People always say it will be a night you remember for the rest of your life. Weeks of shopping and planning had culminated in hours of primping on the big night. She had waited expectantly.
Of course, there had been no doubt that she would go with Colby. They’d been a couple since middle school. His asking was more of a formality than anything.
He’d arrived on time and they had posed for picture after picture, also okay. Their parents were friends, so it too was expected. They all attended the same church.
From the moment they arrived at the prom, things had been lively, magical even. The decorations were beautiful, the music good and an atmosphere of exuberance prevailed with no drama.
Her best friend, Ayla, had been crowned prom queen, her boyfriend Dante, king. Hardly a surprise, it capped the night with memories that they’d look back on and reminisce.
When Ayla and Dante insisted they go with them to an after party, she hesitated. It wasn’t really their scene, hers or Colby’s, but genuinely happy for their friends, they didn’t feel like they could refuse. So, they went.
Doing their best to exercise restraint, and hopefully, duck out early, something happened. Both she and Colby felt the effects of the drinks they’d consumed, seemingly more than they should have. Judgement impaired, atmosphere jubilant and high, almost before they knew it, things had gotten out of hand. It had sobered them quickly.
She felt Colby’s gaze intermittently veer her way as he drove. Fingering the ring on her left hand, it felt heavy, hypocritical. They had been fourteen when the youth group took the purity pledge. How could she have let it go so easily?
“You know I love you, right?” Colby said, finally.
Becca wanted to cry. At this moment, she didn’t know anything but nodded weakly.
He pulled into her driveway and parked. Reaching out, he took her hand. “I never meant for that to happen. I mean, we…”
Her voice a rasp, she replied. “I know.”
He got out, ran around the car to get her door.
As they approached it, she turned, glad suddenly, she’d chosen to wear her hair down. Smoothing it, she asked. “How’s my hair?”
“You look beautiful.” He assured, leaning in to kiss her.
Giving him the cheek, she touched the side of his face and hurried inside.
Colby stood staring at the door for a minute. That had never happened before. Was everything about to change? What had they done?
Becca woke feeling a heaviness she’d never experienced before. She hoped for a moment that it had all been some horrible dream, but the evidence brought that hope crashing hard to the ground.
She hid the telltale evidence at the bottom of the trash can in her bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Outwardly, she didn’t look any different but inside she felt a weight compounded with another layer of guilt.
Her mother, bright and cheery, had waited up, eagerly ready to share in the afterglow of a night full of exuberant memories.
Begging exhaustion, she’d put her off, feeling the twinge of guilt when with patient understanding, the older woman hadn’t pressed her. She had never lied to her mother before. It had never been necessary.
They had a close relationship; Becca told her everything. How was she supposed to face her? She felt like such a disappointment; a hypocrite. How would she face anyone?
The rest of the weekend proved somewhat difficult. Becca was at once guilt ridden and grateful for her mother’s implicit faith in her. She had never pushed or pried for the reasons her daughter had finished such a special weekend at home, in her room alone.
She had ignored multiple texts from both Colby and Ayla. Now, as she made her way up the hall to her locker, it felt as if eyes and whispers followed her. Even knowing that to be ridiculous, if added to her discomfort.
“Okay, girl.” Came the familiar voice. “What’s up? Where have you been all weekend? Colby says you weren’t with him.”
Becca turned to her friend heat filling her face. She hadn’t thought of a plausible excuse.
Ayla’s expression turned sober. “Hey, were you sick or something? Did you drink too much? I noticed you and Colby left early.”
“Yeah,” she replied, meekly. “We both drank too much, I guess.”
“I know you didn’t have an accident or anything, ‘cuz Colby would have told me.” An idea occurred. “Oh, did your parents ground you or something?”
Shaking her head, Becca closed her locker.
“Oh, my gosh! Did you and Colby…? I mean, prom night is legendary.”
Becca’s eyes began to fill as she looked away.
“Well, god. Finally!” Ayla exuded. “You guys have been dating like, forever.”
She didn’t respond as the bell rang.
Ayla started in the opposite direction but demanded playfully. “I want deets, girl. Later.”
The heaviness remained through the rest of her day. Not ready to go home, she’d agreed to go with Ayla to her house. Not unusual, so her mother wouldn’t suspect anything and likely think she was now ready to reminisce.
“So, what happened?” Ayla asked expectantly, an air of salacious curiosity in her tone. “And why do you seem so… weird about it.”
