Actually, let me back this up a bit.
On Thursday night, she lamented that she'd been feeling tired and a little sick. We were exchanging text messages while she sat in Anatomy & Physiology lecture and I was stuck at the office. She told me she was leaving class early to go home and get in bed. I jokingly said "Oh no. You're not late are you?"
The conversation proceeded like so:
E: I'm pretty sure there's nothing baking in my belly.
J: Just checking.
E: At least, I hope not.
J: I guess we will find out soon enough.
That was at 11:16 Thursday night. Well, I guess I freaked her out because Friday morning she went and bought a pregnancy test, just to eliminate that concern from her mind. It was positive. So were the next 5 she took.
We had plans that Friday evening to go the University of Memphis basketball game and then out with her friends. I left work and met her at my house. We went downtown, parked and headed over to the FedEx Forum.
Now, I know I'll be judged harshly for this, but I'm a smoker. Up until this point, so was she.
As we walked to the game, I lit a cigarette - she did not. (Hint #1) We got to the game, grabbed our seats and watched the Tigers play. Not long after tip-off, the beer guy came around and I flagged him down. I got a beer - she did not. (Hint #2).
It wasn't much of a game, the Tigers were up about 30 at halftime when we stepped outside to smoke. Again, I smoked and she did not.
Now, before I continue, a little more background is in order. I believe in the Universe, as I mentioned in the first post. There are some things that happen that just can't be explained. Some people chalk them up in the "God" column, some in the "Fate" column. My column is titled "Universe" - the subject of an entire blog that I won't get into here. Nonetheless, the conversation that unfolded was to perfect to have been mere chance.
While we were outside, there was an adorable little girl - maybe 4 years old - in a University of Memphis cheerleader's uniform. As I smoked and watched this little girl bounce around the patio, I looked at Emily and the following conversation occurred:
J: It's moments like these that I think about how fun it will be to have children, and how much I'll enjoy being a father.
E: Yeah.
J: But then I think how grateful I am that I can just enjoy this kid for a few minutes before she goes back where she belongs and I don't have to worry about her.
<30 seconds of silence>
E: So...What would you consider good news?
J: I don't know - I'm bad at this...
E: Well, what would you consider bad news?
J: I don't know - do you have cancer?
E: No. (looking flustered)
J: What - are you pregnant?
E: Yes.
J: No you're not.
E: Yes, I am.
J: No. Seriously?
E: I can show you. (pulls out iPhone and shows picture of 6 positive pregnancy tests)
J: Okay, but that's not your hand holding those tests.
E: Yes, it is.
J: Okay. I'm going to need you to look me in the eye and tell me you're serious.
E: (looking me in the eye) I'm serious. I'm pregnant.
Just the way she drew it up in her head, I'm sure. The poor girl had probably been in a panic all day. She doesn't know me well enough to know how I'd react. I'm sure she was expecting the worst - not because of me, but because when you have anxiety about something like this, you always expect the worst. She probably figured she'd just get through the night without drinking or smoking by telling me she still didn't feel well. As evidenced by the first few hints, I'd probably thought nothing of it. That would buy her time to figure out how to tell me on her own terms.
Instead, the Universe sent us a little cheerleader and I opened my mouth just wide enough to get my whole foot inside.
Thankfully, from that point on I responded well. I smiled. I hugged her. I kissed her. I laughed. I had a few "holy shit" moments. We laughed. She patted me on the back for not asking the two questions which one is NOT allowed to ask: whether it is mine, and whether she is keeping it. The two thoughts shot through my brain in those first few moments, but I discounted both as quickly as they'd entered.
We opted not to go back to our seats for the second half of the Tiger's 104-40 victory. We walked across the street and met two of her closest friends (both of whom already knew the big news) and the celebration began. I called a select few friends, broke the news, told them I needed their company and the celebration grew.
All night Emily and I exchanged "Oh. My. God." looks, followed quickly by smiles. Neither of us really knew what to make of it at that point. Over the course of the next week, I think we started to figure it out.
I'll tell you more about that in a minute.
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