
"Do I have to tell them," Nikki asked.
"Tell them about Jeff," Julie said, "Bryn is having a baby in November she might be good to talk to."
"Alone," Nikki asked.
"Like your mom and siblings will let you do it alone," Julie countered, "auntie Julie wants to be around. Some one has to make sure it's exposed to good books and not just math."
"What's wrong with math," Nikki asked.
"You have way too much fun with it no one should like math that much," Julie said.
"This little one will be raised to love it," Nikki said.
"Are you excited about this," Julie asked cautiously.
"Baby yes," Nikki said, "the moment I even suspected it I wanted them. I love it already. The stress is Jeff related."
"He's kinda an ass to you anyway," Julie said, "can't see your friends, locks the stair door to cut you off from your family, was mad when you applied for and started your masters. Nikki he's manipulative and controlling we all see it."
"It's fine," Nikki said.
"No that's not how you should be treated," Julie said.
"But I love him," Nikki whined.
"Call him right now," Julie said, "let's see what he does."
"He's at work he won't answer," Nikki replied.
"You do it or I will," Julie said.
Nikki called Jeff and a woman answered. She looked at Julie wide eyed glad they had him on speaker.
"Who is this," the voice asked.
"Nikki McRae Jeff's girlfriend and the mother of his child," Nikki snapped.
"How can you be his girlfriend," the woman asked, "has he been cheating on me?"
"No," Nikki replied, "him and I have been together for 5 years."
"Nik like his ex," the woman said, "you're calling him to tell him you're having his baby."
"He broke up with me last week because of it," Nikki said, "he was living with me until last week. I don't know who you are or what you think you're doing but tell him I need to talk to him about our child."
"What ever," the woman said ending the call.
"Fuck," Nikki shouted.
Julie wrapped her arms around her friend, "breathe Nikki."
"He cheated," Nikki sobbed, "with someone who feels comfortable enough to answer his phone."
"What do you want to do," Julie asked.
"Go home," Nikki said, "curl up in bed and die."
"Let's do the first two," Julie said, "no dying. I'd miss you too much."
"My room is ready for next week," Nikki said, "150 new sixth graders to get to know."
"Five periods," Julie said.
"Yes I have my planning at the end of the day," Nikki said, "where's your planning?"
"First thing," Julie replied, "so I can help you out if morning sickness is a problem."
"It's been okay so far but I'll let you know if I need you," Nikki said.
"When will you say something here," Julie asked.
"November or December ," Nikki replied, "let the school year get going make sure things are okay. I might not actually announce it and just let people figure it out."
"Why," Julie asked.
"Because then people will ask about Jeff and I have to tell them and people will either slut shame or pity me. I don't want either."
"Say something when you're ready," Julie replied, "you know Christine will want to support you."
"So will Catherine," Nikki acknowledged, "maybe I should let our principal and team lead in on this."
"Do you want me to come," Julie asked.
"I'm going to go now," Nikki said, "Catherine should be free. Principal first right?"
"Principal first," Julie agreed.
Nikki walked down the hall to the principal's office.
"Catherine do you have a moment," Nikki asked from the door.
"Nicole I didn't know you were here today," Catherine said, "how was your summer?"
"Interesting," Nikki said, closing the door behind her.
"What's going on," Catherine asked.
"I have some personal news that I'm going to ask you to keep between us until I announce it to the staff," Nikki said.
"What is it," Catherine asked.
"I'm eight weeks pregnant," Nikki said, "due April 12."
"Congratulations," Catherine beamed, "you and your boyfriend must be so excited."
"That's the other thing," Nikki said, "Jeff has chosen not to be part of my or the baby's life. I'm on my own."
"I'm sorry Nikki," Catherine said, "when did this all happen?"
"The last couple weeks," Nikki said, "I'm okay. I really just need to be in my room with the kids. We have 150 in our pod this year."
"If there's anything you need or you need to take days," Catherine said, "please let me know. You take care of yourself and your baby first. Who's your pod team?"
"Christine for science, Julie Williams is English, Jeff Furgeson in socials, me for math and Brad Eldridge for PHE careers and health," Nikki replied.
"Tell Christine," Catherine encouraged.
"She's not here today, I will soon," Nikki agreed, "Julie knows."
"You and Julie are close," Catherine observed.
