Author's note: Sorry about the delay another story (character really) took hold in my brain, and I ran with it. I'm trying to get back into this one so hopefully more chapters coming sooner than this! Happy reading. Dark rolling sea.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The next day on her lunch break Rachel snuck out of the lab and went to the local store and bought a pregnancy test. She then went back to the lab and locked herself in a bathroom stall. She opened the box and took the first test then sat on the toilet trying to figure out if this was good news or bad. She wasn't sure. She also wasn't sure how Tom would react. They had discussed children and he was okay with more, but she didn't think he thought it would be this soon.
Time seemed to crawl as she waited the time for the test to become complete. Finally, her timer went off and she closed her eyes and held the test up in front of her. She took a few deep breaths and then opened one eye, peeking at the test to see.
Positive. She was pregnant. A lot of emotions hit her all at once. Some were good, some were panic, some were bad. But overall, she felt elated and happy. She had never really thought about being a mother in her past, but after her talk with Tom, she realized it was the partners she was with, not her own lack of interest.
But now with Tom in her life, her partner, she was happy. She just hoped he was just as happy when she told him tonight. It was rough timing as the children and Jed were due to arrive tomorrow to move in. Rachel wondered how Tom's family would react to this news. They had barely had time to adjust to Tom and her dating, let alone a baby coming.
Rachel took a few more deep breaths and tried to compose herself as best she could. She was going to have to keep it together to get through the day at the lab, as she was definitely not ready to spread this news around publicly.
The rest of the day seemed to crawl by at a snail's pace and Rachel was more than ready to go home when it was time. She was almost home when her she got a text message from Tom that he would be a few hours late. She groaned as she was hoping to be able to tell him right away.
She decided to make a nice dinner since she had the time now, and then tell him while they were eating. She set to work making the food about an hour before he said he'd be there. Once it was all ready, she set the table and waited. Tom didn't show up. She checked her phone, but no new messages had come in.
After an hour she had texted him but got no response. She put the food away in the fridge and curled up on the couch as she was feeling the fatigue of the day. Wrapped in a blanket she started to read. An hour later Tom finally came home, and Rachel looked at the door sleepily.
"You didn't have to wait up for me," Tom said softly as he came over and squatted down in front of her. She smiled at him and sat up a little, putting the book down.
"I did," Rachel said as she felt the butterflies of nerves take flight in her stomach. Now that the moment of truth was upon her, she was nervous to tell him.
"What's wrong?" he asked quickly, his hand taking hers. She smiled at him.
"Nothing, I don't think," she said, building up the courage to tell him her news.
He studied her face for a long moment as Rachel worked her courage. She took a deep breath and placed a hand on his jaw.
"Tom, I have something I need to tell you," she said with a shaky voice. She hated she was so nervous.
"What?" he asked.
"I…took a test today. And it came back positive."
"Positive?" He asked, and she could tell he was thinking. His eyes brightened and he dropped to his knees and leaned forward toward her. "You're pregnant?"
The excitement in his voice surprised her. She watched him as he moved from his knees to the seat next to her on the couch. He wrapped her in a hug and pulled her close.
"I know it's not ideal," Rachel began. But Tom cut her off.
"Stop," he whispered as he leaned in and kissed the top of her head. "We're going to have a baby," he breathed out. Rachel pulled herself back so she could see his face. His features showed a wide grin.
"This is going to be a big adjustment for your children," Rachel said cautiously.
"Yes, it will be," Tom said blowing out a breath. "We'll need to tell them tomorrow."
"You don't want to wait a little bit and let them get settled?"
"I don't think so," Tom said, and she could hear the worry in his voice.
"It's a lot to drop on them all at once."
"I know. We're really having a baby?" he asked suddenly. Rachel smiled and nodded.
"Yes, we didn't use any protection and well…"
"I guess we didn't," Tom said. Rachel read the embarrassment in him. "I didn't think about it, honestly."
"No, you were only thinking about one thing," Rachel said with a laugh. She watched Tom blush.
She watched him lean in and capture her lips with his. She let herself be enveloped by the feelings sparked by his kiss. When he pulled away from her, he was grinning.
"We're having a baby," he said. Rachel nodded slowly, trying not to laugh. His boyish excitement was very endearing.
