Page 10 of Wait for the Dream

He’s playing it cool, but years of friendship tell me he’s pissed as fuck right now. He protects the people he cares about, and he cares about me and Little Bear more than anything in the world, so for someone to dismiss this baby that easily is killing him.

I do my best to ignore Daniel’s text, to put it out of my mind, but his words sit heavy in my gut. Aiden does his best and cracks a joke or two, but they hardly land. I need to tell my parents—figure out what my future looks like from here. In a way, I’m almost relieved. I want my baby to grow up in a household full of laughter—and I know for a fact that there isn’t a better family for that than the Bakers. I don’t want anyone in my child’s life that isn’t one hundred percent in it because they want to be there. I know from experience what it’s life to not be wanted, and I will never want that for my child. I know the Bakers will love this baby as if they’re one of them, just like they do with me.

After a few days of wrapping my head around Daniel’s response and the idea of being a single mom, Aiden and I are, once again, sitting side by side on the couch. I have my mom’s contact information pulled up, working up the nerve to press call.

I reach a shaky hand toward the green circle on the phone, then jerk my hand back, turning toward Aiden. “What if they cut me off?”

“Blue, I hate to say this, but I think you and I both know that is the most likely outcome.” He grimaces.

“I have briefly looked at jobs around here, there isn’t a lot available this far into the semester. Something might open up over break, but what will I do until then?” I throw my hands into the air.

“Bailey, I have told you this more than once, I will just pull from my trust fund. I do not want you getting a job while you’re pregnant and in school.” Aiden takes my hands in his, “You’re worried over nothing.You know I want to be there. Why won’t you let me?”

“Why would you guys want to, Bear? It’s a small miracle my parents haven’t cut me off already.” My knee bounces uncontrollably.

“And if they had, my parents and I would have been there to support you.” His eyes are pleading with me to hear him, understand him.

“Aiden, you and your family have done nothing but support me my whole life. I can’t continue to burden you.” A tear rolls down my cheek.

Aiden cups my cheek with one hand, using his thumb to wipe the tear away, “Blue, you know we want to be there for you. You have never and will never be a burden to me or my parents.” He gives me a smirk, “You and I both know Momma and Pop love you more than they love me. Stop worrying about everything. Let us help you, please.”

Instead of responding, I pull my hand from his and press the button to call my mother, making sure it’s on speaker so we both can be part of this conversation.

The call connects, and I hear her mother’s voice. “Bailey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Mother,” I lie, “can you get Father for me? I would like to speak to both of you.”

God, I sound so fucking formal. Why am I like this whenever they’re around? I put on this whole fake personality, become the person they want me to be, just so I might get a small bit of their favor.

“So there is something wrong,” She sighs, the sound has the nausea that has been my constant companion for the last couple of weeks crawling up my throat. Please don’t throw up. “One moment, I’ll go get him.”

“Starting off great,” I whisper to Bear.

My entire body vibrates with anxiety. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be getting through this if Bear wasn’t sitting right next to me, holding my hand.

“Bailey, what’s wrong?” My father’s voice comes through the speaker, his tone flat.

“I don’t know how else to say this other than to come right out with it. I’m pregnant.” I whisper, my voice shaky.

There’s a long pause on the other side of the phone. I reach for Aiden’s hand and squeeze it. Needing his grounding presence while we wait for them to say something. Anything.

“Excuse me?” A high pitched version of Mother’s voice shocks me. “Bailey! How could you let this happen?”

“Mother, I didn’t do it on purpose,” I say, trying to remain calm. “It was an accident.”

“You have two options, Bailey Nicole.” My father’s voice is laced with fury, and I brace myself. “Terminate the pregnancy or never speak to us again. You will be cut off from us. No car, no apartment, no college.”

“Dad, please. You can’t mean that,” I say, knowing full well, he isn’t bluffing.

“I don’t say things I don’t mean, Bailey. I will not have this mistake tarnish the reputation I have worked hard for for the last thirty-five years. My child having a baby out of wedlock isn’t an option.”

“And the child of a very vocal pro-life CEO having an abortion is?” Aiden asks, and he may be more angry than my father.

“Why am I not surprised you got her into this mess?” My mother says with venom in her tone.

“No one will find out about the abortion. I will have the doctor performing the procedure and all nurses and staff present sign an NDA. I will send you the details of where to be and when.” Father just assumes I’m terminating. But that won’t be happening.

“I’m keeping the baby.” It takes all my courage to say that one sentence. Because I know, with those four words I just lost what little bit of support my parents gave me.