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Hope you guys will like this chapter.
It's a week before her sixteenth birthday. She is twentythird weeks pregnant and their parents have agreed to meet again to talk more about how they will go about this.
This time, his parents come over. She would have bet for her own father to not show up, but he does come after all, though she knows her mother also hasn't talked him into coming. She and her mother both know that her father won't be too involved in this, so neither insisted, but he's there anyway and Jade knows that means something – after he hasn't even been to one of her plays or anything, after she always has to visit him and he usually isn't coming anywhere for her. Though he also has appeared at the Olivers' home after her mother's initial call, before he even knew what was up. And the week after that as well when Jade and Beck told everyone they were going to keep this child. Apparently, he is interested after all. He also asked her how it went after her second ultrasound.
Her brother was supposed to be with his father or friends again today, but his father hadn't had the time and his best friend has become sick this morning, so he's home.
"This is Jasper," their mother introduces him to the Olivers.
Jasper shakes both their hands and also tells Beck hi with a smile (he does like him very much), before his mother tells him: "You should go up to your room."
"Can't I stay?" Jasper asks, but his mother shakes her head: "You know you can't."
He looks like he wants to protest. He of course knows what this is about. But both their families now talk about this... then he should be there, too. He is part of Jade's family. Her child will live in this house as well.
But as he looks to Jade, where he mostly finds support, she also shakes her head and says: "Go. I can tell you everything later."
"Fine," he says grumpily, before he leaves.
Jade's mother invites the Olivers to sit down.
"So..." she starts the conversation. "We'll all be grandparents in four months."
Jade has never conciously thought that word in reference to her parents. God, they will be grandparents. Which is crazy, as especially her mother is still pretty young herself. She has had her with 21, so is now only 37 years old. And she will be a grandmother? Her father is a few years older, Beck's parents as well. Though they of course still will be young grandparents, only in their early fourties.
"Can you believe it?" Mr. Oliver says and his wife shakes her head: "I can't."
Jade and Beck share a short look, somewhat guilty.
.
"Have you bought anything yet?" Beck's mother asks after they have all taken a sip of the drinks Ms. Anderson has provided. She obviously isn't talking to Beck and Jade there.
"No," Ms. Anderson answers. "I thought we should talk about everything first, like also where the child will stay and what we need, what's necessary in all our eyes, so we know how to split the costs."
His father nods slightly. "The child should probably stay with its mother at night at first. But some day, it will probably be able to stay with Beck. We still have his old crib, so we wouldn't necessarily have to buy a new one for our home."
Beck is confused and can understand Jade's question very well: "What does it mean if you say it should stay with me at first?"
Beck's mother reacts in a sharp tone: "Well, Beck is the father." Okay, does she believe that Jade wants the baby to just stay with her? Not only 'at first', but forever? That's so not the point.
"No, she means that obviously we both will stay with the child at night at all times," he clarifies.
He doesn't even have to look at her to know that that's what she meant. They haven't specifically talked about it, but obviously they will spend all their nights together, as soon as they have a baby together. They will both take care of it every night. Why should the baby stay with just one of them if they are both its parents?
"You won't," his mother says, without hesitation.
"What?" he asks confused. What's going on?
"You really won't," Ms. Anderson agrees and... how can they have the same opinion without having been able to even talk about it? What is he missing here?
"What are you guys talking about?" he asks after a confused glance with Jade. She also doesn't get it.
His mother points out: "We will see how it'll work with the baby, but you won't sleep in the same room again, as soon as the baby is born. Ever."
God. Because they think he could make her pregnant again? That they would be that stupid again?
Ms. Anderson obviously is the same opinion, explaining: "And we don't have an extra room for you here, Beck." So he can't stay over at all anymore, because they don't want Jade and him to ever sleep in the same room again.
"We might have an extra room," his mother says. "But we won't stay awake to make sure that each of you stay in their own room."
Okay, this is ridiculous. They didn't even conceive this child at night. They did it in clear daylight. They wouldn't need to sleep over to make this mistake again – which they never will.
It irritates him that they think that not allowing them to sleep over anymore would prevent anything.
"We both want to be with our child," he makes sure to say and actually is about to say when they had sex to make this baby, wants to angrily tell them that their behaviour is stupid.
He's glad when Jade keeps him from doing so, by speaking up herself, dryly: "You know... You can lecture us all you want and prohibit us from being alone with each other for the rest of our lives, but I truly think you don't have to teach us this lesson anymore. We've learned it."
She lies her hands on her belly for proof and... Beck does expect at least his mother to sort of explode, to tell her that she's being inappropriate or something.
