Chapter 3
I felt my chest tighten so badly that I couldn't breathe.
"She said what?"
Aaliyah stared at her hands.
Her shoulders were shaking.
"Jordan, please don't get mad."
I moved closer.
"I'm not mad at you."
She looked up.
I swallowed.
"I'm scared. But I'm not mad at you."
Dad watched us quietly.
Mom stood near the fireplace, her expression troubled.
For once, she wasn't shouting.
Aaliyah wiped her cheeks.
"My mom said I was too young to raise a baby."
I nodded slowly.
"Okay."
"Then she said if I didn't do what she wanted, she'd make sure you couldn't be involved."
I stared at her.
"What did she want?"
Aaliyah looked down.
"She wanted me to make a decision immediately."
Dad leaned forward.
"Did she threaten you?"
Aaliyah hesitated.
Then nodded.
I felt anger rise.
My hands curled into fists.
Dad noticed.
"Jordan."
I looked at him.
"Sit back."
I took a breath.
Then slowly relaxed my hands.
He continued.
"Right now, Aaliyah needs to feel safe enough to speak."
I nodded.
He was right.
I looked toward her.
"I'm listening."
She swallowed.
"My mom told me that if I wanted to continue the pregnancy, I could do it without her."
Her voice broke.
"She said I was no longer her responsibility."
I felt sick.
Aaliyah had always been close to her mother.
At least, that's what I thought.
They attended church together.
Went shopping together.
Posted smiling pictures online.
But now Aaliyah was sitting beside me with nowhere to sleep.
I reached for her hand.
She held mine tightly.
Dad looked toward Mom.
"Denise, we need to arrange a safe place for Aaliyah tonight."
Mom crossed her arms.
"Her mother will calm down."
Dad shook his head.
"We can't assume that."
She sighed.
"Marcus, we have enough problems."
His expression hardened.
"She's not a problem."
Mom looked away.
I stared at my father.
I had never been more grateful for him.
But I also knew the situation was more complicated than one night.
Aaliyah was pregnant.
We were both young.
I was working part-time while taking community college classes.
She was finishing her first year of nursing school.
We didn't have savings.
We didn't have our own place.
And now her mother had threatened to cut her off.
I looked down.
For the first time, I understood how little control I had over my own future.
Dad noticed.
"Jordan."
I looked up.
"Yes, sir?"
"You're quiet."
I swallowed.
"I'm thinking."
He nodded.
"About what?"
I took a breath.
"How I'm going to support them."
Mom shook her head.
"Exactly."
Dad raised a hand.
"Denise."
She stopped.
He turned toward me.
"Supporting a family isn't something you solve in one night."
I nodded.
"But you do need a plan."
"I know."
He leaned forward.
"Let's start with the facts."
He asked about my income.
My classes.
My expenses.
My work schedule.
Then he asked Aaliyah about school.
She explained that she had a scholarship covering part of her tuition.
But she still needed help with books and transportation.
Dad listened.
Then asked, "Do you want to continue studying?"
Aaliyah looked surprised.
"Yes."
Her voice cracked.
"More than anything."
Dad nodded.
"Then let's work toward keeping that possible."
Mom let out a sharp breath.
"Marcus, you can't pay for everyone's mistakes."
Dad looked at her.
"I'm not offering to solve every problem with money."
He gestured toward us.
"I'm helping two young adults think clearly."
I felt tears rise.
For the first time, someone was treating us like people rather than a scandal.
Later that evening, Dad called Aaliyah's mother.
Her name was Patricia Harris.
I had met her several times.
She was a respected accountant, elegant and always perfectly dressed.
She answered after the third ring.
"Marcus?"
Dad spoke calmly.
"Patricia, Aaliyah is here."
There was silence.
Then Patricia said, "Good. Maybe your son can explain why he ruined her life."
I flinched.
Dad's jaw tightened.
"I'd like to discuss how we can support them."
Patricia laughed bitterly.
"Support them?"
Her voice rose.
"Your son got my daughter pregnant!"
I closed my eyes.
Dad remained calm.
"They both need support right now."
Patricia's tone hardened.
"She made her choice."
Dad took a breath.
"She says you told her not to return home."
"That's correct."
Aaliyah began crying.
I held her hand.
Dad looked toward her.
Then back at the phone.
"Patricia, she's eighteen."
"And?"
"She's frightened."
Patricia was silent.
Then she said something that made my stomach drop.
"She should be frightened."
Dad's expression changed.
Patricia continued.
"Maybe fear will teach her what my advice couldn't."
Aaliyah covered her face.
Dad's voice became firm.
"I'm ending this conversation for now."
Patricia scoffed.
"Of course you are."
He continued.
"Once everyone is calmer, we can discuss practical arrangements."
Then he ended the call.
The room became silent.
Aaliyah was sobbing.
I wrapped my arms around her.
"I'm sorry."
She shook her head.
"Jordan, you didn't make her say those things."
I swallowed.
"I know."
But I still felt responsible.
Mom looked toward Dad.
"Well, now you've heard her side."
Dad stood.
"Yes."
He looked at Aaliyah.
"And I'm more certain than ever that she needs somewhere safe tonight."
He arranged for her to stay in our guest room.
Mom wasn't happy.
But Dad didn't argue.
He simply made the practical arrangements.
After dinner, Aaliyah and I sat on the back porch.
The evening air was cool.
She leaned against me.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, "Jordan?"
"Yeah?"
"Are you going to leave me?"
My heart stopped.
I turned toward her.
"What?"
She stared at the floor.
"Everybody keeps saying this will ruin our lives."
My throat tightened.
She continued.
"What if you decide they're right?"
I took her hand.
"Aaliyah, I don't know exactly how we're going to do this."
Her eyes filled.
"But I'm not disappearing."
She looked up.
I swallowed.
"I love you."
She started crying.
I pulled her close.
"I love you too," she whispered.
For a moment, we simply held each other.
Then she pulled back.
"Jordan, there's something else."
My stomach tightened.
I almost laughed from nerves.
"Another secret?"
She looked down.
Then whispered, "The pregnancy test wasn't the first one."
I froze.
"What?"
She swallowed.
"I took another test last week."
My heart pounded.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her eyes filled.
"Because I wasn't sure."
I stared at her.
May you like
Then she whispered something that made my entire world tilt.
"And before that, I went to the doctor because I'd been feeling sick for weeks."
