“Nah.” Cody lifted one shoulder. “But I read about it.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not the greatest environment ever. And I don’t know how I could take care of a baby on my own.” Julia’s defenses dissolved, and Roan saw a terrified child about to have a child of her own. “At first, I thought for sure I’d give her up but, now that I feel her kicking and moving around and I saw her on the ultrasound, it’s different. She’s my baby.”
“Giving your baby away would be really hard,” Emma said, a soft lilt in her tone. “I’m sorry you have to face such a hard decision.”
The girls smiled shyly at each other.
“Thanks for saying that.” Julia uncurled her napkin, pressing it against her knee. “Most people just look at me like I’m a disgrace. People in this town can be judgy.”
“People can be judgy everywhere,” Reese said. “But you get to decide what happens to your baby. Don’t let anyone tell you what to do. Only you’ll know which is the right choice for you and your child.”
Julia nodded, bottom lip trembling. “It’s hard to believe in myself right now. Like, what if I make the wrong choice and wreck her life. Either way.”
“You won’t wreck her life,” Reese said.
“How do you know?” Julia asked.
“You wouldn’t be thinking through it all so carefully if you weren’t up for the challenge,” Reese said. “I’ve learned in life that it’s best to trust your gut. You’ll know what to do when the time’s right.”
“Thanks,” Julia mumbled. “That’s nice of you to say.”
They moved through more questions. Talking to animals versus speaking every language. Living where it’s always winter versus always summer. Each question revealed insight into the young people in the room. Marcus loved animals. Emma wanted to travel. Cody would take eternal winter over summer without hesitation so that he could cross country ski everywhere he went.
“I used to go with my mom,” Cody said. “Before she died. We used to talk and stuff, then we’d eat a lunch she packed. Those are my favorite memories.”
Roan’s eyes stung. “Bittersweet, though, right?”
“Yeah, how do you know?” Cody asked.
“I lost my mom when I was just a little older than you,” Roan said. “It’s hard. I wish I could say you’d stop missing her as much, but that’s a lie.”
“What happened to her?” Cody asked.
“She had a heart condition,” Roan said. “Undiagnosed. She just didn’t wake up one day.”
“Oh, that’s awful,” Emma said. “I’m sorry—for both of you.”
“It’s okay,” Cody said without emotion. “Everyone says she’s in a better place.”
“I hate it when people say that,” Roan said. “Even if it’s true.”
“It’s just something people say,” Emma said. “Because they don’t know what else to do.”
“What happened to your mom?” Marcus asked Cody.
“Cancer. She was sick for two and a half years. The stuff they did to her made her sicker than the cancer.”
“That sucks,” Julia said. “I’m sorry.”
Cody nodded once, then looked down at his hands, still gripping his paddle. “Yeah. If my dad hadn’t fallen apart, I might still be with him at least. In our house.”
“My mom’s fallen apart too,” Emma said. “She doesn’t get out of bed some days. My dad has a girlfriend. That’s why he left. I mean, I guess.”
“Course he does,” Julia said. “Most men can’t be trusted. I learned that already. The guy who got me pregnant couldn’t run away fast enough. Pretended it wasn’t his. Told his parents I was sleeping with half the football team. And they believed him. So, here I am. All alone.”
“What a jerk,” Emma said.
“Yeah, I have great taste, obviously,” Julia said.
