Alex set the abstract painting into the empty space on his easel. He looked it over carefully. The painting was missing something, but it was difficult to tell exactly what it was. If he couldonly—
His phone buzzed, startling him from his thoughts. Alex’s heart skipped a beat, and he took it from his pocket, wondering if Laurence had somehow tapped into his thoughts and decided to callhim.
It wasn’t Laurence. Gage was on the line. Alex scolded himself for getting his hopes up, then answered. “Hey. What’sup?”
Gage burst into tears. “A-Alex…”
“Whoa, hey, hold on, what’s happening?” Alex moved away from his easel and went to sit on his supply table. “Why are youcrying?”
“It’s Bo,” Gage sobbed. “H-H-He…he…”
“Is he sick again?” Alex asked. Gage started to cry harder, so Alex assumed he’d guessed right. “Are you at home rightnow?”
Gage managed to make a noise that sounded vaguelyaffirmative.
“Okay. So you’re going to pull yourself together, because you’re a tough dad and Bo needs you to be strong for him right now, and you’re going to cuddle with him until I get there, okay?” Alex hopped off the supply table. He patted his back pocket to make sure his wallet was still there, then spared the room a quick glance to make sure there was nothing he was forgetting. “I’m going to leave the studio right now and come to see you, and we’re going to make this right,okay?
There were issues Alex needed to address—big, serious issues that he couldn’t let go unchecked for too much longer—but right now, Gage needed him. The little problem that was his stunted heat could wait another couple days. If hewaspregnant, it wasn’t like the baby was going anywhere. AndLaurence…
Well. Alex would figure out what to do about Laurencelater.
Right now, there were more important matters to tend to. His best friend needed him, and he refused to let himdown.
15
Laurence
“Iwant to keep my baby.”Matthew stared at his knees. His shoulders were pinched to his neck, like he expected Laurence to chastisehim.
Laurence said nothing. It looked like Matthew had more on his mind, and he wanted to hear what he had to say. He wouldn’t let the dread slowly diffusing through his chest sully the moment. Matthew was being brave by telling him what he felt, and the least Laurence could do in return was allow him to feel like he had a safe space totalk.
“I…” Matthew trailed off and shook his head. “I wanted to keep it since before I came to the session, but after talking to Dr. Eckers, I know for sure it’s what I want to do. I know that it’s going to be really tough, and that I’m going to have to struggle, and that I won’t be able to be a normal teenager anymore, but… but I want to do it, and I want to know if you’re okay if I do it, because I’m going to need yourhelp.”
Laurence took a moment to make sure what he had to say wasn’t shaded by his inner emotions. “I want you to do what feels right to you. Having a baby is a big deal,Matthew.”
“I know.” Matthew didn’t look up from his knees. “Dr. Eckers walked me through it, about what’s going to happen to my body, and what I’m going to need to prepare for, and how expensive it is, and… and the fact that my social circle will change because of this, but I don’t want to let that stop me. It doesn’t feel right to get rid of it, and… and I don’t think that I’d be strong enough to carry a baby to term and then just give it away. Just hearing Dr. Eckers talk about it made me tear up, and she was so nice and positive, it’s just… it’s my baby. I made it. I want to keepit.”
The dread in Laurence’s chest dissipated. Sorrow took its place. He’d never seen Matthew so scattered and afraid. “You don’t have to justify what you feel. I trustyou.”
“But I need to know that you’re going to be there for me,” Matthew said in a small voice. He laced his fingers together nervously. “I can’t do this while going to school. I mean, I know I’ll need to find a job, so we’re going to have to… to figure out a way to make this work where you don’t feel like I’m using you. I can start doing more around the house to pay you back for how you’ll be helping me. I really don’t mind. I just… is it okay, Dad?” He lifted his gaze and looked at Laurence for the first time since they’d made it to the car. “Will you help me with mybaby?”
What remained of Laurence’s heart shattered. “Of course Iwill.”
Silent tears streamed down Matthew’s cheeks. He didn’t cry often, and the sight broke Laurence down further. The raw intensity of Matthew’s emotions brought back memories of Laurence at twenty-six, recently graduated from college, married, and facing the end of his relationship with Ann. She’d made her choice clear—Matthew wasn’t going to be herresponsibility.
So Laurence had taken him all for himself, and he’d never looked back. Not once. But even then, with a bright future ahead of him and financial goals within his reach, he’d been terrified. Matthew, young and without prospects, was facing that same fear now, but lacked the resources that Laurence had taken forgranted.
He wouldn’t let Matthew do it alone. Even if it took the rest of his life, he’d make sure that his son had what he needed, and that his grandchild never wentwithout.
“I just want the baby to be happy,” Matthew uttered. His words were strained—he was fighting back his tears. “Do you think we can make him happy,Dad?”
“I know wecan.”
Matthew brushed the tears from his cheeks. He sat back heavily in his seat and closed his eyes. “I don’t have to go back to school today, do I? It feels like there’s an itch in my chest and it’s making me clench up. All I want to do is sleep itaway.”
“You don’t have to go back to school today,” Laurence said. He turned the keys in the ignition and started the car. “It’s been a tough day for both of us. You deserve somedowntime.”
“Thanks.” Matthew traced a finger along the window ledge. “Tomorrow I’ll go back to class. I don’t want to drop out. I want to make sure that I finish high school, atleast.”
