Pulled(14)
Author: A.L. Jackson

“Yeah, it’s sooner than we planned. So what?

We’ll just have to work a little harder. You’ll finish your senior year before the baby’s born, and then we’ll get married. We’ll make a home just like we’ve dreamed.” I couldn’t help the huge grin plastered on my face when I pictured Melanie sitting on a porch swing with our child on her lap. I studied her. She had a faraway look in her eyes and a glow that radiated from her skin, and I wondered if she was imagining something similar.

“Tell me what you’re thinking, baby.” She was tucked close to my chest, my hands moving in soothing circles across her back, her hands resting on my hips.

She shook her head as if she were trying to clear her thoughts. She looked up at me. “Well.” She licked her lips. “I know I should be upset, but I’m not.” Her voice held complete conviction, and I knew she felt the same way as I did.

“I mean, I’m scared to death, Daniel.” She stepped back, resting her hand on her belly. “Our child is growing inside me, and I have no idea how we’re going to do this, but I want her.”

I smiled softly at this wonderful creature in front of me. She was perfect when I met her two years ago, and she was perfect today.

“Her?” I had to ask.

Melanie shrugged, and a small laugh escaped her lips. “I think it’s a girl.”

A baby girl. I could only imagine how beautiful she would be. I had to chuckle when I realized the picture in my head was a smaller, chubbier version of Melanie.

If I could only be so lucky to have two of them.

We moved to her bedroom, lying on her bed as we absorbed everything. We talked about all of our fears and all the excitement building in us. Melanie eased every fear I had with a simple solution, and I did the same for her.

We could do this.

Melanie’s face turned serious. “You know my dad’s going to killlyou, right?”

Shit.

Steve.

There was a very good chance he was going to cause me bodily harm. There were few people as intimidating as Steve. The guy was at least six foot three inches and probably weighed two hundred fifty pounds. I could never tell if he shaved his head or if he was bald, but either way, the effect was threatening.

“Oh, come on, Melanie. He’s not gonna kill me…

maybe just hurt me a little,” I teased as I pulled her body on top of mine, holding her close. She felt so good. The days in between my weekend visits were complete torture.

I woke up missing her and went to bed missing her. There was never a moment I didn’t want her in my arms.

She kissed me, humming with pleasure as I pressed myself into her. Five days was much, much too long.

But that would have to wait, because just then, we heard Steve’s truck pulling into the driveway.

I groaned as Melanie rolled off me, running into the bathroom to grab the test and put it in a garbage bag in her room.

“So, are we going to tell him right now?” I figured it was probably best to get this over with. Steve didn’t show his emotions well, and I could see him ignoring my girl for the next six months just to make her feel bad. But I was confident he’d have some choice words for me.

“No!” Melanie shrieked at me, panic racing across her face.

“Melanie, we’re going to have to tell him sometime. Better sooner than later.”

“Don’t you think we need some time to sort through all of this and decide exactly what we’re going to do? I mean, Dad will handle this better if we have a plan in place and he sees we know what we’re doing.” I saw her point. We had some major decisions to make.

“What about my family?” I was nervous she would feel the same way as she felt about her dad, but things were different with my mom and dad than they were with Steve. Yeah, they would be disappointed in us, but I felt certain they’d support us. Even if they didn’t, we were all too close to hide something like this from them.

“No, of course we’ll tell them. They’d want to know.” She smiled tentatively and nodded.

Relieved, I brought my lips to hers. “Thank you.” The kiss was filled with all the love and respect I had for her. Her lips were sweet, her skin salty with her tears. I pulled away when I heard Steve open the front door.

“Melanie?”

“Hey, Dad. Be out in a minute.”

She smiled at me, giving me one last chaste kiss before grabbing my hand and pulling me down the hall.

“Hey, Dad.” Melanie squirmed, averting her gaze to her feet as she stood in the middle of her father’s small kitchen. I’m sure Steve had to know something was up just by the look on her face, but he was the best at being oblivious to everything around him. I didn’t know if he really didn’t notice or if he put a shield around himself so he didn’t have to deal with anything.

“Hey, Mel.” He looked her way as he reached into the fridge to grab a beer, snapping it open before glancing at me and looking away. He’d always hated me, barely acknowledging my presence anytime I was in his house. I tried not to let it bother me, but Melanie was going to be part of my life forever, and I hated that Steve and I couldn’t be on better terms. Our current situation wasn’t going to help the relationship between us.

“Hey, Steve.” The least I could do was try.

He grunted at me and turned his attention back to Melanie.

“Um, Dad, we were just headed over to Daniel’s, okay?” She looked uncomfortable, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. I hated that she was feeling ashamed of herself when she had no reason to.

“Not too late.” With that statement, he looked in my direction. It was my responsibility to have her home “at a decent hour.” I learned a long time ago that meant ten o’clock. Of course, that never stopped me from sneaking in the back door later after Steve had gone to bed.

“Okay, bye, Dad.” She waved behind her as I took her hand.

I helped her into the car and went around to my side, feeling relieved to be away from Steve’s scrutiny.

I studied her face. “How are you doing?” I didn’t want her freaking out every time she was around her dad.

She didn’t need to be putting that kind of pressure on herself and the baby.

“Fine, I guess. That was just…uncomfortable?” It came out like a question. She sighed, “I guess I just was worried that Dad could see right through me, like I look different or something? Standing there in front of him made me feel like I had ‘I’m pregnant’ written across my forehead or something.”