GoodReadPlanning a wedding? A baby bump? Derek was stupefied for a few seconds before the realization hit him.
After all, he'd been around the block a few times; he knew what was up.
“Karen’s...pregnant?!” Kenneth seemed just as stunned, “She didn’t tell you?” Derek shook his head. It almost knocked him off his feet; he stumbled back a few steps.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtKenneth quickly steadied him and patted his back for comfort, “Uncle, don’t get too worked up. | know this news is a shocker, but think about how they stick together every single day, the pregnancy thing is bound to happen. Besides, Jeffrey's given Karen the kind of commitment most guys wouldn't be capable of.” “Since when are you team Jeffrey?” Derek had the impression Kenneth wasn't Jeffrey's biggest fan.
“It's not about taking sides, it's about the fact that Karen's already expecting. What's the point of talking about anything else? Don’t you just want to make sure Karen's treated right?” Derek nodded and let out a heavy sigh, “Yeah. The Turners are influential and loaded; if they decided to mistreat Karen, | fear she wouldn't stand a chance!” And now with a child on the way...
“Uncle, even if Karen ended up with a Joe Average, there’s no guarantee he'd be a stand-up guy.” “You've got a point.” Kenneth smiled, “Let's just let them be. | can see Jeffrey's sincerity, and him stepping up like this is no small feat.” It took Derek a long while, but he finally nodded, “Well, well!” Outside, Karen and Jeffrey were on pins and needles! They were too scared to barge in, yet worried Kenneth might bad-mouth Jeffrey to her dad.
After all, Jeffrey was Everett's guy, so Kenneth disliking him made sense.
“Should | go knock on the door?” Jeffrey was the most worried.
“Yeah, go check on them!” “Alright.” As Jeffrey stood up, he saw Kenneth guiding Derek towards them.
Quick on his feet, Jeffrey helped support Derek on the other side.
Not being pushed away gave Jeffrey a glimmer of hope.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Karen, is there something else you need to tell me?” “Um...” Karen hung her head, hemming and hawing, “Dad, I...I'm pregnant...and Jeffrey and | have gotten our license...” “You, my girl, have really stirred the pot!” Derek chided, but without any other actions.
It was clear he had already been mollified.
Along silence fell among them, until Derek finally spoke and turned his eyes to Jeffrey.
“So, when do you plan to have the wedding? | can’t have my daughter walking down the aisle with a baby bump; we can't afford that kind of talk!” “Whenever you say, sir, even tomorrow!” Derek pondered for a moment, then declared, “Let's aim for early next month, you pick the day.” “Great!” Jeffrey nodded eagerly, his gaze flicking to Kenneth. He wondered if Kenneth thought he had agreed to whatever terms were set to get him on side-that must be why Kenneth had spoken up for him. Otherwise, Derek wouldn't have taken this news lying down.
In the end, everything settled down without further .
Karen also breathed a sigh of relief.
While Derek pulled Jeffrey aside for a private chat, Karen looked up at her cousin.
“Kenneth, why did you suddenly...” “Suddenly help you out, you mean?” “Yeah.” Kenneth curled his lip slightly, “Dorothy turned me down, quite definitively.” Karen looked down, “It was to be expected.” “Yeah.” He exhaled deeply, “So | figured, | might as well play cupid for someone, right?”
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