Page 29 of Upon an April Night

“Yes. We’re here to provide a safe place to talk, and we also want to educate, so everyone who comes through our doors is fully informed about their options before they make a decision.”

Jamie swallowed hard and glanced at her mom, whose eyes were full of understanding. “Is there somebody here I could talk to?” she managed. “I … I’m pregnant, and I don’t know what to do.”

Gloria looked over at Mom then back at Jamie with so much kindness in her eyes. “Of course there is.”

Jamie sat and talked with Gloria for over an hour. She let each of her fears and insecurities and hopes and dreams spill out of her heart in that room. Gloria was the perfect listening ear, and as she had said, she laid out all of the options available to her—keeping the baby, giving it up for adoption, even abortion, which Jamie had already learned about at the clinic.

“No matter what you decide, you will not be alone,” Gloria told her.

Of all her fears about this pregnancy, this was the greatest. That no matter what choice she made, she would end up all alone. That if she kept the baby, she’d have to do it herself while Duncan was off living his happy life. And that if she didn’t keep it, everyone in her life would judge her and turn away from her.

“God will never leave you,” Gloria assured her. “He loves you and that baby of yours. He cares about what you’re going through and wants a relationship with you. You can talk to Him about all of this anytime, and He will listen. All you have to do is pray.”

She’d never been much of a religious person. Her life so far was evidence of that. But she did believe there was a God, and hearing that He actually paid attention to her and her life was a revelation. She’d always thought of Him as this high and mighty being, up in Heaven, looking down. But talking to Him, asking Him what to do … well, she wasn’t sure where to start with that. How did one even pray?

Seeing the change in her parents since she’d been home had opened her eyes to the way faith could change someone. Not that her parents were bad people before, but they were joyful now. It was hard to miss. And they were quick to tell anyone that going to church and living their life for God was the reason.

She felt a strong urge to know more, to learn what it was that had changed her parents.

“You’ve given me a lot to think about,” Jamie told Gloria.

“You are always welcome here. Anytime you need to talk or if you need help, we’re available.”

“I appreciate that.” She gathered the brochures Gloria had given her and stood.

“Remember, God loves you, Jamie, and He loves that little baby of yours.”

Jamie thanked Gloria with a hug and rejoined her mother.

When they got into the car, Jamie took hold of her mom’s hand and squeezed. “Thanks for bringing me here, Mom.”

“Have you made a decision?”

“I’m getting closer. But I need a little more time.”

“Of course.”

Jamie let go of Mom’s hand and smiled. She watched the familiar landscape as they drove home. Her gaze fell to her hand, realizing she’d been rubbing it back and forth over her belly. She glanced over at Mom, who hadn’t noticed, or if she had, she wasn’t letting on.

When they arrived home, she lay down for a nap. Pregnancy took so much out of her, and she felt like she was constantly tired. She had so many thoughts floating around in her mind as she closed in on a decision, but she was too exhausted to dwell on that for long.

A loud bang woke her with a start. She came out of sleep in a fog and sat up, listening to the now quiet house. It must have been a dream.

But as she was about to lie back down, she heard it again and jumped up from the couch.

“Mom?” She headed toward the back of the house, where she thought the sound was coming from. “Dad?”

“We’re up here, honey,” Mom called from upstairs.

Jamie took the steps quickly and found her parents moving the workout equipment from her former bedroom. “What are you guys doing?”

“We’re making room for you and the baby,” Mom replied.

“But—”

“We want you to know this is still your room. Even if … it’s only for you. But if you have the baby, you can stay here with us anytime. We’ll help you get started, and you’ll have a place here whenever you need it.”

Tears stung as she watched her dad shimmy the elliptical trainer across the floor.

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