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“I just… why did she run? Why did she pawn the ring?”
“She was afraid I would pressure her to lose the child. Which is understandable, as I feel like that’s a pretty common troupe.”
“Ugh, man or woman in privilege forcing the innocent but poor ingénue to do away with the accidental baby, I’m familiar with it.” The line went quiet for a moment, and I could almost hear him thinking. “Would you have?”
That wasn’t a question that I had been anticipating. I sat there a moment, thinking. “I would like to say no, because my mother always taught me to respect that other people’s bodies are their bodies and I don’t have a right to them. But… I wonder if would have tried to influence her to change her mind.
“Children are inconvenient, and I don’t want them. They make noise, they poop everywhere, and they throw up every few minutes. They cost a ton of money, you never know what you’re going to get, and even if you win the lotto and get the best child in existence, they could be killed by a school shooter, or some disease, or a car accident.”
“If you feel that way, why did you jump in feet first? Am I mistaken in thinking that you haven’t even gotten a paternity test yet?”
“No, you’re not incorrect.” I expected a lot more legal talk and a lot less moral talk. “I… I guess I’m not entirely sure. I just know that the moment I found out that there was a child in her, I needed to do whatever I could to make sure that child came out as perfect and healthy as they could possibly be.”
“I… I see. So, as your legal counsel I am going to advise you to ask for a paternity test at her next major doctor’s visit. I’m also going to send you a packet full of basic information that I would like this woman to fill out. Next of kin, medical history, things such as that.”
“Don’t you have that in the insurance paperwork?”
“Some, but I’d like it all in one place, and there are a couple of holes here and there.”
“And that’s it?”
“What do you mean?”
“No more yelling? No more stating all the terrible decisions I’m making?”
“In the end I’m your legal counsel, not your mother. I can tell that you are completely invested in this, so my only job is to protect you and make sure you get what you want.”
“I appreciate that.”
“And you’re sure this is what you want?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then that’s all that matters. But do me a favor and keep this on the down lo until we’ve dotted all our I’s and checked our Q’s. We don’t want anyone interfering or any copycats trying to get a meal ticket.”
“You think someone would?”
“I don’t know, have you stuck your dick in anything lately?” I didn’t answer that, just letting him sit in that silence. “Right, right. Over the line. I guess I’m also more involved in your whole situation than I thought. I’ll get that packet to you as soon as I can.”
“Thanks. I’ll get it back to you as soon as you can.”
“Sounds good.”
The phone line clicked off and I sighed. I really had stepped in it, hadn’t I? Even explaining myself to someone relentlessly logical like my attorney hadn’t been enough to shake me. I had almost hoped it would, but here I was, sitting at my desk and hoping that I had made the right decision.
I guessed time would tell.
Chapter Twenty-One
~Nicole~
I paced back and forth in my living room, my new cell phone in hand as I waited for my mother to arrive.
It had been one hell of a week since James had left. No one at work knew about my change in situation because I didn’t let any of them know about my situation in the first place. But all of them did seem to notice a change in me, and I spent three days telling them that I had just started up a new vitamin regiment.
Somehow, during all that and settling into my new place, I managed to call my mother. It hadn’t been easy, and I had spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday evening just staring at my phone. But I knew I had to do it. James was right, I needed an emergency contact who was only an hour or two away instead of four.
I didn’t tell her much, of course, only that I needed to see her. I was… surprised at how happy she sounded to hear from me. Given how badly we had parted, I didn’t think she’d even pick up my call.
Not that I was ready to forgive her and call it a day. That would take a long road full of patience and I wasn’t sure I had that yet. But I could at least take the very first steps and let her know that there was the possibility of an olive branch.
