Free Gift With Purchase by Jackie Pilossoph Page A

threesome? And what was he talking about? A guy or a girl? And why did that matter? I would NEVER have a threesome! ‘NEVER!’ I told myself. ‘Never say never,’ myself answered back, startling me.
    Relaxed on the chair, watching my daughter doing hand stands in the pool, I began to actually consider what Preston requested. Maybe I could be with two people at the same time. Maybe I was being what I always accused Laura of being: closed minded. I mean, I’d never dreamed of being in a relationship like I was with Preston, so anything was possible, right?
    Confusion was setting in. On one hand, I didn’t want to change who I was, and the bottom line was that I was a good girl. Threesomes were just not me. Then again, I was beginning to think I would do just about anything to keep the interest and heart of the man whose visits I was now dependent on as much as oxygen. In other words, I wanted Preston Christiansen to love me, and I couldn’t deny that any longer.
    Tears welled up in my eyes, but I quickly had to wipe them away when I heard my daughter shout to me from the pool.
    “Mommy, mommy! Come swim with me!” she yelled, “I want to see you do a hand stand!”
    I smiled at her and stood up. “Okay, here I come!”
    Her face gleamed with excitement. How wonderful it was to have a little person love you like this.
    I got into position to dive into the pool. Maybe a good plunge into some cold water would clear my head. If not, maybe a stellar hand stand would cause all my uncertainty and confusion to fall out of my head. Hopefully, it would stay at the bottom of the pool forever.
    “Come on, mommy!” she shouted, “Dive!”
    “Okay! Here I come!”
    I lunged forward, and the second my hot skin made contact with the cool water I had the strangest thought. ‘Did I miss my period?’ I wondered.
    When I came up for air and looked at Izzie, I must have had a really weird look on my face because she asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
    I think I knew right then that I was pregnant.

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    Chapter 11
    T hat night, after Izzie was in bed, my two drinking buddies and I were once again at the kitchen table, sipping Pinot Noir. I was doing the responsible thing, taking small sips and trying not to have more than a half a glass since my intuition was telling me a little Emma was inside of me. Even though I couldn’t begin to decide whether or not I was going to actually have a baby, I felt like drinking alcohol was probably a bad idea.
    “How could I have gotten pregnant?” I’d asked myself over and over again. “We used condoms every time,” I found myself repeating in my head. I had no proof I was pregnant, but in my heart I knew I was. Maybe a condom had broken one night? I didn’t think so. Was there even one time when perhaps we’d gone without protection? It finally hit me. The forest preserve. That night, it had been spontaneous, and it was the one time Preston and I had unprotected sex.
    “I’m going to move out for awhile,” my mother announced.
    “What?!” Laura and I shouted at the same time.
    “Shh…” our mother scolded in a whisper, “Someone is sleeping!”
    “Mom, are you crazy?” I asked.
    “Yes Emma, she is,” Laura replied.
    “Look, I need a little space. I’m so angry with him. Plus, I’m not even sure he’s going to stop seeing her!”
    “Of course he is!” said Laura, “He has to.”
    “No he doesn’t,” said my mother, “He has to want to end it with Mrs. Feldman. I don’t want him back out of guilt or obligation.”
    “He’ll end it,” said Laura, “I’m sure of it.”
    “I hope you’re right,” I said.
    “I’m not so sure I care,” said my mother.
    Laura replied, “Of course you care.”
    My mother’s eyes welled with tears when she looked at me. “Up for another roommate?”
    My jaw was on the ground. “Uh…sure. But are you sure, mom?”
    “For now, yes. I think your father and I need to be apart.”
    “You can sleep in the bed with me,” Laura