All right, sit still. Let herself get over the shock and pain of what had happened to her first.
No. Nothing had “happened” to her. She couldn’t blame anyone, not even fate. She had been so dizzy with the need for him that she hadn’t been thinking clearly and coolly as she usually did. She had done this herself by lust and stupidity and overconfidence. Accept it and go on.
And try desperately to find a way out of this web that was about to smother her.
EVE HAD ALREADY SHOWERED and dressed the next morning by the time Sandra wandered into the living room.
“Not sick? You must have slept. You look better than me.” Sandra yawned. “But then I never was a morning person.”
“There’s orange juice in the fridge,” Eve said. “No bacon. But you can make toast. No, I’ll make it while you get dressed.”
“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 a twelve-hour shift. I’ll be here every day, without fail. If someone else doesn’t show up, I’ll work a double. I’ll be the most valuable employee you have, Mr. Kimble. Yes, I may get sick, but I won’t let it interfere. I’ll be here. Most of the time, it doesn’t last during the entire pregnancy. I’ll work through it.”
“So you say.”
“Look at me.” She held his eyes. “I made a mistake, but I’m not going to let it hold me down. I’ll be working on my GED, but having a baby isn’t cheap, and I need that money. Afterward, I’m going to hold you to your word about working around my hours while I go to college. I’m not asking for charity. You’re going to get your money’s worth, more than your money’s worth. Now do I get my twelve-hour shift?”
He didn’t speak for a moment. “You get it. Show up tomorrow at 1 P.M. ” He looked down at the papers on his desk. “Now get out of here.”
She turned to go.
“Eve.”
She looked back at him.
“If you think I’m going to be soft on you, forget it. I’m going to work your ass off.”
She nodded and walked out of the office.
It had been easier than she’d thought it would be. But that didn’t mean that Mr. Kimble wouldn’t toss her out if she didn’t follow through.
She would follow through.
“You okay?” Teresa asked, her gaze on the office door. “Did he fire you?”
“No. He gave me extra hours. I start tomorrow.”
“Really? Then do you want to see Linda’s doctor?”
“No, I’m going to have the baby.” She turned toward the door. “It’s going to be all right, Teresa.”
“Yeah, sure.”
She couldn’t convince Teresa when she had to work everything out for herself. “I have to leave now. The doctor gave me all kinds of vitamins and stuff to pick up from the drugstore.” She opened the door. “I’ve got to have everything set up before I start working full-time. See you tomorrow.”