"We have been since high school," Nikki said, "my siblings and her dad were in Iraq together and we met in a group for teens who lost loved ones over there. There's about 10 of us locally that still see each other."
"Your siblings," Catherine asked.
"Owen is home safe about 8 years ago he's married with two kids. I live in his basement suite. We lost my sister Meghan she was captured almost 10 years ago. Julie lost her dad," Nikki said, "we've been through a lot together. Julie knows what's going on."
"I'm sorry about your sister," Catherine, "you must be the youngest then."
"Youngest of three, " Nikki said, "Owen is 17 years older and Meghan was 14. I'm close to Owen and his wife Teddy."
"You have people," Catherine asked.
"My mom, Owen, Teddy, Julie, a couple other friends." Nikki said, "meghans fiancé is still around a bit, he's part of our family."
"Let me know when you need time off for appointments or if you just need days to rest," Catherine said.
"I'm trying to book after school where I can," Nikki replied, "next Friday I see my cardiothroatic surgeon at 1pm so have an afternoon sub."
"Heart issues," Catherine asked.
"Traumatic arrest in surgery when I was 18 after getting hit by a drunk driver. Everything was good in July but baby changes things so Owen made me book an appointment," Nikki said, "it's just a precaution."
"Okay," Catherine said, "if you need to run to the washroom let some one in your wing know or use your SEA. Your close to a staff bathroom."
"The self contained one," Nikki replied.
"Use what ever is closest to you," Catherine said, "when will you tell the staff?"
"Maybe November or December," Nikki said, "they'll figure it out eventually. I don't want a lot of attention. I'll probably tell my students when it's obvious."
"If you need anything let me know we will help," Catherine said.
"Thank you," Nikki replied, "I'm going to go put the last few touches on my room and finish the first week's copying. Thank you Catherine."
"Anything you need you tell me," Catherine smiled.
"Thank you," Nikki replied, walking out of the office.
She went to her classroom and grabbed the pile of papers she needed for the first week back, her class outline and rules, intro letter to families, parent homework, review pages, start of the year assessment, her favourite start of year games.
"Nikki, how was your summer," Brett asked walking down the hall.
"Quiet," Nikki said, "yours?"
"I spent a lot of it helping out my sister," Brett said.
"Is she okay," Nikki asked.
"She had her third baby," Brett said, "I hung out with my Nephews. Her husband is deployed."
"I was with my nieces a lot," Nikki said, "I understand how hard it can be to have some one deployed."
"Jeff," Brett asked.
"No Jeff and I broke up last week. It's for the best," Nikki replied, "Owen, Teddy, and Nathan are veterans. I grew up with my siblings deployed. I get how stressful it can be for a family."
"I thought it was just your sister and Dr. Riggs," Brett said.
"All four," Nikki smiled, "my mom was glad it never crossed my mind. How old are your nephews?"
"Seven, five and three," Brett said.
"Thats a handful," Nikki smiled, "and the new baby?"
"Grace is three months now," Brett said.
"Do you have pictures," Nikki asked.
"Too many," Brett replied.
"Show me a couple," Nikki said.
Brett showed her a couple pictures of his niece and nephews.
"You hung out with your nieces," Brett said.
"We do auntie camp three days a week," Nikki replied, "they go to day care two days a week."
"What is auntie camp," Brett asked.
"Hikes, the park, bike rides, adventures, silly songs that drive my sister in law crazy, cooking, baking," Nikki replied, "we have fun. It's just good kid stuff."
"They must love it," Brett said, "I did a lot of that with the boys."
"They need it," Nikki said, "just being home and playing outside. We didn't have a plan most days, I planned one outing a week then did what we wanted the rest of the week."
"Swimming," Brett said, "we swam a lot."
"So did we and the sprinkler," Nikki smiled, "or would play in the treehouse at my moms."
"Your tree house," Brett smiled.
"Our tree house," Nikki said, "it's been home to a lot of important conversations over the years. Now it's back to tea parties and picnics with stuffed animals."
"It's fun being with them all day," Brett said, "I like it."
"It's good," Nikki said, "the girls are easy. It's two not 30."
"And they don't think they're too cool for everything we do," Brett chuckled, "three was nothing compared to a whole class."
"And we did like 50 in Kenya," Nikki laughed.
"The two of us," Brett said, "25 each."
"True," Nikki said.
"I'm looking at going back for July and August next year I emailed Dr. Eberly. You should think about doing it," Brett said.