They spent an hour snuggled on the couch, quietly talking about the future and what it held for them. Rachel couldn't help but feel full in her heart. She had never imagined she'd have something like this. A family. Her own family had not been a great example of family life, but she wanted something completely different for this baby. And with Tom she knew she would have that.
"Tex is back in town," Tom said suddenly. Rachel looked up at him in shock.
"Did he find his daughter?"
"He did. Kat. He's going to settle here in St. Louis, I think. I offered him the job of head of police, he's thinking about it."
"You think he will take it?"
"He was very interested, or so it seemed. He's supposed to let me know in the next couple days."
It was getting very late, and Rachel found herself dosing off. Tom nudged her shoulder and she looked at him sleepily. He leaned in slightly, rubbing his nose against hers.
"It's late, let's go to bed," he whispered, and she nodded slowly, but didn't move to get up. She heard Tom chuckle. Then she felt his arms wrap around as he picked her up and held her against his chest. She leaned in and nuzzled her nose into his neck, inhaling his scent and sighing contently.
Rachel woke the next morning to find Tom still sleeping next to her. She rested her hand over her lower abdomen and sighed. It was going to take a lot of adjusting. The news of a baby had startled her, but Tom seemed to have been overjoyed. She could tell he was nervous about telling his kids, and today was the day Jed and the kids arrived.
She got up and took a shower and when she came out, she found Tom awake, sitting up in their bed. He smiled at her as his eyes studied her body. She felt a little self-conscious and went to the bed and sat on the edge. He reached over and touched her face, then leaned in and kissed her.
"Are you ready for today?" she asked when he pulled back. He closed his eyes.
"Not really," Tom said with a chuckle. "I'm glad they're finally going to be here, but we have a lot to discuss as a family, and I'm nervous how they'll react."
"How have they reacted to moving here?"
"Ashley isn't happy. She had to leave Ava behind and all her other friends she made at school. Sam seemed excited about being with me again, but I don't know. He's kind of a tough kid to read sometimes. I'm sure he left friends behind too."
"Well, they'll be in school here so they should make new friends soon."
"I hope so. It's just a lot for them to take in."
"It's a lot for us to take in," she said, and Tom looked at her. "They're not the only ones making a big adjustment, Tom."
"I…" he started but stopped as he studied her face. She knew he could see the nervousness and fear in her own eyes. She'd never had a family like this before, and she wasn't sure how she'd do as a mother. It was also a confusing point for her because she didn't want to try to step into their mother's shoes either. Her role in the family wasn't something her and Tom had discussed, and now with the baby on the way, it was even more of a tangled mess.
"We've never really discussed my role in the family. I don't…"
"I know," he said cutting her off with a sigh. "I think mostly because I don't really know what your role…that sounds bad."
"It's okay. I don't know either. I don't want to step in as a mother, because I'm not their mother. Once their sibling arrives it'll be different too. I guess maybe we just play it by ear."
"It's going to be rough for a while," Tom said softly.
"I think I understand."
"What do you want the children to call you?" Tom asked and Rachel was a bit shocked. She had not considered that question. She decided that it would be up to them.
"I think we can leave that up to them. If you are comfortable, I'm okay with them just calling me Rachel for now and then see where they want to take it from there."
"Okay," Tom agreed. He leaned in and hugged her.
Tom got up then and took a shower as Rachel went downstairs and made them a quick breakfast. While Tom was in the shower his cell phone rang and Rachel grabbed it, seeing it was a call from Jed.
"Hello, Mr. Chandler," Rachel said into the phone.
"Jed, please," he chided. Rachel laughed.
"Okay, Jed. How is the drive going?"
"It's been an adventure," he said, and Rachel could hear the tension in his voice.
"Oh no. Everything okay?"
"Yes, just I hope you and Tom are ready for what's coming," Jed replied with a sigh. Rachel cringed.
"We can hear you, Grandpa," Ashley's sullen voice carried into the phone.
"Oh," Rachel replied. "How long before you arrive?"
"We should be there in less than an hour."
"We will be ready. Good luck, Jed," Rachel said. They said their goodbyes and Rachel laid the phone down. She turned around to find Tom standing in the doorway.
"Almost here?"
"Yes, and it sounds like it's been an…interesting drive," Rachel said with a tight-lipped smile. Tom frowned.
"It's going to be okay," he sighed, and Rachel simply nodded and took a sip of her tea.
To Be Continued…
