Chapter 13

The morning after one night stand from Rachel POV.

While I was drying my hair, I glanced at the trash and saw the used condoms sitting there. Oh man, is that wet? Is there leakage? Great, now what do I do? Should I just hope there are no consequences? Maybe I'll hit up mass tomorrow and pray for no consequences?

Three months later.

When I first started feeling sick in the mornings, I thought I had the flu. But a few days later, I wondered if it was food poisoning from one of my culinary experiments after all, I am not a master chef.

As the days went on, the nausea stuck around, along with some weird tenderness in my breasts and this uneasy feeling I couldn't shake.
This morning hit me hard again, like a wave crashing over me while I was brushing my teeth. I kept thinking, I'm only nineteen and just starting nursing school.
I always figured I'd have a baby someday, but it would be when I was older, after I graduated, and probably after getting married. I definitely didn't plan for this. A baby was nowhere on my radar—not now, when I'm just getting started.
With a shaky hand, I bought a pregnancy test during a break between classes, hiding it away in my purse like it was a secret. When Jenny came over, we waited nervously for the result. My heart was racing.
Finally, when the timer beeped, I tookay a deep breath and lookayed at the test. Two lines. Positive. My heart felt like it was going to burst, and I couldn't wrap my head around it. Pregnant? How did this happen? We'd been so careful. I did see some evidence of possible leakage that morning, though.
I went to Mass the next day to pray for no consequences, but, well, it lookayed like God didn't hear me. So now what?
I flopped onto the edge of my bed, and the reality of it all started hitting me.
I thought about over and over that night, the way he left so fast.
He probably realized it burst and thought he could run rather than tell me. Or maybe he didn't seen it.

That's unlikely how could he throw them without seeing it, jerk.
Maybe that was one of the reasons he bailed, shithead, now what.

I flopped onto the edge of my bed, and the reality of it all started hitting me.
I thought about over and over that night, the way he left so fast.
He probably realized it burst and thought he could run rather than tell me. Or maybe he didn't see it.
That's unlikely, how could he throw them without seeing it, scumbag, .
Maybe that was one of the reasons he bailed.
So here I am, three months pregnant.
Alone and pregnant.
A single mother at the age of 19.
Not what I had dreamed or planned, in my mind included becoming a single mother before I even hit my twenties.
But now, despite all my fears and doubts, I know one thing for certain: I'm going to love this baby with everything I have.
Jenny leaned in, her eyebrows raised with curiosity. "So, who's the baby daddy?" she asked, in surprise and concern.
"It's Carlos. You remember him, right? He was the guy I danced with before the wedding," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Are you planning to talk to him?" she asked.
"I honestly don't know yet. I just found out I was pregnant, and I feel so lost. I don't even really know Carlos well enough to reach out to him. I don't how to contact him."
My parents were not too happy when I told them they wanted me to get rid of the baby. It had never crossed my mind to have an abortion, so we argued until my sister got involved and convinced them it was my choice.
My parents always expected a certain order that life should take.
You know, meet someone, get engaged, get a house, get married, and then have kids.

I kind of did it all the wrong way for them.

I was glad my sister was helping me. I was having a breakdown.
All I needed was someone to hold my hand and reassure me that it was okayay to keep my baby.
I couldn't bear to think of that; I was already attached to this baby.
I am still coming to terms with being a possibly becoming a single parent
And the baby, well, he or she will have all my love and support from my friends and family.

One afternoon, while Jenny and I were talking about the baby, my phone rang. It was Mom, her voice trembling slightly on the other end.
'Rachel, I know your dad and I weren't very supportive when you told us about you being pregnant, and I'm sorry for being a b * h' My mom said to me.
I was shocked. At first I couldn't talk, but then I said. 'I know I disappointed you both, but I am happy, scared but happy. Stressed and scared, but I am happy.' I tell her. Scared, more like petrified, I thought.
'We are here for you, sweetie.' she said softly, 'I just wish you would let your dad try and find this person, this man. Do you know who it is?'
'Mom, of course, I know who it is. Why should you say that. I really need to handle this in my own way. After I talk to him, I'll share everything with you.'
'Well, have you tried calling the father yet?
'Mom, let me do this, I will talk to you about it after I talk to him.'
"We'll be here for you, no matter what. I can help you with the nursery; your dad wants to build a crib and help with anything else you need for the baby."
"Mom, slow down! I've still got like six months—plenty of time. But yeah, I want to be organized for when the big day arrives."

