My mom moved next to me and placed her hand over my mouth. "She doesn't do well in awkward situations."
I resisted the urge to lick her palm.
"If you don't abort the baby, you’re not welcome in our house. You’ll go to college and make something out of yourself. You will not be an embarrassment to your family." Her dad reached out for her, but Renee stood firm.
"I'm sorry. I'll come get my stuff tomorrow."
"It’ll be packed and in the front lawn at nine. If you don't pick it up by ten we’ll throw away whatever’s left." Renee's mom curled her lip and turned away.
Her father trotted behind her.
Renee's knees went out and she crumbled to the asphalt sobbing. My mom released my mouth and crouched down, hugging her as my dad came over and put his arm around my shoulders.
"Can I come in?" Renee asked, knocking on my door.
"Of course."
Renee crawled in bed, taking up most of it. I’d learned she was a blanket hog and started putting extra blankets on the side so I wouldn't freeze.
"Your parents are amazing people."
I smiled as I pulled at the blanket slowly creeping off my body. "They are. What did my mom say?"
"It was incredible. She told me she’d stay at home with the baby while I went to school."
"We're going to have a baby." I gave up trying to get the covers from her and wrapped the one on the side of the bed around me.
"I can't take advantage of your family like that. I'll figure something out."
"Stop. My parents are willing to help you. As I see it, you don't have any other option but to take their hospitality and just say thank you."
"Kenna, you have quite the way of pep talking people."
We giggled into the darkness and Renee turned over to face me. "I'm scared."
"Of course you are. Having a baby’s a scary thing, especially as a teenager. The amount of pain you’ll feel during labor." I shuddered.
"Stop," she cut me off before I could go into statistic mode. "Do you think it's okay to accept your parents’ help? I mean, I can go to community college to get my AA and transfer into grad school later."
"I think accepting my parents’ help is the only smart thing to do. I know my dad’s looking for a receptionist at the office. He wanted me to work for him, but with softball and school I won't have any time."
"Your mom mentioned that. Do you think I should listen to my parents and abort the baby?"
My brain scrambled with statistics and I tried to sort through them to find the most logical answer.
"Your opinion. No stats. What do you think in your heart?"
"I think it’s your decision. If you decide to have an abortion you need to be completely at peace with the decision. If you have one, you can still go to college and not lose your scholarship. But, if you can't come to terms with it and end up ruining your college career and your life because you are swamped with guilt, you would have had the abortion in vain.
“I don't think either decision’s wrong. You just need to be fully committed to the one you make and never regret your choice. I also think a lot of girls in your position wouldn't really have the option of keeping the baby.
“My parents, and me of course, are willing to help you. Not everyone has the luxury of support, so if you do keep the baby it would show you're willing to accept what you have around you and appreciate it."
"You should speak without using statistics more often."
"But statistics are facts. Opinions can deceive."
"I can't believe I'm going to raise my baby with you."
"I'm going to be the best aunt ever."
"I know you are. And I'm going to be the best aunt to your kids when you and Trip get together."
I reached up and patted the poster right above my head and smiled.
Darn skippy he’s going to be mine.