Becca didn’t reply.
“Wait.” Ayla’s tone bordered on anger. “Did Colby do something? Did he…?”
Shaking her head for emphasis, she replied. “No. Colby loves me. He wouldn’t ever do anything on purpose to hurt me.”
“I don’t understand then. What’s bugging you?”
Sitting silently, she fingered the ring on her hand.
“Seriously?” Her friend seemed incredulous. “That old vow thing? Really, Becs, nobody pays attention to that stuff anymore.”
With a frown, she turned to look at her friend. She always had; and thought Colby did too. “So you and Dante…?”
“Sure.” She looked away.
Becca thought she sensed discomfort, but it seemed quickly covered.
“Besides, we’re graduating in a couple of weeks and you and Colby are going to different colleges in other cities and hey, college is going to be wild.”
She hadn’t ever planned to have that kind of experience. It had never been part of her plan and didn’t think it had been his either.
“So, who better than Colby? At least you know… I mean…”
Becca didn’t reply. Was she really making too much of it? She hadn’t known about Ayla and always assumed they were on the same page, but she didn’t know many other people who were. Should she just get over it?
“Don’t worry.” Ayla assured with a strange smile. “It gets easier.”
“I’m glad you texted.” Colby said, reaching for her hand.
She let him have it.
“You know I never meant to hurt you, right?”
“Yes.” Of that, she’d always been certain and wasn’t mad at him.
“You know,” he offered. “I don’t know if it’s what happened and can’t tell it for the truth, but I heard there was some pranking going on that night.”
“Pranking?”
“Drinks spiked and stuff.” He sighed, looking away. “Molly. Rufees. Some of the jocks thought it would be funny.”
Becca felt sick. “What kind of a…?”
“Doesn’t excuse it, I know.” He replied apologetically. “I mean…”
She nodded. “We both knew better. Than all of it. The party. The drinking.”
“I’m sorry, Becca. I wish I’d been stronger.”
“Me too, Colby.” And with a sigh. “And I don’t blame you. Really.”
“Thanks.”
“But there’s no taking it back.”
Becca had always been a positive thinker; a glass half full kind of person. She expected things to work out and they usually did. So, when her cycle was late, she attributed it to stress and the anxiety of her impending graduation. The future, while well-planned and hopeful, still brought with it the unknown.
Things settled with Colby; she had tried to get past what had happened. They were hanging out again, but she felt different, clouded. She couldn’t explain it.
Tonight’s graduation would be another one of those moments you never forget. As a couple, they planned to celebrate with their friends and classmates; agreeing not to allow anything to get out of hand like it had on prom night.
For reassurance, she had covertly purchased a home pregnancy test. Until she relieved her trepidation, she knew she would be unable to enjoy the evening. Time to settle it. Cautiously optimistic, she locked her bathroom door and followed the instructions.
Staring at the result, a cold chill ran up her spine and the world stopped. It wasn’t possible, was it? After only one time? What was she supposed to do?
All night long, she’d been fighting tears as she went through the motions of celebrating the end of high school. It was supposed to be one of those nights you remember forever and it would be — but not as the joyous rite of passage it should have been.
“What’s wrong, Becs?” Colby asked, slipping an arm around her shoulder. “You’ve been weirded out all night.”
Becca shrugged. She couldn’t tell him. Not until she knew what she would do.
“I know you too well to think you’re worried about what comes next.” He said in a soothing tone. “We’ve been planning for college since middle school.”
Her response just a blank nod.
“We’ve got a whole summer to have fun before we have to go.” Desperately trying to encourage her, he nudged with his shoulder. “Let’s enjoy it, ‘kay?”
“Colby,” she replied softly. “I think I’m just tired. Would you mind taking me home?”
He frowned. “Seriously?”
They were sitting outside the house where probably the biggest graduation party for their class was in full swing. It was still early.
Becca nodded. “You can come back, I mean…”
He stood and offered her his hand. While their relationship had returned to something much like it had been, he knew her so well that he recognized something in her was off; not toward him but more internal. “Come on.”
Becca explained to her mother that she just didn’t want to participate in the partying that was going on all over town, grateful that there wasn’t any pressing of the issue.
She cried herself to sleep.
Sitting at her window, Becca looked through her senior yearbook. Heaviness plagued her as she gazed at each face, every memory.
A light knock brought her back to reality. The tentative smile of her mother’s face as she opened the door slightly.
