Eve - Iris Johansen [37]
“You’re in a hurry.” Sandra looked at her. “Those Planned Parenthood offices don’t open until after nine, Eve. We’ve got time.”
“I’m not going to have an abortion.” She put bread in the toaster. “But I still need you to go to school with me and see the guidance counselor.”
“Eve, you don’t know what it’s like to have to take care of a baby. You need to—”
“No, I don’t know. But I may find out.” She got out the orange juice. “Or maybe not. I haven’t decided if I’m going to put the baby up for adoption. It might be better for both of us. If I don’t see a way out for us, I won’t bring the baby into the same situation that trapped both of us, Sandra.”
“That could work,” Sandra said. “But it would be hard for you. Look what kind of mess Rosa Desprando is going through. She should have given up Manuel.”
“That’s what her father says.” She set the orange juice on the table. “But I’m not Rosa, and I’ll make up my own mind. I’m going to get through this.”
“An abortion would—”
“No, Sandra. I may not be practical, but I can’t do it. I’m not going to make a kid pay for my mistake.”
Sandra sat down at the table. “So what am I supposed to do?”
“I’m going to drop out of school. I won’t be ashamed for the other kids to know, but it’s not practical for me to try to get through when I’ll be big as a house. But I want to start working on my GED right away. Then by the time I have the baby, I’ll have my GED and can try to get into college.”
“You’re still going to try to go to college?” Sandra was shaking her head. “It’s just not possible, Eve.”
“Watch me. It’s possible. Come with me to the guidance counselor, and we’ll get a jump start on that GED. I have a straight-A average, and they’ll probably look on me as a lost lamb. If I go in there alone, they’d turn the social workers loose on me.” She met Sandra’s eyes. “I need you. Will you help me?”
Sandra nodded. “Of course, honey. Just let me have breakfast and shower, then we’ll go.”
“Try to hurry.” She turned away. “I have a lot to do today. Before we go to school, I want to go to a doctor and make sure I’m not doing all of this for nothing. Though that would be too lucky.”
“You have it all planned out.”
“I have to have a plan. It’s the only way we can survive.”
“We?”
“My baby and me.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “And maybe you, Sandra. If you want to go through this with me.”
“You want me?”
She told the truth that she had stopped admitting to herself years ago. “I’ve always wanted you.”
Sandra smiled brilliantly. “Then you’ve got me.” She stood up. “And I’ll dress real quick. Do you think I should wear my new pink dress? I do love it. Or maybe the navy blue one would make me look more serious.”
“The pink one,” Eve said. “Be yourself. To hell with being serious. There’s going to be enough of that in our lives.”
* * *
AFTER SHE FINISHED WITH THE guidance counselor, she left her mother at the apartment and took a bus to the restaurant. She went directly to the office.
George Kimble looked up at her entrance. “You’re looking pretty good. Teresa said you were sick. Flu?”
“I feel okay.” She drew a deep breath. “But it’s not flu. I’m pregnant.”
“So?” He looked her up and down. “You don’t look far along. Are you resigning?”
“No. I’m asking for more hours. I just quit school, and I need the work.”
“And I don’t need someone who gets sick all the time and has to go home. You put me in a bad spot last night.”
“It won’t happen again.”
He leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Who was it? That kid who kept coming in here and picking you up?”
“Yes.”
“Won’t he help you out?”
“I’m not asking.”
He wearily shook his head. “You kids. You could have the whole world at your feet, and you throw it away. I like you, Eve. I thought you had your head in the right place.”
“I guess I didn’t. I do now. Will you give me those hours?”
“It’s not good business. I couldn’t rely on you.”
“You can rely on me.” She put her hands on the desk and leaned toward him. “I want