Chapter 5 #2
I scooted my chair closer to hers, but not close enough to make her uncomfortable.
“Here’s the thing. We want to help you in any way we can.
I know Jax offered for you to stay here last night, but if you want to, we’d be happy to have you longer than that.
You can stay here for at least the next week while we help you figure things out.
” I reached out and squeezed her hand. “And the three of us are going to figure it out together. We’re not just going to send you out on your own and wish you the best. We’re going to help you get through this. That is, if you want our help.”
Eliza nodded her head up and down as her tears started to fall again. “I do. I really do want your help. I just…” Eliza took three heaving breaths as a sob escaped her throat.
I went to the sink to get her a glass of water, then rubbed her back after sitting it in front of her. “It’s okay. Take your time. No hurry. Whenever you’re ready.”
“I need to tell you both something. It’s the reason nobody wants me. I wouldn’t feel right accepting your help if I didn’t share this with you first, because it might change everything for you.” Eliza took a deep breath, but nothing came out.
Jax turned off the stove and walked over to sit on the other side of Eliza. “You can tell us. We’re not going to judge you. We’re a lesbian couple living in small town Maryland. The last thing we want is to do to someone else what others have done to us.”
I continued to rub Eliza’s back. “She’s right. I was raised by two very liberal moms. I think I learned not to judge even before I learned to walk.”
Eliza chuckled in spite of her tears. “Thanks for saying that. I really hope it’s true. I… I’m not gay, but I am… pregnant.”
Her words made me so angry that my whole body heated up in response, but not because I was judging her.
That wouldn’t be fair. I was very rightfully judging her parents.
They left their teenage daughter to fend for herself at the hardest time in her life.
No matter what she decided to do about her pregnancy, it was going to be tough.
They should be there for her, not deserting her. Assholes.
“No judgments here,” I reassured her. At least none that are directed at you. “What would you like to do about the pregnancy? As I’m sure you know, you have three options—have an abortion, keep the baby, or give the baby up for adoption.”
Jax leaned in closer. “Any option you choose is perfectly fine. It is completely up to you.”
Eliza nodded slowly as if she was taking all of this into consideration.
“At first, my plan was to get an abortion. My ex-boyfriend plays football, and he’s going to be starting on the varsity team next year, so he wants nothing to do with this baby.
He also now wants nothing to do with me, which is why he’s my ex-boyfriend.
When I went to the clinic to get an abortion, I was told that it was my choice if I had the abortion, but at least one of my parents had to be notified before I could move forward with it.
I didn’t want my parents to find out I was pregnant from a stranger, so I decided to tell them on my own.
When I did, they freaked out. I’m not sure if they were more pissed that I was pregnant or that I was considering an abortion.
They are very conservative Christians, so they think there is no acceptable reason to have an abortion.
Yet, when I told them I wouldn’t have the abortion, they still kicked me out.
They said they couldn’t let the church see them raising a pregnant teenager.
I tried staying with a few friends, but every time their parents found out I was pregnant, they told me they couldn’t help me and essentially kicked me out.
The last family I was with told me I could stay until the school year ended, but as soon as it did, I needed to find alternative housing.
They did offer to help, but I didn’t want their help, so I left in the middle of the night.
That’s how I found myself in front of the cafe. ”
I couldn’t stop the tears from coming to my eyes.
I hated to hear how everyone threw this girl to the side as if she was nothing.
Where did all of the good, caring people go?
I realized this wasn’t an easy situation, but why couldn't anyone see the pain in this girl’s eyes?
And if they could, why didn’t they care?
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.
I know I speak for both my wife and I when I tell you that what you just told us changes absolutely nothing.
If anything, it just makes us want to help more. ”
“She’s right,” Jax added. “Do you still want an abortion? I’m sure there’s a way to get past the parental notification clause in situations like this. I can help you find out if that’s what you want to do. How far along are you?”
It didn’t appear like she was too far along, but I knew looks could be deceiving, especially at such a young age and with the baggy clothes Eliza had chosen to wear yesterday and today.
