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She had a point, even though I could not give a rat's ass about what any family members thought about me. Realistically, I just wanted to be happy, and if she was going to be an obstacle to that, then even she was removable. Not that I did not know that adulthood came with ordeals and struggles. But above everything else, it came with goodbyes.
There comes a time in one's life when you had to choose yourself for yourself. You have to win and stay strong while choosing the best thing for you. If she felt that Jonah was the best for her, then he was the best for her.
After my aunt left, I was thrown into deep thoughts about my life. If my parents were going to be part of that meeting, then it was bound to get feisty. Both ways, I knew it was not going to be easy. Jonah had to know about this, even though I hoped he would not have to be part of all that.
The family could not even come later. It was scheduled for Saturday that week even though nobody had anything else to do during the week. They just wanted a very comfortable place to meet and talk about how to solve the problem at hand.
The present family at the meeting were my parents, aunt, and uncle who had just got back from San Diego after living a fake celebrity life that don’t quite kick off as he would have expected.
“So, Claire. Tell me how it all happened. Did you date him for a while before it happened? Was it rape so we can press charges? How did it happen, Claire?” my father started.
As the man of the house, he had to start the talk anyway. He looked so disappointed in me and that broke my heart. He was my favorite of the bunch and for me to disappoint him that way, meant that I had disappointed everyone. I wished I could explain it all to him. He was a human like me. Didn’t he have feelings too?
“We were in love already. It was consensual. He didn’t rape me.”
“Will you shut your mouth?!” my mother screamed in my ear. Unlike Dad, she wasn’t calm and was behaving so ferociously as if she wanted to wreak havoc. I didn’t understand why she was always like that. Just like my aunt, my mother was hateful and unkind. I wondered how she ended up with a man like my Dad and yet my Dad still flexed his muscle to control her perfectly. As much as I loved her, she had to stop behaving like she had control over my life every time.
“Mom, this is my choice. I may be your daughter, but I have a life of my own. Jonah is the man for me. He has accepted responsibility and genuinely wants to keep the child. If he’s ready, I’m ready too.”
I turned to Dad. “You have to try to understand me, Dad.”
“I don’t, baby girl. It’s just too early to have a child now, my love. This man doesn’t seem like he’s ready to be with you!”
“How Dad?”
“Well, where is he?”
“Would you like me to…”
“Pauline. This is your fault!” My uncle cut it dramatically. “She was placed in your care so you could watch her and keep her from harm. How can you claim to be a responsible adult and allow your niece to get victimized by some old pervert? This doesn’t make sense.”
“That's exactly what I’ve been thinking too,” mother said.
“Pauline, sister. This is my daughter and your niece. How could you even allow this to happen? This is so unfair! My daughter is just beginning her life and you allow her to be violated this way? I can’t believe you would let this happen!”
“Look, I didn’t know how it happened. She was already pregnant when I found out anything. She was very good at being discreet about it, and you don’t expect me to tag along with her everywhere she goes. I have a life to live, and she has hers. You can’t just blame me for anything. I can’t be there, every time.”
All that while, I watched them speak to each other in awe. They all must have thought I was too young to fend for myself. Well, anything they said was fine. But I would keep that pregnancy whether anybody liked it or not.
“Do you genuinely intend on keeping this child?” my father asked. Each word he said hurt me. I could not believe my father was suggesting an abortion just to protect a family name nobody gave a damn about it.
“Yeah, Dad. Are you in any way trying to suggest we kill the child? Well, I’m sure you already know what my answer will be. You did not raise me to take the life of a person. It’s not my choice to make.”
Dad watched me carefully, seemingly confused about what to say further. It was clear that he didn’t care. He was probably saying all that because of my mother. But I was going to keep resisting until he gave up. Once Dad was cool with it, it was not a problem anymore. I knew that. He knew that too.
After a few exchanges, the meeting ended on a somewhat sour note. My father agreed that I should make my decision myself since I was of age, but my mother was insistent on me aborting the child. I didn’t care about what she thought at that point. I was happy that Dad understood me to any extent and that was more than enough for me.
My Dad got in his car and drove off in an instant, leaving a bit of dust in his wake. At his age, it was easy to forget that he was such a good driver.
My aunt and I stopped talking after that. It was as if her earlier acceptance of the pregnancy had been reversed. I knew she was going to backtrack on her decision once she had someone to support her claim. Who else would that be other than my beautiful, loving Mom?
Chapter Fifteen
Jonah
Clairedidn’ttalktome for days after her family visited. I called her many times and tried to visit her. But every time I turned up at her house, she was never in. Sometimes, I suspected that she was inside and pretending not to be. I tried to call her too. She bounced all my calls.
At a point, I began to think that she may not be that mature after all. My love for her was blinding me and I had to use my head so she didn’t twist it wrongly. After all, it was the greatest skill and power of a woman.
