Read Online Among the Ducklings by Marsh Brooks - Free Book Online

tell you before with the accident and all..,” Rebecca
mumbled.   “I was afraid of what you would
say.... I made a mistake and...”

    “You know I
love you and whatever it is, we'll get through it together,” Isabel assured
her. “Is it about school?”

    “No, you
don't understand. I don't know what I'm going to do.”

    “Do about
what?” Isabel asked.

    “I'm
pregnant.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Chapter Six

     

    For one
moment, Isabel froze. She didn't know what to say. People always said that
there was no guide to raising children. There was no guide for this type of
moment either. Isabel was silent for one moment. She was biding her time.   She needed to think about the best cause of
action. She was upset but didn't want to show it.

    “You are
having a baby?” Isabel finally asked.    

    “Yes.”

    “Are you
sure?” Isabel asked.   Isabel's mind was
racing.   She still did not know what to say
or what to do. She was furious.   She had
spent the past twelve years devoting herself totally
to raising Rebecca.   She loved her more
than she could imagine a mother could love her kids and gave her everything
that she needed and wanted in life. Now Rebecca was throwing everything away.
Everything Isabel had dreamed that Rebecca would have: a good education, then a
good job, then a good career, then marriage, then kids. Rebecca was starting
everything in reverse.

    She wanted
the best for her. What should she say to Rebecca?   What would Richard say? What would Phil say?
What would Tia Marcia say?   How do you
behave as a mother or soon-to-be grandmother at a time like this?

    “I am three
months pregnant,” Rebecca answered

    “Does Tia
Marcia know?” Isabel asked.

    “No,”
Rebecca answered.

    Isabel
didn't remind Rebecca about their Catholic faith and the belief of no sex
before marriage.   It would sound like a
lecture and it was too late anyway. She wondered what she had done wrong. Maybe
if she had spoken to Rebecca more about sex or abstinence, it wouldn't have
happened.   But Isabel wasn't sure.   Rebecca considered her old-fashioned.

    “Does Mark
know?” Isabel asked.

    “Yes, but
he said that I needed to get an abortion, that we needed to finish school and
get a job first before we have kids,” Rebecca said, still sobbing. “I
couldn't.”

    That bum , Isabel thought.   He was having sex but didn’t want to face the
consequences of his actions.

    “Do Mark's
parents know?” Isabel asked.

    “I don't
think so,” Rebecca replied. “Mark said he was not going to tell them.”

    “So, he's
not going to marry you?”

    “No.   I don't want to get married either,” Rebecca
answered.  

    What's this
world coming to? Isabel asked herself. “So let me get this straight,” Isabel
said, with a puzzled look, “both of you are having a baby and neither of you
wants to get married.”

    Rebecca
didn't respond.

    “Rebecca,”
Isabel then added, “both of you have made a big
mistake and you have to take responsibility for your actions.”

    “I know,”
Rebecca answered, her voice almost inaudible.

    “Raising a
child comes with a lot of responsibility.   Obviously, I am disappointed in you. You can live here, but I expect you
to continue going to school and to graduate from college,” Isabel added.

    “I’m so
sorry,” Rebecca said.

    “You will
also need to get a full time job to help you with expenses for the baby.   I will talk to Tia Marcia to see if she can
find you a job at the Center.

    “OK.”

    “I have to
think about this.   But I will talk to
Mark's parents today,” Isabel added.

    “I don't
know about that.   Mark said he didn't
want his parents involved in this.”

    “He’s still
living with his parents and cannot hide the baby from them.   Besides, I’ve met Mark's parents. They would
want to know if they’re going to have a grandchild.”

    A few hours
later, after Rebecca left for school, Isabel