Pulled(16)
Author: A.L. Jackson

“I don’t even know what to say to you, Vanessa. I met you one time five months ago, and now we’re having a baby in four months?” The anger in my voice was obvious.

“I just can’t wrap my head around this right now. I don’t have any clue what to do.” I knew I was being harsh, but it was true. I had no idea how to handle this.

“It’s a boy, you know,” she said quietly into her lap.

I tried to guard myself from the memories her news summoned, but it was no use. They were all I could see.

January 2000

Melanie held onto my hand. I could feel her excitement and anxiety, as I’m sure she could feel mine.

My stomach was in knots, my head sore from the number of times I had run my hands through my hair. I smiled down at her and caressed her cheek, looking at her green eyes overflowing with emotion.

“Okay, Melanie, this is going to be a little cold.” Dad squirted some clear gel onto Melanie’s abdomen and held up the probe. “This is how we’re going to take a look at this little one.” He smiled at us, his joy evident.

Mom placed both of her hands on my shoulders as she stood behind me.

Melanie was twenty weeks pregnant, and it was time for her first ultrasound. Dad had arranged to do it himself.

I had been so eager to see the baby, but I was still anxious. What if there was something wrong? The chances of that were low, but it didn’t stop me from worrying.

Dad lowered the probe onto Melanie’s stomach, and the monitor jumped around as he moved it to find the right spot. “There you are.”

The fuzzy image on the screen cleared, and I saw my baby. The moment took my breath away. Melanie squeezed my hand harder, and I turned to her. Tears ran down her face.

Melanie whispered to me, “Our baby.”

I leaned over and kissed her, murmuring back the same, “Our baby.”

Dad began to take measurements and talk about each body part. I was surprised at how big the head was, but he said it was supposed to be at this stage. We counted ten fingers and ten toes, and the heart was beating exactly as it should.

Relief swept over me as Dad assured us that everything was okay. He confirmed the due date as June seventh. We were halfway there.

“So did you two want to know the sex of your baby?” Dad grinned at us.

“Yes,” Melanie and I said in unison. We’d been looking forward to this day for a long time.

Dad smiled at us. “Baby girl.”

We were having a baby girl. I looked at Melanie who mouthed to me, “I knew.”

I took Melanie’s face in my hands and kissed her. “Of course you knew,” I murmured against her lips.

When Melanie and Mom left for the restroom, I turned to dad and pulled him aside. “Hey, Dad?” He drew me into a hug, patting me on the back.

“I’m so proud of you, son.”

“Thanks, that really means a lot. I don’t know how we could have done this without you and Mom.” Melanie and I would have been so alone if we didn’t have them.

Melanie still hadn’t told her parents, and Mom had pretty much taken on the role of mother in her life.

“You know we’d do anything for you, Daniel.”

“That’s actually what I need to talk to you about.” I hated asking for favors when they’d already done so much, but I’d thought this through and knew it was the best plan. “I need access to my money.”

I had a trust fund from my grandparents that my parents had control of until I turned twenty-one. My intention had been to save it for my children for when they were older, but my child needed it now.

He nodded. “I was wondering when you were going to ask.”

March 2000

It took two months of preparation. Mom had snuck up during the week to make everything perfect, and now that it was complete, I couldn’t wait to show Melanie.

I smiled to myself as I dialed her number.

She picked up on the first ring. “Hey,” she breathed into the phone. “I miss you.”

“I know, baby. I miss you, so much.” It was getting harder and harder each week to leave her.

“You’re coming tomorrow, right?” She sounded anxious.

“Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you think you could telllyour Dad you’re staying with Stacy this weekend? I want you to come up here.”

“Daniel, I don’t think my car will make it.” I heard her disappointment over the phone.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll come get you. We’ll just leave your car at my parents and drive back together.

Do you think you could get out of school early?”

“Yeah. It’ll be perfect!” she squealed into the phone. “I can’t wait. We haven’t had a weekend to ourselves since Christmas break. I really need to get away.”

“So, I take it you’re anxious to see me?” I teased her, knowing full well she was always as excited to see me as I was to see her.

“No, not at all,” she laughed into the phone, her sarcasm evident.

I told her I loved her and hung up, counting the hours until I could leave.

I woke up early. I planned to be at my parents by ten so I could spend an hour with them before Melanie and I left.

When I arrived, I found Mom standing on the porch waiting for me.

“Hey, Mom!” I called out to her as I got out of the car.

“She’s going to love it, Daniel.” She beamed at me. She had put a lot of effort into this whole thing, and she was almost as eager for Melanie’s reaction as I was.

“You think she will?” I wanted her to love everything and was sure she would, but I also didn’t want her to be disappointed because she hadn’t been a part of it.

“Of course she will, sweetheart. Don’t worry, you’ll see.” That was all I needed to hear.

My parents and I spent the hour having a late breakfast.

“Thanks, Mom. That was great,” I smiled at her.

My baby girl was going to have the best grandparents. Sure, they would spoil her like crazy, but they’d also give her the same kind of selfless love they’d given me my whole life.

I jumped up when I heard Melanie’s old car coming up the road. I flashed an excited smile at my parents before darting out the door. My heart burned with desire to hold her. The magnetism we shared was always there but grew stronger the nearer we were. I felt her spirit surge as she came into sight.

She pulled up behind where I’d parked, her face filled with disbelief as she looked between me and the car.