Layla's Truth

Chapter 9: Shocking News That Should Be Impossible

Saybella's POV

It was the first Monday of January. I was relaxing before we had to return to school the next day. I really hadn't moved from the couch in the bonus room except to eat and go to the bathroom. I was texting friends while either reading, watching TV, or attempting to play video games with Elliot. It was a fun, but boring day. It's the kind of day that I like to have when feeling lazy. I thought about hanging out with friends, but we had just spent yesterday together and they wanted their lazy days too. I was about to take a nap when Mom yelled that it was time for.

"Saybella," Josie said, poking her head in the room. I tried to get more comfortable. I love food, but I wanted to sleep. "Come on, Mom made our favorite."

"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt," I said, getting up. I loved whenever Mom made my favorite dish. The only part wasn't always so joyful was some of the news that came with it. It's my parents' favorite way to tell us someone in our family has died.

I bounded down the stairs after Josie with Elliot following me. When Josie reached the bottom, she waited for the both of us to get down there too. Then we raced to the table and to our seats. We had just sat down when Mom came in carrying the last plate of chicken parmesan for herself.

After Mom sat down, we said our prayers. We started to eat when Mom put her fork down.

"Kids, my darlings," Mom said, being a bit dramatic. "I have something important to say."

Elliot swallowed his food quickly. "Who died this time?" he asked. Josie and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. That was so insensitive of him.

Mom laughed, scaring me. "My funny son, no one has died that I know of," Mom said, smiling. "That your father's job anyways."

Josie snorted. "Leave the horrible job to him," she said when Mom looked at her.

"I prefer to be the bearer of good news," she said simply.

"Okay Mom, we get that," I said. "So what's the news?"

Mom sighed. "I really wish you father was here too," she said. She looked around at us. "But then again, he already knows the news. I would just like the support."

"Okay Mom, you're rambling and being dramatic," Josie said.

"Could you get to the point?" Elliot asked, getting impatient.

"Well, I can," Mom said, dragging this out. "But should I after you talked to me like that?"

"Mom, could you please forget Elliot's rudeness and tell us what the news?" I asked, trying to be polite but also show we were all getting impatient at this point.

"Fine," she said, sighing. Mom started fidgeting. "God, I'm so nervous! I'm not sure if you guys will be happy or confused...Well, you are old enough to know...No, that's a horrible way to start...God, Nick should be here holding my hand and helping out with this..."

"Mom, is the news really that nerve-wracking?" Josie asked, concerned. Mom nodded, causing Josie's eyes to grow big. "Oh my gosh! You have cancer!"

I started to panic and I saw Elliot's face go pale. Mom, on the other hand started to smile and started to giggle. Soon, we all stared at her dumbly as she had a laugh attach with tears coming out of her eyes.

"My God Josie," Mom finally said after she dried her tears and her laughter was gone. "I do not have cancer. You still have that weird, negative imagination. Sweethearts, I love you all equally, and nothing will ever change that. Sure, I might pamper someone more than the others for a while, but that doesn't mean that they're my favorites. That just means I'm trying to give them some of my time. You all know you get the equal amount of time from me, right?"

"Yeah Mom, we know," I said, confused. Josie looked a little horrified.

"Mom-" she started to say, but Mom cut her off.

"I just think you should all know that," she said, twisting her wedding ring. "The news is that...is that I'm pregnant."

Mom tried to smile while Josie went into deep thought and Elliot started to shovel even more food into his mouth. That left me to be supportive or at least say something.

"That's...shocking news," I managed to say. "How...how did this happen?"

Mom made a face. "I really don't want to go through the whole explanation. That's what school is for," she said. She would have gone into the explanation when Josie interrupted.

"We don't need those mental images while we eat Mom," Josie said.

"Yeah, we really don't," Elliot said. "I think Saybella means how did you guys manage to get pregnant. You said Dad was permanently unable to make babies ever again."

"Well, he is, but he managed to donate some sperm before they did the process in case we wanted another baby," Mom said, explaining.

"That makes sense," Josie said.

"Why do you want another baby?" I asked. Elliot nodded in agreement since his mouth was full.

