It was the third time since she’d gotten home from school that he’d caught her crying. This time, he decided, he wasn’t going to let her push him away.
“Something’s obviously on your mind.” he said, walking over to her, and standing unsteadily while he shifted his crutches to one hand so he could sit next to her.
“I’ll be fine.” she sniffed.
“You’re not and we both know it.” he said gently. “Please talk to me. I want to help you if I can.” he put an arm around her and squeezed, then lightly rubbed her back in a circular motion.
“I’m just worried about so many things. Stupidly so, probably, but I can’t help it.” she said after wiping her eyes with the corner of her tee shirt.
“What kind of things?” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Things like, have I ruined my life? have I ruined yours? or Vince’s? What will my Dad say? Would be a dick and try to get Vince on statutory since I’m not eighteen yet? What’s your Dad going to say? How am I going to handle this? I’m not ready…” she started to ramble.
“Shh…we’ll just take it a day at a time, ok? I’ll be here for you – you know I will. You also know that we have plenty of other support in our friends, in any way we need. If it’ll ease your mind any, I can call my Dad now and tell him, so that that will be at least one less thing on your mind. Would that help?”
“It might.” she said, still sniffling. “I’ll go get a drink and start on my homework while you call.” She handed him his phone and got up to head into the kitchen. He wasn’t looking forward to calling his Dad either, but he’d do anything to help Trish – even face down a berating by his father. So he pulled up his Dad’s picture on the speed dial, and called.
His Dad picked up after the third ring. “Hey Chance. What’s up?”
“Well..” he started, rubbing the back of his head. “I’ve got some news for ya, and you probably won’t like it.” he sweated a little at the long pause. Then; a heavy sigh.
“What’d you do now?”
“Why do you always assume I did something?”
“Why else would you phrase things that way?”
“I suppose, though this time I didn’t do it.”
“So what is it?”
“Trish is pregnant.” he said, wincing internally slightly at the potential repercussions from his Dad. It only got worse as the silence hung in the air. “Dad?”
“Hold on, I’m trying to process, and figure out how it’s not your fault.”
“Without going into too much detail, it’s someone else’s – this has been verified. I’ve already told her I’m going to do what I can to help her. I want to stay by her side.” he said firmly. Another silence – shorter this time.
“I’m proud of you for that sentiment, I just hope you don’t change your mind later on down the road. Raising a kid isn’t easy, and you’re both young. Your lives aren’t going to be the same.”
“I’m not so stupid that I don’t know that already.” he said quietly. “I’ve thought of that. Trish matters to me – a lot. I’m willing to try.”
His Dad sighed. “I’ll help if I can. I imagine you have others supporting you, you two have an interesting network of friends after all, and you’re both technically working, so you’ve got that going for you too.”
“Thanks for the support, Dad. It means a lot.”
“I know. Talk to you later?”
“Later Dad.” and he hung up, breathing a sigh of relief, before grabbing his crutches. He used them to help steady himself as he pulled himself up, then headed out to the kitchen to relay the positive news to Trish. She looked a little relieved after he told her.
“I’m glad he’s got our back. I’m not so sure my Dad will. I’m scared to tell him.”
“What if we asked someone to be there while you told him? Or even tell him for us? You two aren’t really on speaking terms anyway, so maybe we can get your grandfather to say something for us – if you wanted. ”
“Maybe. It seems wrong somehow, though.”
“We’ll figure it out.” he leaned down and hugged her.
“I’m glad you’re with me in all this. Truthfully…I have to wonder what everyone else is going to think once the news spreads. I hope I haven’t gotten Vince into trouble with Petra.”
“I think those two will be fine. I have a feeling Petra forgives him for a lot.”
“You’re probably right.” She turned and tilted her head so she could kiss him. “Go relax, let me do this homework. I’m feeling better now.”
“Alright.” he kissed her forehead and moved back into the living room.