“I do. I understand that no one is as protective as a mother, and our job starts the minute we find out we have a baby on board.”
“I wish my parents felt that way. I wish Jordan did, too.”
“Getting pregnant in high school is a lot different than when you’re married and planning to start a family,” I tell her. While I’ve never met Margie’s parents, I still feel the need to give them the benefit of the doubt. “Your mom and dad raised you expecting one thing for your life. That plan has changed rather dramatically. You can’t blame them for feeling some disappointment.”
Leaning back against the overstuffed cushions, she says, “I don’t blame them forthat. But even I know that life rarely turns out like people think it will. My parents have known for three weeks that I’m pregnant and they’re still yelling at me. It’s likeIdon’t matter to them anymore. All I am is the creator of a problem they want solved.”
I inhale deeply and exhale with equal force before telling her, “I’m almost thirty and I still feel like my mother’s love comes with strings.” At her confused expression, I explain, “My mom thinks the only way for me to be happy is if I’m married with kids.”
After a beat, Margie asks, “What happened to your husband?” She’s quick to add, “I know it’s not any of my business, so you don’t have to tell me.”
“He cheated on me and got the other woman pregnant,” I tell her. “They just had quadruplets.”
An unexpected bark of amusement emerges from my new roommate which catches us both off guard. “Four babies? At once?” she asks after composing herself.
I nod my head. “Yup.”
Still hiccuping with merriment, she decides, “That’s absolutely horrible. I can’t even imagine life with one.”
“It’s a little satisfying,” I tell her. “My mom thinks it’s Brett’skarma for cheating on me. Not only did he get a baby for every one that we lost, but he got a bonus one.”
“If he cheated on you, I’m guessing he didn’t know the other woman that well. That’s got to make it a lot tougher.” She thinks a minute before adding, “They might not even love each other.”
“It might sound weird,” I tell her, “but for the sake of their kids, I hope they do love each other. There are four innocent lives that will be greatly affected if they don’t.”
“That’s big of you, Miss Rogers,” Margie says. “I mean, I thought Jordan loved me and look how he’s acting.”
“Jordan is seventeen,” I tell her. “That’s a lot different from being a grown adult.” Smiling at her, I add, “And you don’t have to call me Miss Rogers. I don’t have you in class so I think you should call me Allie.”
“Thank you, Allie,” Margie says. “I appreciate your generosity more than you’ll ever know. And I promise that once I figure out a plan, I’ll get out of your hair. I know having a knocked-up teenager living with you is probably the last thing in the world you want.”
“I’ve learned to expect the unexpected,” I tell her. “I’ve lived long enough to realize that things don’t always work out like you think they will.”
“Tell me about it,” she grunts dejectedly. “I was planning to apply to Northwestern. My test scores are good enough and my grades are high enough. I was even hoping for a scholarship.”
Unsuccessfully keeping the pity from my voice, I ask, “What did you want to study?”
“I wanted to be a theater major. The reason I wanted a scholarship is because my parents told me that I needed to major in something real. They weren’t going to pay for me to chase some fairytale, as they called it.”
“Do you know Faith’s husband Teddy?” I ask her.
“I don’t, but I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to introduce myself,” she says. “I mean, can you imagine a real Hollywood movie star living right here in Elk Lake?”
“He’s very nice,” I tell her. “In fact, I used to work at Rosemary’s before teaching at the high school. I’d be happy to introduce you, if you want.”
She sits up so straight you’d think she had a board strapped to her back. “I would love that! I mean, I know I can never be an actor now”—she briefly pats her stomach—“but it would be really cool to meet him and find out how he got so successful.”
“I’ll introduce you someday when he’s working,” I promise. “But for now, how about if I take you home so we can talk to your parents.”
Her excitement visibly dissipates. “I guess we should.”
We both stand up and walk toward the door when Margie turns around and faces me. “I don’t know why you’re doing any of this, Miss Ro … Allie. But you’re my guardian angel. I’ll spend the rest of my life repaying you.”
“I’ve always been taught that we’re not put on this Earth to be islands,” I tell Margie. “I believe we’re meant to love and support each other and to help carry each other’s burdens, whenever we can.” Margie looks like she’s about to cry again, so I hurry to add, “Come on, let’s do this. Then we can come back and order a pizza for dinner.”
We drive to the Flynns’ house in silence. I’m full of anxiety so I can’t imagine what Margie’s feeling.
Her dad is mowing the front yard when we pull up. He turns the machine off as we get out of the car and calls out, “Where have you been, Margie? Who’s your friend?”
