I awake to the distinct smell of pancakes.
The smell fills my nose as hunger takes over. Finally, gone were the days of barfing at the smell of some foods. More like… most foods in the morning.
In late May my dad made bacon one morning and I threw up for an hour. An entire hour.
But today, 4 months into growing this baby, all the smell of pancakes did to me was make me want them in my stomach right now.
My eyes flutter open.
"Rusty?", I mumble and then finally make out the figure standing in front of me to for sure be Rusty, Rusty holding a plate of pancakes with syrup on them. "Aw Russ, you brought me breakfast in bed?"
I coo and hold my hands out for the plate.
"Yeah too bad they're all for me. Bed stealer", He says with a grin as he walks out of the room taking the pancake smell with him.
"Hey!", I call. "That is so not cool! Russell Allen Cartwright get back here!".
"Ooh the legal name is out", I hear Rusty's voice. "I'm so scared. Oh wait… you're not mom".
I get out of bed then, realizing I fell asleep in my tank top and sweatpants.
"No, but I am going to be someone's mom. So I think that gives me some authority to tell you you're being a jerk to your sister", I pull my hair into a ponytail and walk out of Rusty's room.
"No it doesn't, it just means that you don't know how to use birth control", Rusty laughs met with a glare from me.
"Rusty you wanna show some respect to this fine woman here?", Dale reprimands him. "Don't worry Casey, I'm the cook in this household anyway, there's more where those came from".
Dale smiles at me and points to the stovetop where he's cooking.
He's wearing his 'ZBZ' apron.
"Thank you Dale", I smile back at him, before giving Rusty the evil eye. "I'm going to the washroom".
I stock off to the washroom.
"Yeah we know, you were in there like 20 times last night", Rusty calls to me and I turn around before going in.
"Yeah how about I put the pressure of, say, a watermelon on your bladder all day and night?", I give him a dirty look. "See how you like it".
"Last appointment you said the doctor told you it was as big as a tomato", Rusty argues "You're not that big".
I can't even argue with his point so I just give him a look, cross my arms and close the bathroom door.
When I come out there's a plate of two pancakes for me at the kitchen table.
"Thank you Dale", I smile at him before sitting down. "For having manners".
"You're welcome. And she's right Rusty, Casey's our guest and she needs us right now. We're kind of like that sitcom, y'know?", Dale smiles holding his coffee mug with Jesus on it.
"Friends?", Rusty questions.
"I was thinking more Will and Grace", I suggest to Rusty's chagrin.
"No you two. I'm talking about Three's Company! Except Casey you're the guy in this scenario," Dale explains with a smart alec look.
"Never heard of it", I shrug. "These are amazing Dale, thank you".
"You're welcome. You guys at ZBZ didn't just hire for me for my looks", He grins and I nod awkwardly.
"You know you really could've asked before stealing a guys bed", Rusty says to me.
"God someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed", I groan evoking a laugh out of Dale.
"No Case, I woke up on the wrong side of the futon!", Rusty says, annoyed.
"He's just mad because he came home with Dana thinking they were going to do something other than talk about his dumb wire and you were in his bed", Dale explains and I join in with Dale on a laugh.
"Gross", I tease him. "Anyway, blame Cappie, he's the one who ushered me in there".
"So you had the talk with Cappie then?", Rusty's interest is peaked and he seems to move on from the bed debacle.
"Yeah and it went surprisingly well", I give him a look, letting him know that he finally doesn't have a reason to be pissed at me.
"Well at least it didn't go so well that I found Cappie in my bed with you", Rusty gives me a genuine smile, happy I finally let Cappie know.
"Nope, we were good, responsible and keeping things clean and professional for the baby. And you'll be happy to know that I'm staying here, in Cyprus", I say with a smile.
"I am happy to hear that", Dale ignores the fact that I wasn't necessarily talking to him.
"What?", Rusty's face lights up. "Case that's awesome. I mean… kind of risky, but awesome. See I told you Cappie would want to raise the baby. There's no way he was gonna walk around everyday knowing you and his baby are out there".
