Anything but Normal - Melody Carlson [61]
Wes looked truly sad as they sat down with their coffees. It was the first time they’d really spoken since she’d broken the news to him yesterday. But even now he wasn’t saying much.
“I guess it’s natural that they’d assume it was you,” she continued, “since you’re the only guy I’ve ever been seen with.”
“Who is the father, Sophie?”
“Do you really want to know?”
He nodded, so she told him the whole humiliating story. Well, not everything, since he was a guy, after all. “I just can’t believe how lame and gullible I was, Wes. A pathetic fool.”
“You know what’s really pathetic,” he said quietly.
“What?”
“I actually wish I was the father.”
“Oh, Wes, no, you don’t. It’s a horrible position to be in when you’re a teenager. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone—especially not someone I care about.”
“What about this Dylan dude? Is he taking any responsibility for, uh, things?”
“He doesn’t know yet. I mean, if you hadn’t noticed, I’ve pretty much kept this thing secret.”
“The cat’s out of the bag now.”
“Yeah.” She sighed. “Mr. Young still hasn’t talked to me about it, but I know he knows. As soon as we’re back from Christmas break, I’ll resign as editor. And from yearbook too.”
“Why?”
“Why?” She looked at him incredulously. “No one will want me doing those things now.”
“I would.”
“That’s because you’re kind and forgiving. But seriously, I need to step down. And you’ll make a great chief editor, Wes.”
“I think you’re jumping to some conclusions.”
“I think I’m being realistic. Everyone knows now. And I’ll be showing soon. The best thing is to just start doing the teen pregnancy center classes. To lie low and wait for D-day.”
“Huh?”
“Delivery day.”
“Oh yeah, right. And what then?”
“I’m 99 percent sure I’ll give the baby up for adoption.”
“But that leaves 1 percent unsure.”
“I know. And it’s a big 1 percent.”
“I think you’re the bravest girl I know, Sophie.”
“Brave or stupid?”
“Brave.” He set down his coffee cup. “I can’t believe you kept this whole thing secret for so long. Most girls would’ve fallen totally apart.”
“Oh, trust me, I fell apart. Over and over. Just when no one was looking.”
“So, how’s Carrie Anne with it now? And your other friends?”
“Carrie Anne has been avoiding me like she thinks what I have is seriously contagious. And now I think she’s turned
Kelsey against me as well. Hannah has been kind but distant. And Jenny, well, after she laid into me for being ignorant, she’s been okay.”
“Christians can be so hard on each other.”
“They sometimes forget that whole forgiveness thing.”
“Which is so weird when you consider that’s why Jesus came to earth and everything—to show real forgiveness.”
“You know what really worries me,” she admitted as they were leaving Starbucks.
“What?”
“Carrie Anne’s dad is the pastor of our church, and . . . well, I just can’t bear to see the disappointment in his eyes. I mean, he watched me make my purity vow, he danced with me at the party. I know it seems silly since he’s not even my father—who still isn’t speaking to me, by the way—but I care what he thinks.”
“Well, if he’s a good pastor, he’ll handle it right and forgive you.”
Sophie nodded, but based on the behavior of Pastor Vincent’s daughter, she had her doubts.
Wes walked her to her car and then hugged her. “I’m here for you, Sophie.”
“Thanks. You have no idea how much that means to me right now.”
He frowned. “Well, I’m mostly here for you. I forgot that my family is going back east to visit my grandparents for the holidays.”
“Oh well. That’s okay.” She unlocked her car. “I’m just relieved to have Christmas break right now. I so need a vacation from all this.”
“Have a merry Christmas, Sophie.” He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
“Thanks, Wes. Thanks for everything.”
As Sophie drove through town, she knew she was going to pass the church. Suddenly she knew what she had to do—she