Becca smiled. “What’s up, Mom?”
She entered. “Honey, what’s wrong? Did you and Colby have a fight or something?”
Oh no, she thought, hoping he hadn’t just shown up. Keeping to the house, and mostly to her room, she’d been avoiding texts and invitations from both him and Ayla. “No, why?”
“Well, it’s summer break. You’ve been hanging around here by yourself. What’s going on?”
Relieved that there wasn’t something more to it, she shrugged.
Her mother noticed the book in her lap and smiled. “I know. Leaving high school, facing the future… it’s a big step.”
Becca nodded. She couldn’t tell her what had happened. Her mother had always been so supportive; her biggest cheerleader. How could she face the disappointment she knew would follow the revelation?
Never one to force a confidence or pressure her daughter, her mother smiled. “I’m here, you know, if you need to talk.”
She did know that and nodded.
“Enjoy the summer, honey. There’s plenty of time to navigate the future when it gets here.”
Trouble was, Becca thought, the future had suddenly become clouded.
Girl, you’ve been MIA all week! Colby says he hasn’t seen you either. What’s up?
Becca stared at the text from Ayla. She’d finally realized that nothing would change by itself and she had to talk to someone. Sorry. Can we hang out? I need to talk to someone.
Sure. Why don’t you come over?
Okay.
Her mother’s relief showed when she announced she was going to her friend’s house.
Home alone, Ayla grabbed two sodas and they went up to her room. “So, what’s up, Becs?”
She hesitated.
“You and Colby, like, bounced early graduation night. Hook up?”
“Not exactly.”
“Oh, whoa. You guys didn’t break up or something drastic?”
Becca shook her head. “No. Worse than that.”
“Worse? What the…?”
“I’m pregnant, Ayls.”
“Oh.” She actually seemed relieved. “Is that all.”
What was up with that? Her expression showed her confusion.
Ayla shrugged. “There’s a simple solution to that.”
Incredulous, she replied. “A simple solution? You’re kidding, right?”
“No. Just, you know, take care of it.”
“Take care of it? What do you mean?”
“You know what that means.” She sighed. “God, Becca, you aren’t going to let it ruin your life are you? What does Colby say?”
She hadn’t been able to get clear on that. While she’d always believed it was wrong, she’d never expected to be faced with the choice herself. “I haven’t told him — or anyone else until now.”
“You haven’t told him? Why not?”
“I’ve been trying to… I dunno …”
Ayla nodded. “If you’re going to end it, it’s probably better that he doesn’t know.”
“Isn’t it illegal in this state?”
“Yeah, but there’s an easy way around that.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s the pill.” Ayla sighed. “You can just order it online. No questions asked. They ship it right to your house through the mail.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It’s totally private. No one will ever know.”
Becca stared at her. How did she know so much about it? “How do you know?”
Ayla looked away. “Hey, I got… you know… last year.”
Stunned, she gaped. “Seriously? You and Dante?”
Her friend squirmed, keeping her eyes averted. “No.”
Even more surprised, she waited.
“Remember that hot guy at youth camp last year? The one all the girls liked?”
“You mean Roman?”
“Yeah.” Ayla took a breath. “I wanted to get his attention and when he started coming around, I mean, I didn’t want him to think I was some kind of a baby so… you know, we hooked up.”
Becca waited. How was it she was just now hearing about this?
“I didn’t find out until after we got home. And, you know, I didn’t have his number or anything.” She shrugged. “Not that it would have made a difference. I mean, there was no way I was screwing up my senior year, let alone the rest of my life.”
She had no idea how to respond.
“Nobody knows, Becs.” She sighed. “I ordered the pill and just… took care of it.”
“Just like that? It was that easy?”
Ayla shrugged. “Remember when I was out of school for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the year?”
“I thought you were sick.”
“My mom thought I was just having a bad time, you know…”
“That was it?”
“Yeah, kind of. I mean, the cramps are strong and I was kind of worn out, nauseous and stuff.”
Becca considered. Could it really be that simple? Could she really do something like that?
For several days, what Ayla had said stayed on her mind. She checked online and found that she could get the pill, no questions asked but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it.
Troubled, she needed something more. Where could she turn? Knowing what her parents believed, she knew that wasn’t an objective option. Then it occurred to her: their church supported a pregnancy center. Maybe she could get the answers she needed there; or at least an unbiased opinion.
