Page 50 of Legally Yours
I try to remember the last time I was with Liam, and I realize it was almost three months ago.
“Am I three months pregnant?” I ask.
Dr. Robinson, still beaming at me, answers with a question. “When was your last period?”
She takes out a little cardboard wheel with dates on it. I tell her the date of my last period, and she turns the wheel.
“Yup, you are three months pregnant.”
The rest of my visit, Dr. Robinson and her staff give me all kinds of new mother information. I try to take it all in but the whole time, all I can do is think of Liam. I am glad they give me a booklet with all the new mom information to take home.
I’m going to be a mother!
Dr. Robinson’s office is not far from my new convenience store so I walk there, thinking the whole time that Liam must already be married to Eunice. I can’t tell him about this baby because it will ruin everything for him. I won’t tell him about it. I’ll raise the baby by myself.
It’s a muggy day, and I am dizzy walking down the street. Cars honk at each other and police sirens wail but all I can think about is the baby inside of me. What am I going to do?
When I get to the convenience store, my mother takes one look at me and runs to get me a chair.
“Sit down, child. You look pale as a ghost.”
The kindness my mother shows me makes me cry. I burst into tears, and my mother takes me in her arms.
“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
I am shocked. “How did you know?”
“A mother knows.”
“Oh, Mom, what am I going to do?”
“Is it Liam’s?”
I roll my eyes. “Who else, Mom?”
Hearing the commotion, my father and Brayton come from the back of the store to see what is going on.
“Our baby is going to have a baby!” my mother announces.
My father lets out a whoop. “Way to go, Liam!”
I can’t believe my dad has just said that. Brayton starts to cheer.
“I’m going to have a baby to play with!” Brayton says.
It is clear that my family is thrilled.
“Have you eaten anything today?” my mother asks.
I shake my head, and my mother says she is going to cook me some porridge because that’s what her mother did for her when she was pregnant with me.
“I can’t eat a thing, mom.”
“Don’t worry, the porridge is mild but very tasty. The baby will love it.”
My father comes over to me and hugs me. It is clear that he is over-the-moon with happiness. My parents are so supportive of everything I do. And now with the baby coming, I know that they will truly be there for me in every way. This is a relief to me.
A few customers come into the store, and my father goes to the register. He winks at me, and I give him a little smile. I am trying to be happy about the baby but my heart aches. I am alone and pregnant.