"Your father and I really love having kids around," Mom said. "We would like to have someone around with us after Josie graduates. Otherwise the house will feel empty."

"What, Saybella and I are air?" Elliot asked, a little mad.

"No, that's not what I mean!" Mom exclaimed. "Technically, we could just forget about another baby, you guys are enough. It's just...we want to have someone around with us by the time Saybella graduates, even if it is for a few more years. We know you love us and we love you too, we just don't want to be abandoned."

"What happens when she is close to graduating Mom?" Josie asked, concerned for our mother's mental health.

Mom laughed. "That's simple," she said, smiling. "I will have grandkids by then. You guys will be constantly visiting for favors and advice. The house won't be empty all the time and your father will be retired by then. I won't be stuck here by myself for what seems like forever."

"Well that's a relief," Josie said, smiling.

"I guess having another sibling won't be horrible," Elliot said, smiling.

"Congrats Momma," I said, smiling. I wanted to give her a hug, but I really wanted to eat.

"Thanks guys," Mom said, smiling. "Now dig in. Elliot, you are doing dishes tonight with me."

With that, we started to eat. We talked about school, work, and our plans for the future. It was nice. After dinner was over, Josie and I went upstairs. I went to my room to make sure my homework was done. Josie went to the bonus room to relax.

When I saw all my homework was done, I went into the bonus room and sat down next to Josie. We sat there and watched some TV like we use to. We talked about guys, clothes, all the girly stuff sisters talked about. We were about to decided on which movie to watch before bed when Josie got a call from Amy. She told me to be quiet and answered the phone. Amy hated people overhearing a phone conversation. She felt you only got one person's point of view. If she could hear other people in the background, she will hang up.

"Amy, my dear, why are you calling?" Josie asked. "I was about to watch a movie...Yes, by myself!...No, my siblings aren't near me...Amy, I'm alone!...Oh, you hear laughter?...Are you positive the laughs aren't in your head?...No?...Oh, I hear it now. It's my mom and Elliot while they do the dishes...Saybella is in her room reading...So, now that we have that sorted out, why did you call?...Really, you called about your cat?...I didn't think so. Now Amy, stop stalling! Tell me!...I see...Then put Layla on the phone!...Hey Karen, it's Josie. Can you give me Layla?...No?...Okay, put Amy back on. She has to tell me what is going on...Amy, come on, you can't call and then not tell me! It's rude behavior!...Why should I go to the hospital?...Is Layla okay?...If she is fine, then why do I have to go on her account."

By this point, I was freaking out. What was happening at the hospital? Why was Amy there and why couldn't Josie talk to Layla? There was a long pause before Josie spoke again.

"Amy, are you positive that happened?" Josie asked, looking scared. "...Amy, why are you saying it's your fault?...Okay, so you were there and saw it happened. How is it your fault?...Amy, that's crazy talk...I'm coming over, I just need to tell my mom first...Okay, I'll bring some flowers for him and chocolate for her...If I pretend to be calm, it should make you clam you down...Obviously it is not working, you're yelling at me...The quicker you hang up, the sooner I'll be there dumbie...Love you too. I'll be safe and I'm on my way. Sit tight."

Josie ended the call and looked at me. "Sorry Bell, I've got to go somewhere," she said, trying to smile. I ran up to her and gave her a hug.

"Be safe," I said, trying to sound happy. "This means I can watch Tangled! By the way, you owe me an explanation when you get back!"

"I promise to tell you if you promise to watch a different movie," Josie said, really smiling.

"I'll watch Bambi instead," I said. "Now you better go before Amy calls again."

"Thanks Bell," she said as she rushed to her room for her shoes and to make her outfit more presentable for the public. By the time I started the movie, Mom and Elliot had been noted that she needed to meet Amy at the hospital for something of great importance and would be late coming home. I heard her car get out of the garage and down the driveway as the previews played. Just as I pressed play for the actual movie, Elliot came in and joined me. He didn't say anything, just sat there. At some point, we ended up snuggling like old times. It felt nice. It got me thinking about are present situation. Mom was pregnant and Josie's friends were in some crisis at the hospital. Things were changing around here, but some things could be the same.

Hope you enjoy this chapter. This was a quick update cause I actually finished this chapter today.