"Well, you're right. And it is kind of risky since… I don't have much going here for me right now. But this is where I belong", I smile. "And she should be where her dad is".
"I'm so happy, now I can be a hands on Uncle", Rusty smiles big. "I can teach her science!"
"Not to play devils advocate here or anything, but a baby isn't necessarily gonna do great things for my sleep schedule and if this happened on Three's Company I'm pretty sure they'd just make Jack move out", Dale says nervously.
"Oh don't worry Dale, I'm not gonna stay with you guys. I'll find my own place. I have to talk to Cappie more but I may even see if there's something to rent in this building. It's gonna be harder because staying at mom and dad's was free… but Cappie's here", I explain.
"And mom and dad will probably hover over you and tell you what to do every hour of the day", Rusty adds.
"Well… it is kind of an adult problem. Having babies", Dale comments.
"I am an adult", I protest. But of course I got his point. "And I've babysat… and watched marathons of teen mom with the girls and there's no way I'll be worse than that so…"
I just realized how ill prepared I am and suddenly feel slightly sick.
"I'm more so talking about your preteen like minded boyfriend… if you're calling him that these days. Any marriage plans on the horizon?", Dale always seems to slip that into conversation.
I give Dale a look and get up, not hungry anymore and done with my plate.
"Dale, c'mon. We've been over this. I really don't want to be married right now. Not to Cappie, not to anyone", I say.
"Alright. I'm a little looser with the big G-O-D these days", He spells out the word. "So I'm going to forget you guys aren't married and… decide to be happy for my two friends".
"Thanks Dale, that's really mature of you", I smile. "Here I'll clean up".
I walk over to the table and take Dale's plate before he's even fully done with his pancakes.
"See, this is an adult thing to do", I try to show them while I'm at the counter clearing the plates. "Because I, like my perfectly, of age, non boyfriend slash baby daddy, am an adult".
Dale and Rusty both give me blank stares.
"Now… which cupboard has the dish soap in it?"
I head back over to ZBZ when I get ready so I can finish packing up my stuff. Since I'd left last year kind of breaking down about being pregnant, I hadn't even had time to think about packing up my stuff.
I'm walking up the house from my car when my phone rings.
I see his name, a name that hadn't come up on my phone for a long time. Who used to be the person I'd use my phone to talk to most often.
"Hi", I answer the phone, a smile immediately growing on my lips.
"Hey Case, I just wanted to see how you were?", Cappie asks.
"I'm fine", I smile. "My back feels great after sleeping in Rusty's bed last night. So that's a plus. I'm just at ZBZ right now".
"Oh yeah, are you telling the girls?", He asks. "Because I probably should've checked with you first but I ended up telling the KT guys, I hope that's okay".
"I'm pretty sure they can infer when they look at me next", I laugh.
"It's not that noticeable", I hear a semblance of a laugh in Cappie's lying voice.
"Sure", I say sarcastically. "And I don't mind that you told the guys, I figured you would want to talk to them about it. Actually… now that you know I guess I'll maybe tell the girls at the house today. That is if they don't all basically know already. I'm pretty sure Rebecca just thinks I've put on weight, she keeps talking to me about going on a diet".
Cappie laughs on the other end of the phone.
"Well good luck with them. Don't let them make you feel bad", He says seriously.
"I'll try Cap", I nod.
"Okay well I just wanted to see how you were and… thought maybe you'd want to meet up later? If you wanted to talk more about things?", I can feel the nervousness in his voice. This was a very different Cappie. Well still the same him, I'd just never experienced him being this nervous and serious. That was usually me.
"Sure yeah, I'd like that. I just have to finish packing some of my stuff and getting it into my car-"
Cappie cuts me off before I can finish my sentence.
"Wait you're gonna carry it out to your car yourself?"
"Well yeah", I shrug. "I parked right out front so it's fine".
"Are you sure? I can come over there and carry it out for you, I'm not busy", He says.
"You sure? All the girls are here talking about rush and stuff", I say.
