Aiden
“Bailey, you alright?” I can tell her thoughts are spiraling.
I know everything is going to be okay, but Bailey has had one hell of a couple weeks.
She is having a hard time realizing that while things suck at this moment, it’s all going to work out.
The last couple of days have been some of the hardest in my life.
Seeing the fear and sadness in Bailey’s eyes when douchebag Daniel told her he wanted nothing to do with her or Little Bear was hard, but watching her be shattered by her parents was torture.
Her parents have always been shitty, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t think this would have been the outcome, but to hear them say they wanted no contact with her.
To leave their pregnant daughter with no way to even buy food was the shittiest thing they could have done.
I know my parents will fix this. I know they will take the financial responsibility for Bailey and Little Bear.
I know they will help her in any way they can.
And I’m prepared to do it myself in the off chance that they don’t.
“It’s going to be alright, sweetheart. They love you. ”
My family doesn’t like to showcase it, but we are very wealthy.
Pop comes from a long line of very successful lawyers.
His family owns one of the largest firms in Texas, and the original reason we moved to Colorado was for Pop to open a branch of the firm out here.
My grandfather on Momma’s side was a self-made billionaire, real estate developer in Texas, before he died of a heart attack when I was eleven.
The trust fund me, my mother and each of my siblings received at the age of eighteen was enough that we didn’t need to work a day in our lives and our children would still have more than enough to live off of.
My parents made a deal with us that as long as we keep our grades up, they will pay for school and living expenses until we graduate and find a job.
We might be wealthy, but my parents have always taught us the value of hard work.
I am more than capable of taking care of Bailey, but I think Momma and Pop are going to want to help. They seriously are the best.
Wordlessly, she finally works up the courage to press Momma’s contact, and puts the phone on speaker and we wait for the best mom in the world to pick up. “There’s my girl! My goodness, I have missed you.” Momma says when she picks up the phone, as if she didn't just see us a couple weeks ago.
“Momma,” The word comes out as a broken sob.
“Bailey, what is going on my girl? Where is Aiden?” The concern in her voice is obvious. She probably thinks someone is dying or something.
“I’m right here Momma, Blue has had a rough couple of weeks,” I respond for her.
“Do I need to come to Alpine? I can stay in your room at the apartment while you stay with Bee,” Momma says. Always ready to come to the rescue of one of her kids. She’s the best woman I know. And let’s be clear, Bailey very much is one of her kids.
“No, Momma, we will be home in a couple of weeks,” Bailey says once she has finally calmed herself down a bit.
“What’s going on Bailey Girl? You’re freaking me out sweet girl.” Her voice has always had this way of soothing us, I’m glad we called her.
“I’m pregnant. The father freaked out and told me to contact his lawyer so he could sign over his rights.
My parents just cut me off. They cancelled my credit cards, I have a week to buy my car off of them or they’re selling it to the next buyer.
My apartment and phone are both paid through the end of the month and then I will be shit out of luck.
I don’t know what to do.” By the end of the rant Bailey is sobbing again.
I wish I could fix this for her. I wish I had a magic wand to make this all alright at this very moment.
“Breathe Bailey Girl, you’re not alone. You know we will do everything in our power to help you.
I’m not going to let you suffer. You may not have come out of me, but you’re my child just as much, if not more, than Aiden is.
” A watery laugh comes out of Blue at Momma’s last comment.
See, this is who Momma is. She knows exactly what to say to each of her kids to help them through whatever they’re going through.
“Hey!” I say in mock indignation, throwing a hand over my heart and clutching like I’ve been shot. “I take offense to that.”
“You know it’s true, son," Momma chuckles. "Bailey, I’m going to the bank tomorrow to have a credit card made for you, if you need anything before it gets to you have Aiden use his. If you are going to need something and you guys won’t be together, have him stop at an ATM and take out cash.
The card I’m sending you will be linked to our accounts and paid for by us.
If you can give me the email address for your landlord I will set up that we pay for your apartment from here on out.
