India
They say everything will look better in the morning. It’s true, until you remember you have to face the music and your parents.
“Who knows you brought this ring?” I ask him, as I lay in his arms.
Neither of us have had much sleep and I know I will feel it later.
“Nobody.”
“You’ve had it all this time?”
“Yeah.”
He melts my heart. Kicking the sheets off me, I stretch as much as I can and heave myself to the edge of the bed.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to talk to my parents, if I leave it any longer, my dad will come looking and I’m guessing this will be the first place he looks.”
Leo’s jaw is a darker shade of purple in the early morning light and he has a cut above his eyebrow.
I want to know everything about him, but I don’t think I want to know about last night. The thought of my dad’s disappointment was bad enough, thinking of him putting hands on Leo is worse.
“I should come with you, we’re in this together now.”
“No,” I sigh, “I’ll talk to them, there will be less blood this way, and I owe them an explanation at least.”
“Are you sure? I can take your dad’s pussy punches.”
“And that’s why I should go alone,” I chuckle.
“Call me as soon as you’re done and pack your stuff up, I’ll get a prospect to come and pick it all up.”
“I don’t have much really, and most of it is still boxed from college.”
“Even better.”
We dress in silence and we find ourselves standing on the porch. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him.
“Can you see yourself living out here?” he asks, his voice deep and husky.
“I can, can you see us being happy here?”
“Fuck yeah.”
I don’t want to leave but I have to get this over with. If I leave it any longer, I wouldn’t put it past my dad to show up here and drag me home.
Before I can move, Leo is squeezing me tighter and kissing the top of my head.
“Please drive carefully,” he tells me, and it dawns on me that he left his bike at my parent’s house last night.
“How will you get back into town?”
“I’ll call JJ, he’ll come pick me up.”
After one last kiss, he walks me over to my car and opens the door for me.
“We know how we want our future to be, everything that has happened can stay in the past. Sort shit out with your mom and dad and come home to me.”
He closes the door and I start the car. He steps back and shoves his hands in his pockets. He is stepping up for me and I wish I would’ve listened to him all those months ago. The engagement ring on my fourth finger weighs heavily and throws light around under the early morning sun.
I’m excited to be marrying Leo and I can’t help but smile all the way home, even though I know no one is going to be happy for us. I think about whether to take the ring off, break it to them gently after we’ve spoken about the baby. But, they have to get used to it, I’m not changing my mind and Leo is going to be a part of my life.
His bike is on its side when I pull onto the drive and parts are hanging off, and some are scattered across the front lawn. It could’ve been dad or Zach, but whoever it was went to town on it. Wow, he is going to be pissed. He loves his bike.
Walking inside, I hear soft hushes coming from the kitchen. Dad, Mom, and Zach are sat around the table and while dad’s eyes stare intently at the back door, Zach kicks out a chair for me to sit.
“Why did you hide the pregnancy from us, India?”
I sit down and obviously don’t answer fast enough, dad finally looks at me as he slams his fist on the table.
“Answer your mom,” he roars.
“I was scared of this reaction,” I say, jumping at his tone, “And I wanted to prove to you both I could finish the year and handle being pregnant.”
“What’s the plan after summer break? I mean, you’re close to dropping, aren’t you? What are you going to do with a screaming kid when you’re trying to study?” Zach asks all at once.
I take a deep breath and ready myself for their reaction after I’ve told them our plans.
“We’ve decided I’ll take a year out and then go back next year, Leo is going to be there and share responsibilities.”
“All this has been decided since last night?” Dad says, finally speaking to me.
“Yes, this will work, dad.”
He looks at me and disappointment pours from him. I hold back the tears and save them for later. Right now, I need him to see I can do this and handle it.
“So, you’re going to study, raise a kiddie, and hope Leo doesn’t tire of playing daddy?”
“He won’t,” I argue back, “I…I was going to have an abortion, he’s always wanted her, I mean, I didn’t know she was a she then…”
“At least we know what the extra money was for now, fucking hospital bills,” he cuts me off.
I rub my stomach, instinctively trying to shield the little one from the yelling, and mom shrieks, jumping off her chair.
“What is that on your finger? I know it wasn’t there last night.”
Both dad and Zach jump to their feet and Zach reaches across the table and grabs my left hand.
“You’re not marrying Leo fucking Jackson, he’s no good for you, you’re too young to be treated like a throw away piece of shit.”
“Zach! He isn’t like that, he loves me…”
“He loves you?” he barks out in a laugh cruelly, “Leo loves himself, don’t kid yourself, little sister.”
“You’re just jealous because my child will know its real dad,” I spit out and instantly regret it.
He drops my hand like I’ve physically burned him.
“India!” mom gasps, and dad’s eyes water.
“I didn’t mean that, I’m so sorry, Zach. But, Leo wants the same as I do and we’re going to get married and we’re going to do this our way.”
