"What?!" 

I didn't know who the exclamation came from, but it sounded like it wasn't just from one person. 

I felt dizzy. I was burning up from the inside out. I felt hot tears well up in my eyes and rolled down my cheek. 

Asher stepped towards me and tried to put his arms around me, but Mom growled at him under her breath, and he stood back, looking conflicted. He shook his head, a pleading look in his eyes, begging me to what? To run into his arms and congratulate him for being a father? ...