“I-I’m actually not sure. I must be further than I thought because I think I felt the baby kick the other day.
I’m not really sure what it’s supposed to feel like, but I definitely felt something.
Before that, I would have definitely said I wanted an abortion, but after feeling the kick, I’m not sure if I can go through with it.
I’m not crazy like my parents. I promise. I just… I don’t know.”
As someone who was trying to get pregnant, I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to feel the human inside of you move around.
Although, I’m sure the experience would be much different for me since the pregnancy would be something I planned.
I really couldn’t imagine the mixed emotions Eliza must be feeling.
“That makes perfect sense,” Jax reassured her.
It hit me at that moment that if she didn’t know how far along she was, she probably wasn’t getting the care she needed. “Have you seen an OBGYN?”
Eliza’s face turned red as she shook her head slowly as if she was embarrassed. “No. I’m sorry. I know that’s bad. I just honestly wasn’t sure how to do it without my parents.”
“Don’t worry,” Jax said with a chuckle. “I’m double your age and I wouldn’t get to any of my doctor’s appointments if it wasn’t for Carter, so I get it.”
“We do need to have you see someone,” I told her gently.
Jax nodded. “Even if we have to pay out of pocket, we will.”
I nodded in agreement. Luckily, thanks to Jax’s trust fund, which we only dug into if we really needed to, we were able to do that. It wasn’t lost on me what kind of privilege that was. We weren’t saints. We just had the means to do what needed to be done to help.
“Really? Are you sure? I can pay you back sometime.”
Jax shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.
I want to do this. We want to do this. You deserve to get the best care and we are going to make sure that happens.
And I’ll tell you what, if you’re insistent on paying us back in some way and you really meant what you said about getting a job, I can give you some hours at the cafe this summer.
Given current staffing, I doubt I’ll be able to give you more than minimum wage and the hours might not be much, but I’ll make up for that by paying the medical bills. ”
“You’re going to pay me for working and pay my medical bills? That doesn’t seem like a very fair trade.”
Jax nodded. “You’re right. It’s not fair. You’re going to be doing me a huge favor by working the weird hours I need filled in.” She winked at Eliza, which made her laugh.
Her laughter made me laugh as well simply because I was so happy to see her happy, even if it was just for a moment.
It was a funny feeling to be so invested in someone I hadn't even met twenty-four hours ago. It made me wonder if that’s how it felt when you became a parent.
Not that I was claiming to be Eliza’s parent.
I just felt oddly protective over her already.
Jax stood up and walked over to grab the food she had made. “You know,” she said as she sat back down, “If you’re going to be staying here, even for a few days, we should probably go shopping. I’m sure you want to wear clothes that you actually like and not be forced to wear ours.”
Eliza shrugged. “Yours are fine.”
“Please. I insist.” Jax took a piece of bacon and nonchalantly tossed it in her mouth as if this was a completely normal Sunday. “Do you have a phone?”
Eliza shook her head and looked down at the table. “My parents wouldn’t let me take anything with me.”
Fucking assholes. My blood boiled when I thought about the terrible people who had thrown their pregnant daughter onto the street with absolutely nothing.
“We’ll need to get you onto a cheap phone plan.” Jax looked over at me. “We have an old phone we can give her, right?”
It was so like Jax to go all in on this before we had any sort of plan. I wanted to tell her to slow down, but I wasn’t going to say that in front of Eliza. I didn’t want to do anything to give her the impression that I wasn’t completely supportive.
“We do,” I answered once I remembered the question had been directed toward me. “I think it’s in one of the drawers of the dresser in the den.”
“Perfect.” Jax smiled at Eliza. “Eat up. After lunch we’ll find that phone and go shopping.”
Since Eliza finished her food first, I had her go to the den to find the phone so I could talk to Jax privately.
“Do you think we’re jumping the gun a little bit?” I whispered to Jax when Eliza was no longer in the room. “If what she’s saying is true, I want to do anything we can to help her.”
Jax furrowed her eyebrows. “What do you mean by if?”