Twenty-three

2 months later

I haven't spoken to my mom in two whole months. It feels so weird. I do miss her, even though she drove me nuts. I sit on the toilet. Crossing my fingers and praying to God that one line shows up on the test. I am too young to be a mother, and Corey's relationship is still new.

Corey paces the hallway. You can tell he is nervous, but he's trying to keep his composure for me like he always does.

Finally, the timer went off, indicating the test was ready. I close my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I swallow hard. After this moment, my life can be changed entirely.

"Sadie, just look at the freaking test," Corey says entering the restroom.

"I'm just so terrified." I feel the water running down my cheek.

"Do you want me to check it?" He asks.

I nod.

I watch as he walks over to the bathroom sink and grabs the stick that I just peed on. I study his face. Somehow I already know the answer when I see the shocked expression on his face of almost devastation.

He nods. "We're pregnant."

"Shut up."

He smiles. "I am somewhat happy seeing those two lines."

"Really?" I feel my world spinning.

"Yes, I always wanted to be a dad, and I know how I feel about you," he tells me.

"Our relationship it's brand new."

"I know, but I know I love you," Corey says. Walking over to the toilet, he kneels down so we're face to face.

I smile. I loved him so much.

"I love you too, Corey."

He kisses me, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

"I'm going to take care of you both," he tells me.

"I know." I smile.

"I have to get to the bakery today, it's my last day, you know," he says with a smile.

"Well of community service."

Corey has landed a permanent full-time job at the bakery since his community service is finally over. I am so proud of him.

"I need you to be careful today at the daycare, do not do any heavy lifting, we need to find out how far along you are," he tells me.

I started working at a daycare. I love working with all the kids. It is very exciting. Between Corey working a little bit within his community service time and me working at the daycare, we are doing pretty well financially. We still have tons of money saved up from the Dance Academy. We've only used it a few times during emergencies, which I had to beg Corey practically.

Moments later, I climbed into my car. Yes, I got a new car. I bought an old beat-up car from Josh at first I was embarrassed driving it. It was a tan car with rust all the bottom and a broken window, but it still drove nicely. I thought I would get a bunch of bad stairs but honestly, I got more stairs and my pink Malibu Barbie car.

I drive down the road toward the daycare. I am so ecstatic to see all the kids today. I have a lot of fun art projects planned. I work in the toddler room, which is my favorite age.

I pull into the employee parking lot and shut off the car. I quickly exit and walk towards the main entrance. I hear the loud sounds of kids laughing, crying, and playing. There are also so many things going on.

They all rush to hug me as I walk into the daycare. I hug them in return.

"Long morning," I ask my closest friend Elena.

She laughs. " Yes."

The kids walk back towards the table, and they were enjoying snacks. I sit next to Elena. She was sitting at a table by herself. It took me a while to get used to sitting in a small chair.

"So I am pregnant."

She looks at me with wide eyes. "You never start a conversation with, so I am pregnant."

I laugh. "Yeah, you're probably right."

"Are you and Corey excited?" She asks.

"I think we are starting to be at first shocked and then scared."

"That's understandable,'' she replies.

"Just don't tell anyone."

She smiles. "I won't."

Soon the snack was over. We try to stick to a normal schedule every day. Which would mean, it's art time. My boss Sheila enters the room. I secretly cannot stand this woman. She is so stuck-up and snooty, she thinks she knows everything about children just because she is a daycare director and doesn't care about your opinions, your experience or anything. She's always right.

"Morning Miss Sadie." She smiles.

"Good morning Mrs. Sheila." I smile in return.

"Remember the schedules, ladies," she smirks.

I try to keep my eye rolls to myself. Which is nearly impossible.

Getting up from the table, I walk over to the art drawer. The thing that was so frustrating is you're supposed to stick to a schedule and always have art time, but yet there are little supplies in the drawer. I see we can't do what I had planned, because we have no watercolors.

My eyes see the colored paper, scissors, and glue. We can make paper chains and hang them around the classroom. That would be fun. I pass out three colored papers to each child. I put glue on the table and give them each their own pair of scissors.

Toddlers 2-4 aren't the very best cutters, so I know these paper chains aren't going to look very pretty.

"Remember how I showed you how to hold scissors." I grab a pair and show the kids how to properly hold them. Elena and I walk around and help the children.

I smile seeing their crooked and jagged cut pieces of paper. And of course, the glue was everywhere.

Sheila enters the room again. She looks around. Digest fills her face.

"This isn't really a toddler-appropriate art project." She says.

"Then maybe you should fill the art supplies so we can do a toddler-appropriate project."

Her face turns red. Elena's mouth drops open. I have never been able to hold the truth, then I guess that's one thing I get for my mother.

Sheila turns to leave the room. She doesn't even say another word, but I know that's going to be another write-up added to my collection.