“He’s going to let you down,” Dad says, more softly, “He’s a good kid sometimes, but he’s like his dad used to be, he’s not ready for this level of commitment. Mark my words, India McCarthy, he will let you down and you’ll be stuck on your own and a college drop-out.”
“You don’t know him like I do.”
“I’ve known that boy all his life, just last night, he was all over one of the club girls. How is that commitment to you?”
“Up till last night, Leo didn’t know I was pregnant, he thought I had an abortion and we were over. He was free to do what he wanted to do.”
Even though I know he hasn’t been with anyone since me, and yes, I do believe him. He wouldn’t be afraid to tell me the truth.
There’s a knock at the front door and no one moves. All eyes are on me and their gazes are pretty heavy.
“I wanted so much more for you,” dad murmurs, walking out the room.
I sit back down and wipe away the tears that have fallen without me knowing. It seems everyone else is free to make their own decisions apart from me.
“You’re brave, Cas. I’m not in the mood today,” we hear dad say and my heart races away with itself.
“You’re brave talking to me like I impregnated her myself…”
“Hey, we’re not here to fight. We’re going to sort this out like the family we are.”
I sigh knowing Alannah is here.
Leo’s mom is cool.
It goes quiet and I wipe my face again. Straightening myself up, they join us in the kitchen and the room becomes very small.
Cas barely looks at me, but Alannah stands closest to me and offers me a kind smile.
“How are you feeling, India?” she asks.
“How do you fucking think, look at her,” Dad spits out.
“I am looking at her, and she’s clearly upset while carrying our granddaughter.”
“She’s fine, Alannah, don’t you dare come into my house and accuse us of…”
“I’m not accusing you of anything, I just asked how she was feeling. Whether you like it or not, and obviously you don’t, she’s blood to us now and we will have our say.”
Alannah starts to lose her patience, but mom lost hers last night. This isn’t going to be good.
“She’s my daughter, and she won’t be stuck in this town for the rest of her life raising mini Lost Souls for the club, or your son.”
“You’ve always had a problem with the club, haven’t you?”
Alannah steps forward and so does my mom. Cas steps in between them and dad remains in the corner watching me.
I hang my head and wish Leo was here. I should’ve let him drive me home and hold my hand. This is brutal.
“You haven’t done too bad from them though, have you? Nice house, which wasn’t all paid for from your store. The clothes on your back, your kids back, Indie’s college fees, all paid for by club earnings.”
“Enough,” Cas booms and the two moms fall silent.
“What my wife is trying to say, is our son will step up and this fighting has to stop. She’s pregnant and in a matter of weeks, there will be a baby here whether you accept it or not. We’ve all known each other a long time, but make no mistakes, Slade, she’s carrying my grandkid and if you’re not going to let this go, I’ll make sure she is where she needs to be.”
I struggle to breathe, Leo didn’t want this. For us to come between our fathers.
“I’m her dad, she isn’t old enough for this kind of responsibility.”
“She was old enough to make it, she was old enough to make the decisions that led her here today.”
“Yeah, and where’s your boy? I don’t see him here assuring me he’s going to stand by her…”
“You know him, Slade, you know we raised him good.”
There’s another knock at the door and this time, I pray it’s Leo. Mom is the one to answer the door this time, and less than a minute later, Leo follows her into the kitchen. He seeks me out and comes to stand beside me.
He doesn’t look happy that I’ve been crying. He squeezes my shoulder and I want to lean into him. Dad is watching too closely, I don’t want to give him another reason to punch Leo.
“I’m sorry, Slade. I should’ve spoken to you months ago when we first started seeing each other. I disrespected you as a brother, and as someone I’ve known my entire life. I swear to you I will be there for your daughter every step of the way. I won’t let her down, I’m going to be by her side and there for the baby.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You know what, I don’t care if you don’t. I’ve given you my word, if that’s not good enough for you, it’s your problem. I love your daughter, and as far as I can see, you’re the one hurting her, not me.”
“You jumped up little prick.”
I stand before any punches can be thrown. Cas isn’t doing much, but he’s standing there simmering with anger.
“I’m sorry I disappointed you both, but Leo and I are going to do this together.”
I walk out, and don’t stop until I’m outside and opening my car door. I quickly realise I’m alone and Leo is back in the house. I climb behind the wheel and start the engine.
It isn’t long before Leo walks out and jogs over to the car, shaking his head as he looks over at his bike.
“I think I’ve made it worse,” he admits, closing his door.
“I don’t think it’s possible,” I sigh, and back out onto the road.
“I punched your brother, sent him flying out the back door.”
“Why?”
What the hell happened in the sixty seconds I wasn’t in the house?
“He admitted he trashed my bike, he had it coming.”
I’m staying out of that one. The brothers and their bikes are their business.