I had just gotten out of the shower, getting ready for dinner with my parents. Zach and I invited them over to the cabin so they could see our home. Zach was so excited about the twins; he already ordered a set of cribs and had them set up. We decided to tell my parents as we showed them around the house.

I hadn’t been to my parents house at all since Dad beat up Zach. It killed me that my parents and I went from talking all the time to barely saying anything. Things were just so awkward after the whole Zach and Dad thing went down. But when they came to our last game, it showed me there was hope.

I put on my bra after getting dried off and cursed when I couldn’t clasp it in the back. It shrunk. It must have. Zach walked in and saw me fidgeting with it and laughed at my frustration.

“See if you can get it,” I said, giving up.

He came up behind me and helped. It was tight. “I think you’re going to have to get new ones.” He kissed my shoulder. “And that reminds me of something.” He went over to his business folder and pulled out a checkbook and a card. He walked over to me and handed them to me. I looked at the checkbook and saw Zach had added me to his account.

“You trust me?” I asked with a smirk as I loosened the straps on my bra a bit.

“Of course.” He smiled at me.

“That means a lot.” I smiled but then frowned when I looked at myself in the mirror. “Why in the hell are my boobs growing before my stomach?” I was so ready to have a baby bump, but all it looked like was I ate too much food, not a true bump.

Zach put his hands on my stomach then put his chin on my shoulder. “It’ll happen.”

“I should finish getting ready. What time is it?”

He moved back and looked at his watch. “Six.”

“Crap. They’ll be here any minute.” I grabbed my shirt from the counter near the sink and pulled it over my head then brushed my hair. I followed Zach into the kitchen and helped him finish everything up. When the doorbell rang, I felt nauseous. This could go good or really bad. There would be no in-between, and I was banking on the latter part. I found Zach’s hand as we went to the door together.

Zach opened the door and let my parents in. Mom hugged me immediately, and Dad shook Zach’s hand. Dad squeezed my shoulder but didn’t reach out to hug me, which stung a little. We led them to the table. The kitchen, living, and dining area were all open to each other but separated by a bar. Mom looked around the large space in awe.

“This is beautiful, you guys.” She smiled at Zach. “This is where you and Hailey are living?” Her eyes gravitated toward the large, stone fireplace, and she stared at with envy.

“It is,” I answered and sat down next to Zach. I looked at my dad. “Say something. You’re too quiet.”

Dad sat down after Mom took her own seat. He took a drink of the water that was near his plate. “I’m just taking it all in. You’re doing well, Hailey. I guess I was unfair and expected that you’d be struggling and running home to us by now. It’s hard, seeing you grow up. I know that I hate watching from the sidelines, and I know it’s my fault. I’m stubborn.”

Mom smiled at Dad. “Which is where Hailey gets it from.”

I laughed and so did Zach. I looked at Zach and nudged his foot with mine. “See, it’s genetic. Now you know where I get it from.”

Dad looked at Zach. “I guess I owe you a proper apology. All I ask is that you put yourself in my shoes for a moment so you can understand a bit why I lost my temper. I’m not saying that what I did was okay, but in my moment of panic, as a parent, I lost it.”

Mom spoke before Zach could. “We aren’t going to worry about that anymore. It’s in the past, and from the few conversations I’ve had with Hayley, she just wants to leave the past in the past. From this point on, we move forward, and we want to get to know you.”

Dad nodded and smiled at me from across the table.

Mom looked at all the food Zach and I made. “Now let’s eat, and we can discuss more after dinner.”

Zach started passing around the food. Once he was done, he held my hand. I could tell he was nervous. We ate dinner, making small talk about all the upcoming games since we played all-year-ball. I just let Zach do most of the talking with Dad. I didn’t say much since I quit the team. I’d still be there to cheer them on and help but no more playing. Trevor was the new pitcher as of yesterday.

When dinner was over, I was a nervous wreck. We were showing my parents around the house and getting closer to what would be the nursery. Zach was explaining all the changes that were made, walking from room to room and answering questions my parents had.

We stopped at the door of the nursery, and I held tightly to Zach’s hand. I used my free hand to open the door and let my parents in first. Zach and I watched them walk in. Mom gasped and grabbed Dad’s arm. Dad put his hands in his pockets and looked at the cribs. I chewed nervously on my bottom lip, waiting for them to say something.

Dad and Mom turned around to look at us. Tears filled both of their eyes as they looked at my stomach. They rushed over and wrapped Zach and I both in a hug.

I cried.

I cried so hard because it was the turning point for us. We were going to be okay, and my parents, who I loved so freakin’ much, didn’t hate me.

“Two cribs?” Mom asked, grabbing Zach’s hand and laughing.

Dad continued to hug me. He kissed my head and pulled back, looking at Zach, waiting for him to answer Mom.

“Yes, ma’am. Twins.”

Mom squealed and covered her mouth. “Did you hear that, Craig? She’s having twins!”

Dad laughed and shook his head. He looked at Zach. “I really want to punch you in the face right now, but I promise I won’t.” Dad shocked us all when he wrapped Zach in a hug. “She’s your problem now,” he teased with tears in his eyes.

Mom and I burst into laughter.

After Dad moved out of the hug, he looked at Zach. “Where is the ring on her finger? You two will be getting married, right?”

Zach and I both looked at one another, unsure of what to say.

“We haven’t talked about it.” Zach looked at my dad.

“We aren’t worried about that right now. I just want to focus on the twins and getting through this pregnancy.”

Dad didn’t look too thrilled with that, but he smiled anyway. “Just as long as you two are happy.”

Mom smiled too. “We will help in any way we can.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.” I walked into the room and started explaining all our plans for the nursery.

As the night came to an end, I felt so relieved that my parents were going to be involved. Zach and I walked them to their car and watched them leave. We went back inside and started cleaning everything up.

“That went so much better than I thought it would.” I couldn’t stop smiling. “Our love is so crazy, Zach. But it’s real and messy, and I love it. I don’t have to be married, just so you know.” I kept talking, but he never said anything. I looked up from the dishes I was putting in the dishwasher and found him staring blankly at his phone.

“Zach?” I dried my hands on the towel.

He looked up at me and tears started to fall down his face. “We, we have to go,” he said, sounding numb.

“What’s going on?”

“They don’t think Elliot is going to make it through the night.”

“But he was eating so good yesterday. He was fine. And you, you said he was okay today.” Tears spilled from my eyes as I started rushing around, grabbing my keys and shoes.

Zach didn’t respond. He just stared at his phone, looking so lost.

I grabbed his shoes by the door. “Come on, Zach. I’ll drive.”

Zach looked up at me and nodded. He came over to me, took his shoes, and followed me out to the car.