chapter 40
The next morning, the ranch was quiet except for the low hum of the cows moving about in the pasture. I woke to the smell of coffee drifting through the house, sunlight spilling across the quilt my mom had made years ago. For a moment, I just lay there, listening to the familiar creaks of the old farmhouse. It felt safe here—like the world had slowed down just enough for me to breathe.
When I finally made my way to the kitchen, Dad was already at the table, reading the paper, his coffee mug half-empty. Mom was at the stove, humming softly as she flipped pancakes. She turned when she heard me, her smile warm but knowing.
“Morning, sweetheart,” she said. “Sleep okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, rubbing my eyes. “Better than I have in a while.”
Dad looked up from his paper. “You’re up early for someone on vacation.”
I smiled faintly. “Old habits.”
He chuckled. “Well, if you’re feeling ambitious, I could use a hand checking the water troughs later.”
“Sure,” I said automatically, though my stomach twisted at the thought of the smell of feed. I grabbed a glass of water instead of coffee, hoping no one noticed.
Mom set a plate in front of me—pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The sight made my stomach lurch, but I forced a smile. “Thanks, Mom.”
She sat down across from me, her eyes soft. “You don’t have to pretend, Maisie. I know mornings are rough right now.”
Dad looked between us, confused. “What’s going on?”
Mom gave me a gentle nod, silently asking if I wanted to tell him. My throat tightened, but I nodded back. It was time.
“Dad,” I said quietly, setting my fork down. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
He folded his paper, his brow furrowing. “Alright.”
I took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and fragile. Dad blinked, his mouth opening slightly before he caught himself. “Pregnant,” he repeated slowly.
I nodded, my hands twisting in my lap. “About two months.”
He leaned back in his chair, silent for a long moment. Then he exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “Well,” he said finally, “that’s… big news.”
“I know,” I said softly. “I didn’t plan it. I’m still trying to figure everything out.”
He looked at me for a long time, then reached across the table and covered my hand with his. “You’ll be okay,” he said simply. “You’ve always been strong. We’ll help however we can.”
The relief that washed through me was almost overwhelming. “Thanks, Dad.”
Mom smiled, her eyes glistening. “Told you he’d take it well.”
He gave her a look. “You knew?”
“She’s my daughter,” Mom said, shrugging. “I knew before she said a word.”
He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his mouth. “You always do.”
The rest of breakfast passed quietly, the kind of silence that felt full rather than empty. Afterward, I followed Dad out to the pasture, the morning air crisp and cool. We worked side by side, checking the fences and refilling the troughs. He didn’t say much, but every so often, he’d glance at me, his expression thoughtful.
When we finished, he leaned against the fence, looking out over the fields. “You know,” he said, “your mom and I didn’t have everything figured out when we started either. Life has a way of working itself out, even when it doesn’t go to plan.”
I smiled faintly. “Guess I’m learning that.”
He nodded. “You’ll be a good mom, Maisie.”
The words hit me harder than I expected. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” he said simply.
We stood there for a while, watching the cows graze, the sun climbing higher in the sky. For the first time since I’d found out, I felt something close to calm. Maybe I didn’t have all the answers yet, but I wasn’t alone. I had my family, my friends, and a tiny heartbeat growing inside me that was already changing everything.
When I went back inside, Mom was packing leftovers into containers. “Here is some leftovers for you.” she said.
“thanks mom,” I said, smiling.
She handed me a bag, then pulled me into a hug. “You’re going to be okay, sweetheart. One day at a time.”
I nodded against her shoulder. “One day at a time.”