Chapter 9: Living with your mistakes

"You're pregnant?"

"We went to see the doctor today after I missed my cycle this week. He confirmed what we thought. I hope that you're ready to be a daddy."

"Wow. I'm shocked right now." I held out my arms to her and she eased herself in.

"I guess we're going to be parents soon. I'm sorry Liz, I'm sure you're disappointed. I know I didn't mean for this to happen."

"I know you didn't. I'm not so sure of my daughter though..."

"MOM!"

"Well, you were the one that told us when we got back that you hoped you were."

Emily smiled and turned many shades of crimson.

"Does Dad know yet?"

"No. I'll tell him tonight after today's chores."

I just held Emily until lunchtime. I guess I was still in shock.

"So Rich, you got her pregnant."

"Hey Dad, I haven't had sex with her since the accident. By the time you and Liz talked to us, the damage had already been done."

"Yeah, so I've heard. What do you plan on doing now?"

"No much. I am still under orders to stay away from the stairs until I lose this fucking cast. I guess I get to do physical therapy after that for a while. After that, I guess I'll try to deal with life one day at a time like I have always done."

"You can be a smartass sometimes. I mean, what are you going to do about the baby?"

"Well, I'm too young to make an honest woman of her. I guess in the short term, I'm going to talk to Emmy and find out how she feels. I get the feeling that she really wants this baby. If that's the case, I may try to talk Liz into getting me some reading material to keep me occupied for the next few weeks until I lose this thing."

"What are you going to do about school?"

"Whatever I can. This is all just a bit sudden for me yet."

"I can understand that. You two have a few months yet until the baby comes. You do realize that they are a considerable amount of work?"

"You mean like the animals are? I realize that they are even more helpless than any of the animals we have ever had. I'm sure that I will learn just like you did Dad. Trial by fire."

"Yeah, that's what it was. If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me or Liz."

"Ok Dad. I do have one question. Does this mean that I can skip the condoms for a while?"

Dad started off by laughing before he answered, "Yeah, there is no such thing as more pregnant. You get the time between now and the birth as free time."

"Cool"

The next few weeks went by much faster. I got the cast on my arm removed the following week. This made many things easier. I was able to enjoy hugging Emily again. I could hug her, but with the cast on it wasn't anywhere near as nice. I also found that it was easier to put a shirt on as well. Being right handed, I found having that arm in the cast to be a major pain.

The doctor removed the leg cast almost two weeks later. I guess the leg was where the worst break was located, the one that required surgery. They just wanted to take precautions. The scar on that leg was ugly when I first got a look at it.

I also found that though I could walk, the leg was very weak. It took another month of physical therapy three times a week before I felt that I was walking normal again.

School was in session, so we lost our free time in the morning and afternoon. The three of us got out of the morning milking since we would not have time before school started. That still left the evening chores.

Heather had noticeably changed as well. She would actually volunteer to help in any manner she could. She kept her distance from me after Emily nearly tore her head off. Emily can have a jealous streak when she wants to.

Emily had almost fully moved into my room. She was sleeping with me every night since I came home from the hospital. After we found out that she was pregnant, she no longer even attempted to use her room for anything more than storage. If she used something, it normally ended up in my room when she took it off.

When Thanksgiving arrived, Emily was just starting to show. Uncle Dave and Aunt Cindy had come over with their boys. When everyone was trying to relax after dinner, Aunt Cindy and Liz cornered Emily and I and brought up some new things.

"So, what are you going to do with the baby," Cindy asked.

"I'm going to love it." Emily retorted.

"You stepped into that one Cindy," Liz chuckled.

"What I mean is, where is the baby going to sleep?"

"I was thinking about inside the house. Why, do you thing the barn would be better?"

Liz and I lost it with that comment. I think Aunt Cindy turned the color of a fire engine.

"I meant, do you have a crib?" She yelled above the laughter.

"Not yet. Since the baby isn't due until May, I haven't worried about it much."

"I still have my crib from when the boys were babies. Would you like it?"

"Really? Yes, I would love it. Richie, we have a crib." She stated as she wrapped her arms around me.

"Yeah I know. I was there, remember?"

She was so ecstatic, that she attacked me in bed that night. I think we kept the rest of the house awake.

Emmy and I were getting along very well. We had our disagreements as I guess any couple would have. Sometimes they would be stupid things like where I put my socks after I took them off. Other times they were a bit bigger. Like when she thought that I was hitting on her sister. That took me three days to calm her fears. Even Heather struggled with that one. I think Emmy liked it better when Heather was just a bitch about things.

When Christmas Eve arrived, we had been getting the house cleaned up. Aunt Cindy, Uncle Dave and the boys were coming over for a few days. Emmy had to clean up her room while I got drafted to do the extra bedroom. The boys were going to sleep in the extra room and our aunt and uncle in Emmy's room. Heather was going to volunteer to help me, until Em gave her that death glare.

"Hey Rich, could you help me get the tree in the house and setup," Dad asked.

"Sure. Who'll finish up here?"

"I'll get Heather to finish up. I need your strength more with me."

"Ok."

We put the tree up in the living room. The girls had finished with the preparations in the other rooms and came down to help decorate it. It was going to be our first Christmas as a family. Once we had finished with the decorations, all five of us sat down on the sofa and cuddled. We were really beginning to feel like a family. I know I was enjoying that feeling.

Liz and Heather started working on dinner while Emily and I continued our cuddling.

"This is the first time since Daddy died that I've been able to feel the Christmas Spirit. We haven't really celebrated it since we lost him. We went through the motions, but we didn't have that warm feeling inside that makes this time of year seem grand."

"It feels different for me too. I don't remember my mother, so losing her didn't cause the same problems. It just seems so much more special with your mother, sister and especially you."