"What? Do they think I'm gonna steal their rush plans? KT hasn't participated in recruitment activities for years", He jokes.
"No I just mean they're gonna see you, and they're gonna know I'm pregnant and they're gonna… well… ", I trail off, not knowing what point I'm trying to make.
"They're gonna know we hooked up? Yeah I'm pretty sure most people know that Case", He laughs.
"You know what I mean", I roll my eyes good naturedly. "They're gonna be all over us about what our plans are and if we're back together and I just don't know if I'm ready for all that".
"Okay no problem, why don't you text me after you've told them and then i can come over and carry your boxes?", He suggests.
"Okay, if you really don't mind", I smile.
"It would make me feel better Case, just let me" He laughs.
"Alright, I'll text you Cap", I laugh. "See ya!"
"Bye".
I was just lucky I was by my car and no one could see the way I was acting like a giddy schoolgirl at just merely talking to Cappie. I didn't want to admit it, but I'd been pretty depressed about having to do this alone and now that I have someone in this with me, specifically him, who I still loved and probably always would, it made me happy.
Immediately this morning I woke up more awake and motivated than I have since I found out I was pregnant in the Spring. And I think it's because I finally knew that I wouldn't have to do this alone in my childhood home.
I had always wanted to stay in Cyprus, and I'd never wanted to break up with Cappie, it was just circumstances. Not that I even knew if we would get back together, but this was much better than no relationship at all.
I knock on the door of ZBZ, nervous about what my former sisters are gonna say. It's even worse with Ash not here to be my backup. But if I'm being honest with myself I know that half of them probably have already come to the conclusion that I'm pregnant.
That or ate my weight in ice cream over the summer.
"Casey!", Rebecca answers the door, and I'm surprised by her excitement to see me.
I give her a confused look but step inside anyway.
"We are so happy you're here", She puts her arm around me.
"Rebecca no offence, but can you just tell me what you want? Yesterday you were practically about to drive me to DC yourself you wanted me gone so bad", I say to her, crossing my arms as we stand in front of the stairs.
"Well one, I'm trying to be nice since I know you're probably having a tough time if you're eating your feelings that much", She looks down at my belly and I give her an annoyed look.
"Well I actually wanted to talk to you guys about that-", I start but Rebecca interrupts.
"Two, we really need you Case. Teagan is insisting we have a house mother and we were thinking you could stay for a few days, pretend to be our house mother", She looks at me, her bottom lip puckered like she's begging.
"Well", I sigh. "That pays right?"
"Yes", Rebecca smiles.
"Them I'm in, but I can actually do longer than a few days Rebecca", I say.
"What do you mean? Are you finally realizing you're more the stay at home mom type than law school material?", She asks.
I give her a dirty look but realize that I'm literally about to tell her that I am about to become a mom.
"I'm gonna ignore that comment because… well I know that you've pointed out that I've put on some weight recently", I explain. "And it's not really what you think".
"Oh crap, you're pregnant, aren't you?", She rolls her eyes, looking disappointed.
"Well… yeah I am. Why do you care so much?", I ask, confused by Rebecca's attitude again.
"We've been betting on it, and I had my money in the put on breakup weight sector", She sighs.
"Wow well I'm glad my life is so amusing for you to bet on", I give her a look. "But it's actually real to me".
"Laura had it pegged from the beginning when you showed up the other day, now I've gotta give her twenty dollars", Rebecca sighs. "But um… congrats Casey..? Is that what you wanna hear? I would say my condolences but since you kept the baby this long I'm assuming you're… happy about this?"
Wow, okay. Talk about sisterly support.
"Well thanks… I guess", I fake a smile. "I'm not really happy or upset, it just kind of happened and I'm growing more used to it everyday".
"Do you know who the dad is?", She asks. "It's okay if you don't".
I shoot her another glare.
"Of course I know who the dad is Rebecca!"
"As long as it's not my boyfriend I'm happy for you guys", She gives me a smile.
"Don't worry, it's Cappie's", I say.
