Chapter Fifty-Six

We haven't talked for a while. What's up Squirt?

Jenny

After scanning the one line email, I deleted it immediately.

Sawyer was listening to the messages when I wandered into the kitchen. He rewound when I got there, and replayed the message he'd been listening to.

"Hey Cal, Sawyer, what's up? Haven't heard from you in weeks. I'm getting worried. Call me, little sis."

"So are you ever going to talk to her?" asked Sawyer, putting his arms around me as I went to sit on his lap.

"Not right now," I said stubbornly. He put his chin on my head.

"Just to play devil's advocate…" he began.

"Don't bother. And we have to go," I said, cutting him off before he could begin.

"Yeah, you ready?" he asked. We were going to my parent's house for dinner with our family and his. He glanced at my white sundress and smiled.

"Yeah, you?" I asked. He nodded, smoothed out his pants (khakis-I'd practically had to force them onto him) and helped me up before standing himself.

"You look beautiful. Come on, Mrs. Scott," he said. I took his arm and smiled up at him.

We tensely waited in front of the door twenty minutes later. They still didn't know I wasn't pregnant.

Mom answered, and looked surprised when she did.

"Why did you just ring?" she asked curiously.

"Because I don't live here," I said. Her face fell slightly, but she repaired it and beckoned the two of us in.

Daddy was sitting with Nathan and Haley on the sofas in the living room. Daddy bounced up when we arrived, and hugged me.

"How are you feeling?" he asked nervously. I swallowed nervously, and caught sight of Haley sending me a sympathetic glance.

"I'm fine," I said simply.

"Really? Good, I thought that the first few months were the hardest," said Haley.

"Guys…" I began nervously. Mom appeared around the corner.

"Dinner!" she announced cheerily. Tess and Lauren came running from upstairs. The five of us in the living room proceeded into the dining room.

The meal was awkward and interminable. No one could grow accustomed to the feel of our separation from our families. So many topics were off limits-Jason Winters, Jenny, Nikki, Dan, Tess' accident.

"Anything new with you guys? Been to the doctor yet?" asked Mom finally. Sawyer took my hand in comfort under the table.

"Mom, Daddy… everyone, I have something to say," I said. I weakly looked sideways at Sawyer, who squeezed my hand and took over for me:

"Callie isn't pregnant. It was a fluke," he said. Haley's mouth dropped open, full of food. Mom looked up and stared blankly. Tess and Lauren simultaneously dropped their forks.

"How is that possible?" asked Daddy finally.

"It can happen. Either I was never pregnant, or I miscarried. I think I never was pregnant, because I never felt pregnant," I explained.

"How do you feel about that?" asked Mom.

"Ripped off! You guys forced me to get married for what turns out to be no reason at all! When, by the way, you knew all along that the guy you were pressuring me into had slept with my sister!" I said, my voice losing it's calm edge. Haley and Daddy winced while both of their spouses turned to them.

"You knew?" asked Nathan and Mom at the same time.

"I knew," said Lauren.

"Me too," added Tess.

"You did that to your wife?" demanded Nathan, staring at his son.

"She wasn't my wife. She wasn't even my girlfriend," he said. Nathan relaxed.

"Nice," he said sarcastically, clearly having granted some degree of forgiveness to his son.

"What? Nathan, what are you on? Sawyer slept with Jenny! His ex's sister! How can you just let that slide?" asked Mom, thumping her napkin onto the table. Tess looked up, eyes wide.

"We've slept together. It was a stupid thing to do, but they were broken up. I mean…" said Nathan.

"Nathan! Do you realize how completely irrelevant this is? Callie, you're certain you're not pregnant?" asked Haley gently.

"Yeah. I um… started today," I said. She covered her face in her hands before glancing upwards.

"Oh thank God," she whispered.

"Mom?" asked Sawyer in surprise.

"Hales?" asked Nathan worriedly. She looked up, shocked and quickly began to cover her tracks.

"Nothing," she said quickly.

"I just told you I'm not pregnant and you can't even pretend to be remorseful?" I demanded. She touched my hand from across the table.

"No sweetie, never. This is something else," she said.

"What else?" asked Sawyer.

"Nothing," said Haley and Nathan at the same time. We heard a thump from the corner of the table, and all looked in surprise. Tess had stood angrily, her dark hair flying and her brown eyes flashing.

"No. I'm tired of your protecting me. Everyone…" she said. Haley cut her off.

"Tess!" she cried in anguish.

"I'm pregnant," she said simply. My hand, still in Sawyer's, was suddenly squeezed sharply. Mom pinched the skin between her eyebrows.

"Who's?" asked Lauren tactlessly. Tess raised an eyebrow at her.

"Jason's. He's the only guy I've ever been with," she stated.

"When?" asked Sawyer.

"Summer camp," she replied. Lauren sputtered.

"Summer...! Like, a few months ago? What the hell? How could he?" she said.

"What are you talking about?" asked Tess.

"He cheated on me!" cried Lauren.

"Sounds like he cheated on Tess, then you, then Tess again," said Sawyer.

"What are you going to do?" I asked curiously.

"We're going to get married," she said. Nathan scoffed.

"No you're not," he said. Her mouth dropped open.

"What are you talking about? You let Callie and Sawyer," she reminded her father.

"I'm aware. But Sawyer and Callie are in love. And Sawyer can be depended upon," said Nathan.

"So can Jason!" cried Tess in denial.

"Sweetie, I love you but the guy cheated on your repeatedly. He's not someone to be trusted," said Haley.

"I don't believe that," said Tess.

"It's true," whispered Lauren, seeming to realize the insignificance of her broken heart compared to the dilemma of her best friend.

"He said he'd marry me," said Tess again. Sawyer looked up and stared at his baby sister, so distraught yet trusting of the arrogant high school boy.

"He won't. He disappeared yesterday. I'm surprised you guys don't know yet," said Sawyer.