One That Came Back by Lexy Timms

hormones.” He moved to the front door. “I’ll talk to you soon, Mrs. D.”
    “You WILL not!” yelled Emily.
    “We’ll talk to you when you’re not so upset.” Evan walked quickly to the door and let himself out.
    Emily was breathing hard, almost hyperventilating. “I can’t believe him! I can’t believe you! Why would you let him in?”
    “Emily, are you going to tell me what is going on?”
    She stomped over to her mother. “Evan got it half right, but only because he saw me buying a pregnancy test. Yeah, I’m pregnant. But hell no! Not by Evan Waters!” She couldn’t believe her mother had freakin’ let him into the house. How messed up was this family?
    “Who then?” Her mother’s face was drawn tight. “Not that Wade boy.”
    “Man, mother! Luke’s a man.” She’d never been this angry before. She couldn’t believe life could be this ridiculous. “And he’s the father.”
    “How can you be sure?” said her mother, biting her pinky.
    “Because I’m not the fuck up you think I am,” she shouted. “I slept with Luke. Period. End of story.”
    “But you aren’t seeing him anymore.”
    “You’re just filled with stunning insights, aren’t you?”
    “Emily! Don’t talk to me like that. And stop swearing.”
    “Then don't talk to me like I’m an idiot, mother. I’m not. I may have made a mistake—”
    “It’s a very big mistake.”
    “Again, I’m not stupid. I realize the gravity of the situation. I would hope that my mother would, at least, be understanding. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”
    “But you’ve sinned, Emily. You broke one of the Ten Commandments.”
    Really? “Sins can be forgiven, mother. Insensitivity cannot.”
    “Insensitive? You think I’m insensitive?” Her mother’s voice went up an octave.
    “I’m pregnant! I’m terrified. And all you can think about is my sin?” Her mother’s mouth dropped open but Emily continued, “Why did you want to keep me away from Luke? Why were you so against him?”
    “I was only trying to protect you! So you wouldn’t go through what I did.”
    “What?” said Emily, walking toward her mother. “What did you go through?”
    Her mother rose. “Like you. Pregnant. The boy didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
    Emily stared at her mom, her brows pressed together. Her heart suddenly sped and the room spun. She rested a hand on the back of a chair. “Wait, are you telling me, Dad isn’t my dad?”
    “Don’t you start that Emily Rose Dougherty! In all the ways that count, he’s your father. He’s loved you like his own from the day you were born.”
    Could today get any more shocking? Except, in a weird way, it made sense. But still!!! “Who’s my father?” When her mother didn’t answer, Emily raised her voice. “Who’s my father?!”
    “It doesn’t matter. He’s in prison. He won’t be out for a long time.”
    “What? Prison?” Who’s the friggin’ sinner now? She wanted to snap at her mom, but bit her lip from saying it out loud when she noticed how her mother was suddenly acting.
    Her mother seemed lost in her own thoughts as she began to pace. “No. I won’t tell you. I promised your father I wouldn’t tell you. You won’t get any more out of me!”
    Emily shook her head, unsure of what to do as she watched her mother seemingly change into someone she didn’t know.
    “Didn’t you ever wonder why you never saw my parents? Your grandparents?” She spun around and paced again, oblivious to the tears running down her face. She threw her hand toward the wall where framed photos hung. “Not even a picture!”
    “You said they died before we were born.”
    Amanda Dougherty shook her head and laughed. “They disowned me, Emily! Kicked me out of the house.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that! You want to talk about insensitive?”
    “Mom,” Emily said quietly. “I never knew. I’m sorry.”
    Amanda snorted. “If it wasn’t for your father, I don’t know