1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [98]
Now it was Gloria who comforted her mother; she drew her close and murmured words of love and reassurance. They held each other for several minutes.
When they reached for tissues at the same time, they both laughed, soft, embarrassed laughter.
Gloria sipped her tea and took a moment to compose her thoughts.
“When…when did you tell…Dad?” These were all questions Gloria had wanted to ask; she’d never found the courage. Facing her own pregnancy without the baby’s father gave her an entirely different perspective on her mother’s situation. The rejection she’d felt, the feelings of resentment she’d experienced at being denied the joy of growing up with her brother and sister, evaporated. Her mother had loved her and had done the best she could under the circumstances.
“Roy didn’t know about you until you were over a year old.”
He hadn’t known about her until she’d already taken her first steps. “What made you decide to tell him?”
Corrie hung her head. “I went back to school and we met on campus at the library. It was all rather awkward, as you can imagine. I didn’t want to see him, and at the same time I did, if that makes any sense?”
“It does.”
“We started dating again. I’d never stopped loving him, but I wasn’t willing to let him break my heart a second time. When he asked me to marry him, I felt he needed to know about you.” She exhaled shakily and reached for her tea with a trembling hand. “He was upset with me, Gloria, terribly, terribly upset. I’ve never seen Roy like that, before or since. He was so…angry.”
Gloria peered into the other room and saw that Roy was working on the computer, his back to her.
“We agreed that we wouldn’t discuss it again and we both accepted that we had a daughter we’d never know, but would always love.” She paused to get control of her emotions before she continued. “Then you came back into our lives and I can’t tell you how happy that’s made us.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Gloria whispered. It was the first time she’d ever addressed Corrie as her mother. It had always been Corrie and Roy, but from this point forward they’d be Mom and Dad.
“Okay,” Corrie said, slowly releasing her breath. “How can I help you?”
“I…I don’t know yet. It’s still pretty new.”
“Does…does the father know?”
Gloria shook her head. “No. And I’m not going to tell him.” She’d already made that decision and it was one she meant to keep.
Corrie studied her for several seconds before she spoke. “I just told you how upset your father was that I withheld the information from him.”
“I know. But in my case I feel this is the right thing to do.”
“At the time I did, too,” her mother said.
“Mom, please support me in this.”
Again, Corrie hesitated and then nodded. “If you’re sure that’s what you want, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“I want to raise my baby—at least, that’s my thought for now. I might have a change of heart later, but for right now that’s my plan.”
“Your father and I will support whatever decision you make,” Corrie said solemnly.
“Thank you.” She’d been certain her mother would say that but was grateful to hear it.
“Linnette’s pregnant, too, so Roy and I are going to become grandparents twice within a twelve-month period.” Corrie’s face beamed with joy and anticipation.
“I should tell…Dad.” Gloria drank the rest of her tea, then went into the other room.
Roy’s computer was set up in a small alcove there, and Gloria saw that he was checking stock prices. When he sensed her presence, he turned to look up at her. “Did you and your mother have a good talk?”
Gloria nodded, swallowing hard. Telling her father about the baby was even more difficult than she’d expected. “I’m going to make you a grandfather.”
“So I understand,” Roy said. He cleared his throat. “Is there anything you need me to do?”
At first, his meaning wasn’t clear, and then Gloria understood