Page 86 of Pregnant in Pennsylvania

“I know, but Tina was having this hormonal sobbing episode about something,” she waves at someone in the stands, “so I had to talk her down before I could leave her alone.”

“Will she be living with you permanently?” I ask.

Cora shrugs. “Not permanently, but just until this whole thing is over. She needs a support system, and having been kicked out by my own parents, I understand more than most what it’s like to try to make it in this town, alone, as a teenager—and I wasn’t even pregnant.”

“My parents all but adopted you,” I remind her.

She nods. “Oh, I know. And that’s why I’m all but adopting Tina. Paying it forward.”

Cora is suspiciously silent as we take our seats next to my parents. We settle in to watch the next play on the field but then I realize that Cora and my mom are whispering conspiratorially.

I lean against my dad and clutch his arm dramatically. “Dad, help. They’re cahooting.”

Dad cackles gruffly. “Good luck to you, darlin’. Once those two start jawing, ain’t much can stop ’em.” He pats me on the side of my face with a big, rough hand. “They just love ya, girly. You know that. We all do. Just want to see you happy, and you been letting what that—”

“Dad, please,” I whisper.

“Aiden ain’t here to hear me, so I’m gonna say it,” he grumps. “A piece of moldy moose shit. That’s what Daniel was, and what he is. He hurt you, and you been lettin’ that hurt fester in you ever since. Now, you’re right—I don’t know that Jamie Trent fella from Adam, but your son fairly adores him, and that says somethin’. And I’m just sayin’, maybe you oughta give some thought to letting bygones be bygones and…well, as much as I hate using clichés…maybe you oughta start a new chapter in your life.”

I shake my head. “It’s not that simple.”

“Ain’t nothin’ eversimple, Elyse.” He indicates Mom. “You think it was simple when she and I had that big fight? We had to choose to get past the hurt. You and Cora were just girls when it happened, and we kept how bad it really was from both of you. We nearly didn’t make it, Elyse. I said things I regret, she said things she regrets, she left and I let her…it took a whole hell of a lot of work to get past it. To trust each other again, to not keep seein’ and hearin’ all that old mess.”

“It’s not the same thing, Dad. It’s not like I’m trying to get Daniel back.”

“No, and thank god for that, ’cause he never deserved you. Point is, takes time and effort and willpower to get over some things, baby girl. It don’t just magically happen all on its own one day. You gottaworkat it.”

I shake my head and focus on the game, and Dad knows better than to push it. And, bless him, he shushes Mom and Cora when they try to bring their guns to bear on me.

I know they mean well, but…the harder they all push, the more determined I am to keep Jamie at a distance.