CHAPTER FORTY
2017
Sarah could remember chatting to Louisa about young love never running smooth. And oh how she now knew. When she and Jessie started dating, they’d been full of plans for the future. Now a year later, and after five months at college, she’d found out she was pregnant.
She didn’t know what to think about the news. With Jessie at work, there was only her mum at home and she wasn’t going to confide in her. She knew she wouldn’t be fussed as she didn’t care what happened to anyone but herself.
Yet her mum could read her better than she thought.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ she said as Sarah flopped onto the settee.
‘Nothing.’
‘Anyone would think you’d had some bad news.’
Sarah stayed quiet, hoping she could watch the TV in peace. But her mum went on.
‘There’s nothing worse than being pregnant at your age like I was, so there is that you have to be grateful for, whatever is the matter with you.’
‘Would it be so bad if I was?’ she queried.
‘What?’
‘Pregnant.’
‘Oh for crying out loud, please tell me you’re not.’
Sarah’s cheeks reddened as she stared at the TV.
‘Have you taken a test?’
‘Yes.’
‘And?’
‘It’s positive.’
‘You stupid, stupid girl. I thought you were on the pill.’
‘I am.’
‘So you must have forgotten to take it? Typical.’
‘Why is it always my fault?’ Sarah cried.
‘You’re the one who opened your legs willingly.’ Her mum paused. ‘He didn’t force himself on you? Because that would be a very different matter.’
‘No, Mum. He didn’t.’
‘Thanks for small mercies. Mind, you’ll have to move out once you’ve had it. I’m too old for all that nappy changing malarkey. And I’m not looking after it while you’re at college. You’ll have to quit.’
‘But I need to get an education so I can get a better job now,’ she protested.
‘You should have thought of that beforehand. I’m not made of money either. Babies are expensive, you know.’
‘Jessie will take care of that. He’s working now and?—’
‘—already has one child to pay out for. There could be more, knowing him.’