"Oh wow", she grimaces slightly. "I really should say my condolences then".
I put my hands on my hips.
"C'mon Rebecca, I know you of all people know that Cappie's a good guy. And he's… been good about it, so everything's fine", I say.
"You're not going to DC then? Are you moving back with your parents?", Rebecca asks. "Because until you pop the baby out we could really use you to play house mother. After that you'll have to leave because we do not want a gross baby around here".
I sigh.
"Yeah don't worry Rebecca, I'm not gonna raise my newborn baby in a sorority house. But I'll take the job for this semester while im still pregnant. I kind of need somewhere to live anyway", I say.
"Perfect. Plus we could try and get philanthropy points for this, I'm seeing the headline now. 'ZBZ sisters help out homeless pregnant woman'!", Rebecca smiles as I look at her in annoyance. I follow her into the living room where most of the other girls are sitting. "Girls we have a house mother whose not going to treat us like children!"
The girls cheer and clap.
"Also Casey's pregnant!", Rebecca adds.
The girls stop their cheering and look at me blankly.
"I totally called that", Laura says immediately.
"Well thank you for betting on my life, but you're hearing it from me now, I'm about 20 weeks pregnant", I say.
"I had my money on breakup weight. So Laura come to my room later to collect", Rebecca sighs. "Anyways when she gets too big to do anything she's gonna leave but until then Casey's our house mother".
"Congrats Casey!", Abby says.
"Thanks Abby", I smile at her.
"Was it on purpose?", Betsy asks.
"Betsy you can't just ask someone that!", Laura hits her on the arm.
"C'mon, obviously it wasn't on purpose", Rebecca scoffs.
"No it's okay girls… um no it was not… planned. But I'm making the best of it, and I've deferred my acceptance to GW for a year so I'm going to be staying here now. It's a girl, so she's a future ZBZ", I smile at the end.
"Aw that is so cute!", Abby practically squeals and some of the girls come over to hug me.
"Thanks guys. I'm really nervous but it's nice to be in Cyprus again and I think I'm gonna have her here and hopefully it goes okay", I smile.
"Is Cappie the dad?", Betsy asks.
"Betsy!", Laura gives Betsy a glare.
"No it's okay Laura", I wave it off. "Yes Cappie's the dad".
"How cute!", Abby smiles. "We're gonna get to throw a ZBZ baby shower!"
"That's sweet, you guys don't have to", I say.
"No way, I'm already planning it Case", Betsy smiles. "I'll figure out the theme by the end of the day".
"Betsy the theme is baby", Laura shakes her head, annoyed. "That's why it's called a baby shower".
"You guys can figure it out later", I say. "Well… I guess I'm just gonna go unpack my stuff since I'll be your house mom now".
"Our house mom and a real life mom!", Betsy gives me a hug.
"Yep", I nod still slightly uncomfortable with being called a mom when it felt so foreign.
"The only thing is Casey… we're gonna have to hide this from Teagan", Rebecca looks at me, serious. "We all want you to be our house mom but something tells me Teagan isn't going to love the whole 22 year old pregnant girl thing. No offence".
"None taken, I get it. How long is she here for?", I ask.
"Just until tomorrow because she's doing our recruitment booth with us", Rebecca sighs, annoyed.
"What if we just like… have you hold your purse in front of you?", Betsy suggests.
"It's okay guys, I'm sure I have something that will hide my belly more. Like a flowy dress", I suggest. "I'm only 20 weeks anyways. We'll make it work and get Teagan off our backs".
I have to make this work, because it solves two of my problems, one being finding a place to stay until I can find a more long term solution, and two being that I get paid to be a house mom. And three… as nice as Dale was I seriously can't handle many more of his bible verses and him hitting on me. Not to mention that there was a real bed here.
"Okay girls, we've got a plan, we've just got to get through today and tomorrow and then Teagan will be long gone", Rebecca proposes and we all nod.
"On it, I'll go check my closet now", I say and leave to go up the stairs to my old bedroom.