Chapter 9.
Krystal sat by herself in a red velvet chair, a stray beam of sunlight isolating her from the silhouetted home surrounding her. Her fingers twiddled by habit, her gaze losing the energy to look anywhere but down at her slender feet. After a while, she lay her restless hands upon her stomach; beneath them, the first of the coming McCloud generation continued to grow deep inside her. Her mind reeled at everything that happened. The pleasure of that night--the experience she felt--the temptation she caved in to. The memories haunted her at every turn, like a lonely ghost.
Three dull knocks came from across the room and snapped her back into the present moment. With a hesitant huff, she rose from the comfort of the chair and, with ever dwindling bravery, made her way to the door. Her slender fingers twisted the doorknob, and her unready arm pulled the door open, bringing a figure into view. The muscular vulpine standing upon the covered porch caused her stomach to plummet.
"Hi, Krystal," he mumbled, wearing a face to match the gloomy tone of his dull gray T-shirt. "Peppy isn't here, is he?"
"No. He and Vivian and Lucy went shopping, so it's just me. Come on in."
Fox nodded and wiped his shoes on the doormat. As he stepped into the house, he looked back up at Krystal, offering a hopeless stare. "I'm sorry."
Krystal shook her head, unable to reply.
"You haven't told them yet, I guess."
"No. Did you tell your father?"
Fox wagged his head. "I haven't gotten enough courage yet, and I'm not even allowed to see you anymore." With a sigh, he continued, "So, it's true. You're really--? We're going to--? I-I can't believe it."
"Believe it. I'm just barely twenty-one years old, and I'm an expectant mother."
"So, what happened? How did you find out?"
"I went to the doctor because my stomach started to hurt again, and I threw up. Something told me that my body wasn't right. My doctor ran a test on me, and when the results came back--" Krystal exhaled, a single hand running down her face. "Oh, I'll never forget how she said it. 'Ms. De'Maréis, you are definitely pregnant.' "
"Wait a second. Doesn't it take someone a couple months before they find this out?"
"Cerinians only have to wait one or two days."
With a heavy breath, Fox leaned back into the door, mouthing the last few words of Krystal's reply.
"We have to get out of this."
"And how do you suppose we can do that, Fox?" blurted Krystal. "No matter how much we want to deny it, our child is growing! We've got seven months to gather enough money so we can buy a house and prepare for this baby, but we have no adequate savings, no one who could afford to--"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on," he murmured, the tips of his eyebrows pointing skyward. "Seven months? It's supposed to be nine, right?"
"Cerinian babies mature faster than Cornerian babies."
Another sigh came from the depths of Fox's throat. During a sluggish pause, he interlaced his fingers and stared at the floor, his eyes hesitating to look toward Krystal. After a moment, he let out a huff and plastered his sinewy hands along the back of his head. "I've wanted to be a dad, but I never guessed it'd be like this. Now my future and my dream job are both toast."
"Well, what about my future?" exclaimed Krystal. "I hear all this talk about us and what we're going to do, but all you keep thinking about is you! Unless I don't need to tell you, I won't be able to graduate from the Academy! I'll have to drop out because of this baby! Every day for the next two months, I'll have to suffer with morning sickness and approaching motherhood while you get to do whatever you want! Then, for twenty years or more, I'll have to work around the clock by myself to raise our child!"
"Krys, that won't happen," Fox hushed. He shuffled toward Krystal, a loving look forming upon his face. He ran his fingers between Krystal's, and his other hand brushed against her cheek, a single tear soaking into his fur.
"I know you're scared. So am I. But you won't go through this yourself," he promised. "I'll always be here for you."
"What are we going to do, then?" Krystal said in a breath. "I mean, is there any way to undo--" In a heartbeat, her stomach dropped as an unwelcome thought barged into her mind. "You think I need to have an abortion."
Fox looked straight at Krystal and said, "It's your body, your choice, but it seems like an abortion's the only way of getting out of this mess. Then again, there's always marriage or adoption. I mean, either one will give us more time to sort this out."
"No. I couldn't spend the rest of my life with someone I don't love anymore. I know you wouldn't do much better."
Fox shook his head in agreement.
"I won't stand for adoption, either," said Krystal. "It would break my heart."
"You think you'd get attached to the baby?"
Krystal nodded. "Wouldn't you?"
After a pause, Fox murmured, "I didn't want this all to happen. I even told Slippy it--" His voice trailed off, and he let out a heavier breath. "We have to end this. Look--no matter what happens, Krys, I'm not going to leave you. We'll go through this together"
A small smile formed across Krystal's face. "I know you mean that," she said, a tone of uncertainty streaking through her voice.
Fox nodded and pulled himself close to Krystal. "I'll show you how much I mean that."
Without hesitation, a swift hand plastered itself against Fox's broad chest.
"No," Krystal argued with authority. "Don't kiss me. Like you said, it's my body, my choice."