Instead, his mother smiles, his father and her mother have to chuckle and even Mr. West smirks slightly. It's extremely weird. Beck has never seen any of them smile at all when the topic of this pregnancy came up in any way. His parents always were so serious over the last few months, whenever they talked more about it. But suddenly, they are smiling. Suddenly, from one moment to the other, some of the tension is gone that surrounds this topic all the time.
He looks to Jade, who also seems confused. She says stuff like that all the time, but never gets a reaction like that from her own parents, but especially from Beck's. She still can't keep herself from saying stuff like that. And while usually, only Beck seems to like it, this time, everyone else for some reason does, too. Apparently, everyone has needed for someone to ease the tension, and Jade's comment has done that in a way.
His father finally says, sounding amused: "She kind of has point there." Because all of them do have to know that they've really learned this lesson. They must remember how each of them were horrified themselves when they told them about the pregnancy.
Her mother nods: "Yes, I know. Beck is, too. In the sense that they should both be able to spend the night with their child. So, I guess we have to learn to trust them to not do this again."
His mother turns to him and Jade: "So, you want to sleep over even more?" If they both want to spend each night with their child...
"Yes, of course," he says, though, again, Jade and he haven't talked about it. When he glances to her, she nods though, obviously agreeing.
His parents also share a glance, also agreeing on something, before his mother clearly says: "We won't let you move out, Beck. The RV is far enough. You won't stay here every night."
Beck looks to Jade again, who doesn't look back, but instead watches her mother. Beck follows her eyes with his own and sees Ms. Anderson looking unsure. God. Is she afraid now that that means Jade will eventually move out and in with Beck, that Jade will leave her home altogether with sixteen?
But Jade shrugs and suggests, definitely has noticed her mother's worries as well if Beck has read the woman right and she has them: "Can't we use both our homes? Like... Spend some nights here and some over at your place?" She directs that at Beck's parents, who again look at each other.
Then, they look further to Jade's mother – her father obviously not in the run of having them sleep over at his place as well.
"That would be an option," his mother finally says. That sounds promising.
Ms. Anderson thoughtfully says: "We would need many things twice, from the very beginning on then. We should each have a real crib then, not just a portacrib. We need everything to change, twice, and we would probably need way more clothes for the child, if you don't want to move those around as well all the time. Eventually, we would need two highchairs, but I guess we would need those either way."
Everyone nods. Beck gets the problem. He can imagine especially a crib as expensive. Though if his parents kept his old one (and he does know it's still in the basement)... They probably also kept some other stuff.
His father now also says: "Well, we can manage that. And if they also would be at our place some time, the costs for food and everything would split more evenly."
"Though we will still pay alimony, at least in the beginning, when they will most likely be here more often," his mother makes sure to say.
So, they get that at the beginning, they will probably be here more. Beck can also imagine that. Jade has to give birth and should be somewhere afterwards where she feels most safe. And she loves his RV, but if she could be there with just him, or here in her home with her mother also close... in a situation like that... she will probably prefer her own home. He gets it. And is glad that his parents get it too, especially after that custody thing.
For a moment, it's silent, then Ms. Anderson says: "I guess we just have to see how it'll work. God. They will need a car as soon as possible. To make sure they can go everywhere. Does Beck already have his provisional permit?"
"He has," his father confirms and Ms. Anderson replies: "Good. Jade is also on it and will get her license right after her birthday."
Beck knows that Jade has been especially into it since she knows about the pregnancy. Well... not at first, but after their parents have told them they would support them. Her mother also has insisted on more driving training since then, has let her drive way more often. Jade has told him that her mother deems it as extremely important to be mobile with a baby, which is why it's important to her as well.
Beck's parents haven't talked to him about it yet, possibly also haven't thought about it before, but they definitely agree with Ms. Anderson now.
"That's good," his mother says. "We will have to make sure they will be allowed to drive around with the baby and not only when they are eighteen or something. And you will move back into the house."
Of course, she directs that last part at Beck, who is totally confused once again: "What?"
His mother has probably wanted to tell him to move back in all along, has never wanted him to move out in the first place, and now takes the reason she has been given: "You don't plan on sleeping in the RV, all three of you?"
He shares a look with Jade, who luckily doesn't look opposed to that. He also doesn't necessarily see the problem.
"We will," he therefore says. "The RV is as good as my room." Why should it make a difference if they sleep in his childhood room or the RV?
"The child could have a whole own room in the house," his mother says and... okay, that would make a difference.
Though... "It doesn't need it, does it? Not as a baby. When it's older, sure, but... we probably also will move out some day."