Sitting now in front of the building, she anguished. Should she? Could she?
Finally, she mustered her courage, took a deep breath and stepped inside.
“Hi,” the young lady at the reception desk greeted with a warm smile. “How can we help you today?”
Becca’s throat was dry as she mumbled with a raspy voice. “I’d like to talk to someone.”
She nodded. “Let me see who’s available.”
Relieved that she didn’t have to answer any questions up front or fill out any paperwork, she breathed a sigh.
“Okay.” She picked up a handset and spoke quietly into it. With a smile, she turned her eyes to Becca. “It’ll be just a minute.”
Taking a breath, her nervousness returning, she stood trying not to fidget, or worse yet, run.
From the door behind the reception area, assumingly leading to the back of the building and whatever went on there, a woman emerged. Dressed semi-casually in a skirt, solid color blouse and jacket, her hair cut to shoulder length and soft expression, she smiled as she approached Becca. “Hello. I’m Carrie.”
Becca nodded It took a minute to find her voice. “Becca.”
“Nice to meet you, Becca. Come on back and we’ll talk.”
Mutely, she followed her through the door. Before she could observe much, she was ushered into a spacious office.
Rather than seat her at the front of the desk, she indicated a comfortable space with several comfortable chairs.
It felt more casual in that context and she relaxed a little as she took a seat.
Carrie took one adjacent.
“Before we… talk, I guess.” Becca started nervously. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Can this be kept quiet? I mean, you don’t have to tell my parents or anything?”
“Are you eighteen?” Carrie asked. “We have a policy about minors.”
“Yes, I’m eighteen.”
“Okay. Then anything said here will be confidential unless you choose otherwise.”
Relieved, she nodded and swallowed.
“But I have to tell you something.” Carrie said, her tone firm but not harsh. “We’re a Christian organization. Any counsel or thoughts I share with you will come from that perspective. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes.” Becca replied. “I came here because my church supports this center.”
“You’re a believer then?”
She nodded.
“Okay. So how can I help you?”
“I… I made a mistake.” Becca swallowed. “My boyfriend and me… only once and… and I’m…”
Carrie nodded. “Okay. Have you told him? How does he feel about it?”
Shaking her head, she admitted. “No. I haven’t told Colby. I wanted to… I don’t know… figure it out first.”
“Are you considering an abortion then?”
“Well, do you think God would forgive me? If I decided to…”
“What do you think?”
Becca frowned. “Well… I mean…” Fighting her own confusion. “I just graduated high school. We’re both going to college in the fall — not the same one. And…”
Without reacting, Carrie waited.
“I mean… at this point, it’s just a clump of cells, right?”
“Would you like to see?” She offered patiently. “What that ‘clump of cells looks like?”
“Ummm.”
“It’s up to you. We can do that right now, if you want.”
“O-okay.”
The nurse turned the screen toward Becca. “Here you go.”
She stared. Already, she could see the head and little arms and legs forming, along with the steady pulse of a heartbeat. Tears filled her eyes; her confusion deepening.
Carrie looked up as she came back into the office and waited for her to speak.
“What am I supposed to do?” She asked, teary. “I mean, will God forgive me if I …”
With a compassionate smile, the older woman replied. “I’m not here to tell you what to do, Becca. I can tell you that God will forgive anything you truly repent of.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, she pondered.
“But do you know what it means to repent?”
“Well, sure. It means telling God you’re sorry for something you did.”
“No. That’s remorse. They aren’t the same think.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Repentance means to reverse course. A change of mind and direction.”
“Okay.”
“Can you truly say you could do that if you make a conscious decision to do something you know is against God?”
“So you’re saying…”
“I’m not saying anything. I told you when you came in, I would give you a bible perspective. Maybe something to think about. Ultimately, the choice is up to you — and between you and Him.”
For days, she’d been fasting and praying. The picture of the child forming seemed etched in her mind as she desperately sought for God to get her out of the situation; to present her with any other options that the ones in front of her.
She knew He had forgiven her for what she and Colby had done. The repentance was real and she had peace about it. Why couldn’t she get clear? Didn’t God want her to have a good life? Wasn’t He the benevolent Father recounted in the bible?
It was then that it hit her. Yes, He was that benevolent Father and as such, He did not kill His children. While there were often consequences for choices made out of His will, He would have to violate His own nature and word to remove them. In the end, His mercy would bring victory through them, if she would press in and trust Him.