A couple days later, Jenny called and said. 'Rach, I talked to Jace, Jose and Carlos all knew each other in high school. He will get a phone number for Carlos.'
'Ugh, I'm so embarrassed to ask for his number,' I admitted.
'Come on, don't be embarrassed! This is the 21st century; stuff like this happens all the time. Sure, maybe not the baby part, but one-night stands happen all the time these days. A lot of people don't even exchange names or numbers afterward. At least we have a way to find him through Jason. He mentioned needing to get the base commander's number, since they can't have cell phones during training. By the way, did Carlos say anything about going for airborne training? Do you know what base he's at?'
I shook my head. 'No, I know he just finished basic training, but I have no clue which base he got assigned to, after that.'
'That's ok, Jace probably knows how to find out.'
Next day Jenny called, 'Ok, I got a number for you to get in touch with Carlos. You will have to talk to the commander though' she informed me.
'Jenny, I'm nervous about calling him. I don't want to end up talking to some stranger in a military office about being pregnant. What if they think I'm some weirdo?' I said.
'Rachel, it's the 21st century, nobody cares. Just call, tell Carlos, then you will know what he wants to do. He's a friend of Jace's, so he's probably a good guy. Most of Jace's friends are nice or at least ok, you know that. Just call him.'
'Rachel, relax! It's the 21st century; nobody really cares about that stuff! Just pick up the phone, explain the situation to Carlos, and then you'll know what he wants to do next. He's a friend of Jace's, so he's probably a good guy. i know most of Jace's friends they're nice or at least alright. Just take a deep breath and give him a call.'

After working to get up courage to call him, I got the CO of his unit. Captian Miller, I wasn't able to talk to Carlos directly so I had to explain to the Captain why I was calling, again embarrassing,

End of chapter 12

Pregnant?' Carlos finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. Captain Miller nodded his gaze steady.

'Yes, and she wanted you to know. She says she's about twelve weeks along.'

Thank you for telling me, sir,' Carlos said, standing up.

Chapter 13 Ranger POV

The words hit him like a bolt of lightning. Pregnant?

'But...how?' he stammered, his thoughts in a whirlwind.

He raised an eyebrow, 'In the normal way I suppose' he said.

The words echoed in his head as he tried to process the reality of the situation.

How is she?' Carlos asked, his voice steadier now.

'She's doing well, but she needs your support. This is a big responsibility, Carlos. You'll need to balance your duties here with your obligations to her and your child.'

Carlos nodded, the weight of the situation settling on his shoulders.

He was a soldier, trained to face challenges head-on, and this was no different.

He thought of the life he had planned, focused on his training to achieve his goals, he had just finished airborne yesterday. He just got his acceptance to RASP (Ranger Assesment and Selection Program) one day earlier.

Carlos's mind raced as he tried to process the news. Now, everything was changing.

This is not what I dreamed or planned, I thought.
'Thank you for telling me, sir,' Carlos said, standing up. 'I'll make sure to reach out to her as soon as possible.'

As he walked back to the drop zone, Carlos felt a sense of dread maybe it was fear wash over him.

He would continue his training, but he would also be there for Rachel and their unborn child.

As I headed back to the barracks, I ran into Les. 'Hey, how's it going?' he asked.

'It's been a weird day. Do you want to go to Houlihan's for a beer?' I replied. 'Sure. How about in half an hour?' he says.

Houlihan's is about twenty minutes from here; on the way, Les asks, 'So how was your day weird?'

'You remember that chick from Jace's stag night?' I ask him. He nods.

'The one you hooked up with and bailed before she woke up?

'Yeah, that one. Well, she called the base today.'

He looks surprised. Why'd she call? What did she want?'

'She didn't talk to me, she talked to Captain Miller.'

'Dios, what did he say?'

'Well, he says she said she is pregnant!'
'f * g hell Carlos. You left her pregnant?' he practically screams at me.

'That's what she told the captain. I had no idea she was pregnant, how would I know. You know how that night went? I barely remember her name.' he kind of looked at me. I felt like an idiot the way he stared at me. Man, I just wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.'

'Do you think it's true? What are you going to do' Les Asked.
'I don't know; I'll call her and find out. Fuck, I can't believe it. I'm only 19, I'll be a father by the time I'm 20.'
'You know what your mami and papi will do right?'
'Yeah It's going to be bad, maybe worse that when I stole that car.'
'You know they will probably make you get married,' He said.
'Married, no way, I'm too young to be married.'
'But they will say you have to do right by her. You know they will. They will say the baby will need family and be raised in the church.'
'It's 2002, the 21st century. People don't have to get married for a baby' I say.
'Yeah, but they will still guilt you into marriage, just wait and see.'
'Argh, Christ almighty you might be right, geez.'

'Well I guess I better call her, probably call tomorrow.