Chapter 2
I turned toward Aaliyah so quickly that my shoulder hit the wall.
"What?"
She looked terrified.
Her fingers tightened around mine.
"There's something about the baby."
My stomach dropped.
Before she could explain, the front door swung open.
Dad stepped inside wearing his navy work jacket over a gray shirt.
He carried his briefcase in one hand.
His eyes moved from Mom to me.
Then to Aaliyah.
He stopped smiling.
"What's going on?"
Nobody answered.
Mom straightened her blouse.
"Marcus, we need to talk."
Dad looked at her.
"About what?"
She brought the pregnancy test out from behind her back.
I felt my stomach twist.
"Dad, wait."
Mom ignored me.
"Your son got Aaliyah pregnant."
The words landed like a bomb.
Dad stood perfectly still.
He looked at the test.
Then at me.
Then at Aaliyah.
For several seconds, the only sound was her quiet crying.
Finally, Dad set his briefcase down.
"Is that true?"
I swallowed.
"Yes, sir."
He closed his eyes.
Then slowly opened them.
"How far along?"
Aaliyah wiped her cheeks.
"We don't know exactly."
Dad nodded.
"Have you seen a doctor?"
She shook her head.
"Not yet."
My mother's eyebrows shot upward.
"That's what you're asking?"
Dad looked at her.
"What should I be asking?"
She waved the test.
"How our son could be so irresponsible!"
Dad's expression hardened.
"Denise, I heard you."
She stared at him.
"Then say something!"
He turned toward Aaliyah.
"Are you feeling okay?"
She blinked.
"What?"
"Physically. Are you having pain or anything worrying you?"
She shook her head.
"No, sir."
Dad nodded.
"Good."
Mom let out an angry laugh.
"Unbelievable."
He turned toward her.
"What's unbelievable?"
"You're acting like this is good news!"
Dad took a breath.
"I'm acting like shouting at two frightened young people won't change the situation."
I stared at him.
I'd expected anger.
Maybe disappointment.
But not this.
Dad looked at me.
"Jordan, come sit down."
I hesitated.
He pointed toward the living room.
"Both of you."
Aaliyah looked at me.
I squeezed her hand.
We followed him.
Mom marched behind us.
Dad sat in his usual chair.
I sat beside Aaliyah on the sofa.
Mom remained standing.
For a moment, Dad said nothing.
Then he leaned forward.
"Jordan, I want the truth."
I nodded.
"Yes, sir."
"Did you know Aaliyah was pregnant?"
"Since this morning."
He looked at her.
"Is that right?"
She nodded.
Dad folded his hands.
"Have you two discussed what you want to do next?"
I swallowed.
"A little."
Mom interrupted.
"They don't have a clue!"
Dad raised one hand.
"Denise."
She stopped.
He looked back at me.
"Tell me."
I took a breath.
"I know we need medical care first."
Dad nodded.
"I called my supervisor about more hours."
His eyebrows lifted.
"And I've been looking at what apartments cost."
Aaliyah looked toward me.
I could see surprise in her eyes.
She hadn't known about the call.
I continued.
"I don't have everything figured out."
My voice cracked.
"But I'm not running away."
Dad watched me carefully.
Then nodded.
"Good."
Mom threw her hands up.
"Good?"
Dad turned.
"Yes. Taking responsibility is a good beginning."
She stared at him.
"You're rewarding him!"
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"I'm asking him what he's prepared to do."
Aaliyah suddenly started crying harder.
Dad immediately looked toward her.
"Aaliyah?"
She shook her head.
"I'm sorry."
He leaned forward.
"Why are you apologizing?"
She wiped her face.
"Because everybody's angry."
Dad's expression softened.
"I'm not angry at you."
She looked stunned.
Then Mom muttered, "Well, somebody should be."
Dad turned sharply.
"Enough."
The room went silent.
I had never heard him speak to Mom with that kind of firmness.
He continued.
"We can discuss our feelings without humiliating anyone."
Mom crossed her arms.
"Fine."
Dad looked back at Aaliyah.
"Do your parents know?"
Her face changed.
She looked down.
My stomach tightened.
I remembered what she'd whispered beside the door.
There's something else.
"Aaliyah?" I asked.
She started trembling.
Dad noticed.
"Sweetheart, take your time."
She swallowed.
"My mom knows."
I stared.
"What?"
Aaliyah couldn't look at me.
"She found the test."
My chest tightened.
"When?"
"Before I came here."
I felt confused.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She began crying.
"Because she was so angry."
Dad leaned forward.
"What happened?"
Aaliyah pressed her hands together.
"She told me not to come home."
The room went completely silent.
I stared at her.
"What?"
She wiped her cheeks.
"She said I had embarrassed her."
My chest tightened.
"And she told me to leave."
Dad slowly stood.
"Where are your things?"
Aaliyah looked confused.
"What?"
"Your clothes. Your school things."
She swallowed.
"At home."
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Did she give you anywhere safe to stay?"
Aaliyah shook her head.
I felt anger rise.
"Why didn't you call me?"
She looked at me.
"Because I didn't want you to think I was asking you to rescue me."
My heart broke.
I moved closer.
"Aaliyah..."
Dad held up one hand.
"First, we're making sure nobody is sleeping outside tonight."
Mom spun toward him.
"Marcus!"
He turned.
"What?"
"You cannot invite her to live here!"
Dad's expression changed.
"I didn't say we'd make permanent arrangements without discussing them."
Mom looked relieved.
Then he continued.
"But we're not turning away an eighteen-year-old who has nowhere safe to go."
I stared at him.
For the first time that evening, I felt something loosen inside my chest.
Then Aaliyah whispered, "There's more."
Dad looked at her.
"What is it?"
She swallowed.
"My mom didn't just tell me to leave."
Her voice broke.
"She said if I kept the baby, she'd make sure Jordan never saw it."
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I went completely still.
And suddenly, I understood why Aaliyah had been so frightened to tell me the truth.