She knew what she had to do.
Without explanation, Becca had asked her mother to invite Colby and his parents over. Sitting in the living room now, looking at their expectant faces, she realized this was going to be harder than she had anticipated. Likely they expected something like the announcement of an engagement. It had always been somewhat of a foregone conclusion that they would marry eventually. She took a deep breath.
Colby eyed her curiously, clearly clueless but supportive as he always was.
“I invited you all here,” she began, taking a sip of water and another breath. “Because a while ago, Colby and I made a mistake.”
“Whoa, Becs.” He interrupted. “There’s no need.”
Ignoring him, she declared. “And I’m going to have a baby.”
“What!” Colby’s mother exclaimed, in unison with her own parents.
“Well, it’s simple.” Her father stated decisively. “They’ll have to get married.”
“No!” His dad replied. “What about his future? College? His scholarships?”
“What about her future?” Her dad countered.
“Is that what this is about?” His mother asked pointedly. “A ploy to hijack his future and get him to marry you?”
“No.” Becca replied firmly. “I have no intention of getting in Colby’s way. But since he is the baby’s father, and your future grandchild, I thought you should know. I’m pregnant and I’m keeping the baby.”
“Have you thought about adoption?” Her mother queried quietly.
“Yes.” She said, nodding. “But that’s not what I want for the baby. I want the baby to know that it was conceived in love, and that I wasn’t about to just give it away.”
“What about your future?” Her father’s demeanor had settled but his tone showed his concern. “College? Your teaching career?”
“Well,” she explained. “I’m hoping for help from you and mom. I’ll start school in the fall but here, at the community college, not out of town. They have a good elementary ed program. If necessary, I can go part time and work. But if you can’t see your way clear for that, there are programs that can help and I can do it on my own.”
Her parents exchanged meaningful looks.
“You’re our daughter, Becca.” Her mother said. “We love you… and the baby too. We’ll do what we can to help.”
“So will we.” Colby’s mother added, placing a hand firmly over that of her husband to suppress any objection he might raise. “After all, It’s our grandchild too.”
Becca glanced at Colby who just appeared lost. She felt immense relief that it had gone so well.
In her room, later, she got a text from Colby.
Becs, why didn’t you tell me?
I didn’t want to pressure you in any way. Still don’t. And I had to figure it out.
You know I love you.
I do.
But I can’t stay here. The college here doesn’t have an engineering program.
I know. I meant it, Colby. I don’t expect anything from you and I’m not going to stand in your way.
There was a light tap at her door.
Gotta go.
Talk later?
Of course.
Her mother poked her head inside. “Can we talk a minute?”
“Sure.”
She came in, closed the door behind her and took a seat on the edge of the bed.
Becca braced for what she was sure was coming.
“I knew something was going on with you.” She began. “I’m so sorry that you didn’t feel like you could share it with me. Maybe I could have helped you navigate the situation.”
“No, mom. This was something I had to get right. Between me and God.”
“Oh?”
She nodded. “Someone suggested, you know, I just take care of it and go on with my life.”
Her mother frowned but didn’t reply.
“I was always a little muddy on that. I mean, I never wanted to make that choice myself but wasn’t sure I could tell other people they shouldn’t.” She sighed. “So I went to the pregnancy center, you know, the one we support at church.”
“And?”
“She didn’t try to influence me one way or the other, but she did give me a clearer picture of what it means to repent. That it’s difficult to claim a change of mind and heart about something you did, knowing God was against it.”
Her mother nodded.
“Then, we did an ultrasound.” She shook her head. “It’s only been a few weeks and already I could see the head and arms and legs forming. I don’t know how anyone can say it isn’t a baby.”
A patient smile.
“I came home and couldn’t get that image out of my head. I fasted and prayed, hoping God would somehow get me out of it.”
“And?”
“He just kept reminding me of how as a Father, He would never kill one of His children. That Jesus laid down His life for us as His children and how could I do anything less for mine?”
“Well, honey.” Her mother said. “Thanks for all of that but what I really came up here to tell you is how proud your dad and I are of you.”
She frowned. “Proud? How could you possibly be proud?”
Another patient smile. “I admit, it’s not the fairy tale life we wanted for you. But we’re so proud of the responsibility you’ve shown and the adult decisions you’ve made. It shows a level of maturity you shouldn’t have had to face until much later.”
