Page 19 of Impulsive Love

I shake my head even though she can’t see it. “No, nothing like that.”

“Okay, just get here, okay?” Her voice is soft, but firm.

We hang up and I put together a bag to take over to her house. In the bathroom, I dry my face and take a deep breath. After I squirt some Visine into my eyes, I grab my stuff and head over to Abby’s, she’ll know what to do.

By the time I pull into my sister’s driveway the tears are flowing again. I have four and a half months left of school and now I’m going to finish the hardest part pregnant.

The front door opens as I climb out of the car. Abby’s brow is furrowed as she takes me in. She pulls me into a hug as soon as I step through the door. I bury my face in my sister’s neck as the tears flow. “Come sit down, sweetheart.”

“W-Where are the kids?”

“After you called I asked Ben’s mom to come get them for a little bit.” She takes a seat next to me and grabs my hand. “Tell me what’s going on.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

Abby’s mouth opens and closes. “Are you sure?”

I nod. “The test says I am and my period is two weeks late.” Tears spill down my cheeks. “What am I gonna do?”

Abby brushes some of my hair back behind my ear. “Who’s the father?”

I don’t want to tell her, but if I’m going to tell anyone it would be her, my best friend, my sister. “It’s bad. Abby, it’s Chris.”

She looks at me and tilts her head to the side. “Chris?” It dawns on her because her eyes widen comically, too bad I don’t find any of this funny. “Oh god, Chris Anderson? Joe’s best friend?”

I nod and begin to cry again. Abby pulls me into a tight hug and strokes a hand over my hair. The tears stop a few minutes later and I pull away from her and look down at my lap.

“Honey, how did this happen? You were a virgin not too long ago.”

“It was about a month after Madison passed away. He texted me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to come over. He was just so sad. I was hugging him and the next thing I knew we were kissing and then things just kind of spiraled from there.”

Abby scooches closer to me. “Did you tell him no, or tell him to stop?” I hate that this even made her mind go there.

“I-I encouraged him to keep going. There is something, though.” Fuck, I don’t want to tell her this part. “Um…I didn’t realize he was drunk and he doesn’t, or didn’t, remember any of it.” Annndd…I’m crying again.

She brushes my hair out of my face. “What do you want to do? I’ll support whatever decision you make.”

“I want this baby,” I whisper, which surprises me—kids were never part of my plans. I figured I’d always just be the fun aunt and that’s it. “What am I gonna tell Mom and Dad? They’re going to hate me.”

Abby pulls my hands up to her mouth and kisses them. “I’ll go with you to tell them and they’re not going to hate you. I can’t guarantee that Joe won’t lose his mind, but he’s living in his newborn baby happy bubble, so you may not have to worry about him—no matter what we all love you.”

“Can we go over to Mom and Dad’s now? I want to get it over with,” I tell her.

She nods, and then stands up. “Let’s do it.”

Tears run down my cheeks as the sound of the front door slamming echoes through the house. I just told my parents about the baby and my mom started to cry and hugged me. Dad looked at me and several looks passed over his face—none that I could decipher—and then he stormed out.

I sob as my mom and sister try to comfort me. “Please take me back to my car,” I tell Abby. I hate people seeing me like this.

“Okay, honey.” She wraps her arm around my waist.

Mom follows us out to the car and opens the passenger side door for me. “I’ll talk to Daddy, okay?” she says before pulling me into a hug. “It’s going to be okay. Babies are a blessing. We’re here for you. Can you tell me who the father is?” Mom asks softly.

I shake my head. “I want to tell him first.”

“Okay, honey. Abby, make sure she’s okay to drive before you let her leave,” she says, looking across the roof at my sister.

“Of course. Love you, Mom.”

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