"My family kind of relies on me in the summer," Nikki said, "and Teddy's having another so they'll really need me."
"Teddy is your sister in law," Brett checked.
"She is," Nikki said.
"Do they know," Brett asked.
"Not yet," Nikki replied, "but it will be a busy summer. She'll go back to work when we get out of school so I said I would do daycare for all three a couple days a week and my mom will do some."
She felt bad hiding the full reason she couldn't consider Kenya again but she wasn't ready for this to be public knowledge. She needed her friend, this was easy and comfortable. He would find out about her situation soon enough when she was ready, she didn't want to lose a good friend, plus it was too soon to tell anyone beyond those that needed to know. She wasn't lying to him she would need to be home with her family and help Teddy and Owen with their kids, she just didn't reveal that one of the kids was her own. She would tell him before it was school wide knowledge but not yet. Right now she needed her friend to be normal.
"Think about it," Brett said, "you liked missions work."
"I really do," Nikki said, "one day. I'd like to be out there again."
"Then tell your brother you want to go an come with me," Brett said.
"I'll think about it," Nikki replied, "I might stay here and do summer school again. Those three weeks of half days weren't bad."
"They were okay," Brett said, "I had remedial while you had enrichment."
"I liked it," Nikki said, "for once they wanted to be there."
"Are we doing more of those whole block games this year," Brett asked.
"Mathemagical adventures," Nikki smiled, "we will. I have one for numeration almost ready."
"What can I do," Brett asked.
"I'll send you the google folder I need some one to go through it to make sure it all works," Nikki replied, "then I actually have to make the pieces. How are you at building tents or putting up tarps."
"What are we doing," Brett asked.
"Camp out classroom transformation," Nikki said, "I can't get the tarps up on my own."
"I will do that part," Brett said.
Teddy was leading her girls through the mall, "first grade and preschool here we come."
"Mom," Allison said, "do I have to go to school?"
"You do baby girl," Teddy said, "but today we're going to get new outfits for you to go to school."
"Me two," Amber asked.
"Both of you," Teddy smiled.
"Mom," Allison asked again, "daddy said we're getting another baby where does it come from?"
"The baby grows in my belly," Teddy said, "my tummy is going to keep getting bigger until it's time for the baby to come out in March."
"Why do baby's make the moms tummy big," Allison asked.
"They grow, they start out really tiny and then they grow to be baby sized," Teddy said, "about the size of your dolls."
"Are we the only kids in our family," Allison asked.
"The two of you and our new baby," Teddy said, "for now. Then about a month after we get our baby auntie Nikki will have her baby."
"Two babies," Amber said.
"Yes," Teddy said, "one in my tummy one in auntie Nikkis."
"Do we get both babies," Amber asked.
"No," Teddy said, "we keep the baby in my tummy and Auntie Nikki keeps the baby in her tummy. But they will live downstairs so we'll see them all the time."
Allison in question mode kept asking questions Teddy didn't feel like answering.
"Where is auntie Meghan," Allison asked, "her picture is at grandmas."
"We don't know sweetie," Teddy said, "she's been gone 9 years we don't know I wish for daddy, grandma and auntie Nikki we did."
"Why don't you know," Allison asked.
"Because she was a soldier and she disappeared trying to help people," Teddy said, "she was a doctor helping soldiers like me and daddy."
"Is she okay," Allison asked.
"I think so baby," Teddy said.
"Mom can auntie Nikki have a baby," Allison asked.
"She can she's an adult," Teddy replied, "she's going to choose what is best for her and her baby."
"But uncle Jeff hasn't been around," Allison said.
"They broke up," Teddy said, "he won't be. You won't see him."
"But does auntie Nikkis baby have a dad," Allison asked.
"Jeff," Teddy answered.
"Do you have to be married to have a baby," Allison asked.
"No," Teddy said, "dad and I weren't when you were born. "
"Why wouldn't auntie Nikki play with me," Amber asked.
"Because she was going to school today to finish getting organized and I don't think she's feeling very good," Teddy replied. Teddy had gone down stairs that morning and heard Nikki vomiting, had she not been feeling nauseous herself she would have tried to help Nikki feel better but she knew that morning would have resulted in both throwing up. Instead she had left a couple tea bags for the tea that was helping her stomach on the counter by the kettle and texted Nikki that they were there.