Her eyes filled, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I’ll be here for whatever you need. If you want me to help you with doctor visits, getting things ready for when the baby comes, all of it.”
Becca reached out and they hugged for several minutes. “It’s sooner than I would have liked, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“We love you.”
“I love you, too.”
The summer had passed quickly and quietly. Becca hadn’t realized how grateful she would be for her mother’s support in navigating doctor’s appointments, pre-natal vitamins and healthy living, dealing with the few occasions of morning sickness and mentally preparing for the journey ahead.
She hung out some with friends but very aware of how much their paths had diverged. Much of the time, she spent pressing into her relationship with God; recognizing a need for His support and wisdom more than she ever had before.
Seeing her friends leave for college had been hard.
“You’re crazy.” Ayla had declared, shaking her head. “This is our time. We’re supposed to explore and enjoy our newfound freedom before settling into the drudgery of adulthood. You’re fast-forwarding to the grind now. “
She couldn’t explain to her that she felt a sense of duty and responsibility and that it had brought peace and purpose to her life she’d never had before.
Colby had taken her hand. “I love you, Becs. But we’re too young for this. I’m not ready.”
“I know, Colby. I don’t expect anything from you. It’s why I’m letting you go. Do what you need to do. Have your college experience. We won’t stand in your way.”
It gave him pause when she said “we”, but he couldn’t just give up his plans for an engineering career to stay here and …. do what?
Already beginning to show when she started school, she felt the separation from the fresh young faces who were wide-eyed and fully embracing college life. It didn’t bring many opportunities to make friends. Instead, Becca began volunteering at church; so pleasantly surprised at the support from so many ladies in the women’s ministry.
She registered with a temp agency and took work as it was offered. It didn’t pay much but with her parents’ help, she began accumulating what she would need when the baby arrived. The store of things in her room, a bassinette in the corner, produced a strange but pleasant anticipation as did the changes in her body.
A few texts and social media posts showed the revelry her friends were enjoying; football games, parties, academic challenges. Ayla seemed to have a new boyfriend every other week. Either Colby carefully kept his love life private, or it seemed to be nearly non-existent.
She didn’t see either of them when they came home for Thanksgiving or Christmas. It hurt but wasn’t entirely unexpected.
When Valentine’s Day arrived, as she looked in her jewelry box for what to put on, it was difficult to keep from thinking about so many years spent with Colby. The memories rose from every pretty piece he’d given her to celebrate the day as they did from the teddy bears that still adorned the shelf above her desk.
It seemed like so long ago and someone else’s life.
Seeing the flowers, cards and candy seemingly everywhere she went didn’t help. But once the contractions started, she could think of nothing but them.
Labor wasn’t difficult as she’d opted for an epidural. Still, she was grateful for her mother’s presence in the room, while her father and Colby’s parents waited in the waiting room.
When she finally gazed into the face of the baby in her arms, love like she knew God must feel for His own children flooded her. Everything else paled in comparison.
The grandparents gathered around oohing and aahing.
“You should rest now, honey.” Her mother encouraged.
Becca nodded, reluctant to relinquish the precious bundle she held.
As she opened her eyes, she jumped, startled. Was she dreaming?
Colby stood next to her bed just looking at her.
“What are you doing here?” She asked softly.
He reached for her hand, and she let him have it.
“My parents called.” He seemed sheepish, unable to make eye contact. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
“Colby…”
“No. Let me finish.” He swallowed hard and took a breath. “Engineering is so not what I thought it would be.”
“I’m sorry.”
“And Becs, I kept thinking about you and what you must be going through.” He sighed. “All the parties, the frats looking for pledges, it all seemed so childish compared to what I knew you were doing.”
She looked up at him curiously.
“Becs, I’m coming home.”
“What?”
“I don’t know what I want to do now, so I’m going to work with my dad at his company.”
“Really?” She frowned. He had always said he didn’t want to do that.
“I think we should get married.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. We always kind of assumed we’d do that anyway, in the future.” He looked into her face now. “Guess the future just came sooner than we planned.”
She stared at him.
“I understand if you aren’t ready or don’t think it’s a good idea.” He added. “But I think our baby deserves to grow up with good parents, mom and dad, just like we did.”
“It’s a lot to take in, especially today.” She smiled softly.
“Just think about it.” He said. “Just one more thing.”
Becca cocked her head curiously.
He smiled. “Can I see my son?”
Lisa Greco Filali 