I will call your shitty, no good parents as soon as we hang up the phone and buy your car from them, or we can just get you a new one.
You might need something a bit bigger anyway if you’re going to be driving around with my grandbaby.
When you come for Christmas, we will take you to get a new phone and add you to our phone plan. ” Momma has gone into fixer mode.
“Momma, I cannot ask you to do all of that. I will find a job to help pay for all of this.” Bailey is panicking, and there is no way in hell anyone is going to let that shit happen.
“You will do no such thing Bailey Girl. We love you like you’re one of our own, and we have the resources to help you, so we will.
I will not have my daughter, and the mother of my grandchild working herself to the bone while pregnant and going to school.
Pop and I want to help you, so you will let us.
” There is no room for argument in her voice.
“Bailey, we love you more than life, honey, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a hard time recently, but we will do everything in our power to get you through this.” I didn’t even know Pop was on the phone too until he spoke.
“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean for any of this to happen, I don’t want to be a burden on you guys.” Bailey says through her sobs.
“Bailey Nicole Michaels, you are not a burden. Hear me when I say this, you are not a burden to anyone, we want to help you. We want to do this. This is our choice.” Momma is using her stern, mom voice.
“Okay. Thank you so much. You guys have always loved me and taken care of me. I will never be able to repay you for all you’ve done and continue to do for me.
” I pull her impossibly closer to me, and press a kiss to the top of her head.
Her sobs die down with the wave of relief that seems to run through her.
“There is nothing to repay. This is what you do for family, this is how a parent should love. You’re just as much mine as Aiden, Maddox, Magnolia, and Charlotte are. You’ve always been my fifth child, and you always will be,” Pop says.
“I have an idea I want to run by you guys before we hang up.” I say.
I’ve had this idea running through my head since the conversation with Douchebag Daniel a couple days ago.
“I was wondering what you guys would think about moving the twins into Bailey’s two bedroom apartment, and Bailey will move into our apartment.
She can have Maggy’s room since it has the attached bathroom, I’ll stay in my room, then we can turn Maddy’s room into a nursery for Little Bear. ”
“Little Bear? That’s the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.” My mom gushes over the nickname I came up with for the baby.
“Lizzy, focus. I do think that’s a good idea.
Why don’t we talk logistics when you guys come home for the holiday break in a couple weeks.
Maybe we can all head that way a week before classes start for the semester to do the rearranging.
I’ll talk to the twins about everything.
Aiden, I want you to stay with Bailey for the next couple of weeks.
I don’t want her alone in that apartment in case something happens.
” My Pop, ever the protector, ever the worrier. I’m a lot like him in that way.
“Already planned on it, Pop.” I respond.
“I’m pregnant, not helpless.” Blue says, while I’m overprotective, she’s independent. Quite the pair we make.
“We know that Bailey Girl, but anything could happen, and we just want to make sure you’re not alone if the worst happens.” My mom reassures her. “Well, we have a lot to figure out, but it won’t happen overnight. How far along are you Bailey? When is your first appointment?”
“I’m guessing I’m like 7 and a half weeks. And tomorrow. Aiden is coming with me.” Bailey says. She absentmindedly rubs her belly.
“Good, if you have an ultrasound, I expect to see pictures of the little gummy bear. That baby is already so loved, Bailey Girl. Don’t let the three negative people determine how you feel about this baby.
We all love that baby enough for the whole world.
That will never change sweet girl.” Momma has a way of saying the exact right thing.
“Thank you guys so much.” Bailey is crying again.
I hate it. I’ve known this girl my whole life, she has cried on my shoulder countless times, and I still am not used to the feeling of helplessness that comes every time it happens.
I just want to be able to fix it, make everything better, and make sure she never cries again.
“We love you so much sweetheart, never forget that.” I say pulling her into a tight hug.
“We will let you go. Try and enjoy the rest of your day. Get some rest Bailey Girl. You need all you can get.”
“We love you guys so much! We will send pictures tomorrow, let us know if there is anything you need from us.” I say.
“We will. We love you guys too.” Momma responds before hanging up the call.