Though he can't even imagine that day now. But they are talking about a lot of things he can't quite imagine yet. Like having this baby at all, which still seems a little surreal. Just to imagine there will be a new human being soon...
Her mother looks at him for a moment, before she decides: "We will keep talking about this at home."
Which is fine for him, so he nods.
Ms. Anderson meanwhile asks: "But we agree to kind of make two homes for the child?"
"I think so," Beck's father says and after a moment of thought, he changes the topic: "Any more thoughts about school?"
.
Jade clearly sees her father narrowing his eyes at her. That's something he's interested in. He hasn't asked about it anymore since their last fight. He has only asked about her doctor's appointments, not about school or work or anything, not in regards of the child coming. He of course still has asked for the grades of the tests they have recently written (where she hasn't been as good as usual – she has to get back on track, but this baby-thing is really distracting at the moment).
Her mother now answers: "We should let Jade have some time home, help her out, so she can learn while being home, and then have her go back as soon as she can. At least for finals in Sophomore year."
"One of us probably could take the week off to watch the child when they both write their exams," Mrs. Oliver says. Jade doesn't know if she only means her husband and herself with that or also Jade's parents.
Either way, her mother says: "We should keep that in mind. Maybe, we can see that as soon as the child is there?" So, they know how Jade and Beck will manage, if Jade can be apart from the child at that point etc.
"We should," Mrs. Oliver nods.
And finally, Jade's father actually asks something: "What about their Junior year?"
"I'm not sure," her mother answers and for a moment, everyone looks at Jade and Beck.
They exchange a look. They have talked about that only a little bit. She always thinks like she has to plan the rest of her Sophomore year more. That's important at the moment. She can't imagine her Junior year yet and she knows, Beck also can't.
His father finally slowly says: "We honestly would like the baby not to go into daycare. We wanted to take care of Beck on our own for the first three years, as those are the most formative, and we did it and are still happy with that decision."
Okay, Jade can't help but exchange a glance with her mother at that point. They somehow both remember their conversation from weeks and weeks back, when Jade thought about getting a job and her mother clearly told her not to. How Jade mentioned back then that she isn't pregnant because her mother never took care of her – after all, Beck's parents took care of him around the clock and he still is the one who is the father of the child. Both have to think about that now and it's almost as if they both have to laugh about it now, about how his father now even mentions how important it is to take care of your child on your own.
Jade barely has those moments with her mother. Now, they both quickly look away again, to not actually start laughing.
Jade has to smirk though, while her mother successfully hides her smile and points out: "They still do have to go to school."
"Definitely," Mrs. Oliver says. "I also don't think it has to be three years. But I like the thought of having the child with its family for at least the first two years."
"Well, I like it, too," Jade's mother says. "But Beck and Jade won't necessarily be able to do it. Though you do talk about family. We also kept Jade within the family for the first two years, which were her grandparents mostly as both of us had to work."
Jade knows that she wasn't only kept within the family, because her mother liked it best, but because a good daycare just was too expensive.
Now, is her child supposed to stay with its grandparents as well? How? All four of them still work.
And Jade knows its great-grandparents won't help out on a daily basis. Beck's grandparents don't even live close enough and Jade can imagine how happy her grandparents would be if she would even get the idea of asking them to take care of her child every day. Her mother's parents already think they have done their share with Jade anyway, which is why they don't take Jasper all that much; and she wouldn't trust her father's parents with her child after she has been left alone there a lot. So, even if her grandparents ever would come around to her having a child... they won't take care of it or she doesn't want them to.
Mrs. Oliver says: "We talked and... Maybe, one of us could give up their job to take care of the child."
Jade looks to Beck. Well, he seems startled. Obviously, his parents haven't talked to him about it yet, just among each other.
Beck now also clearly says: "You don't have to stop working." He doesn't want them to give up on anything. Jade also doesn't want that.
Mr. Oliver reasons: "We would have to lower our living standards, but... it also would cost a lot to pay for a good daycare."
"That's true," Jade's mother agrees.
And this is terrible. Jade also knows that Beck's parents both like to work, both like their jobs and also have done a lot to be successful in them. One of them having to give up on that because of her and Beck's mistake?
"Can't we try taking it to school with us?" She might not like the thought, but... that would be better than anyone having to give up on anything, right? And Beck and she would actually take care of the child, like they should.
"Would you want that?" her mother asks gently.
She shares a look with Beck. They haven't decided yet, what they want. They have talked about the possibilty.
Now, she answers: "I think we should try. If it's crying all the time, we obviously can't do it, but... Eikner says he's willing to be flexible about any arrangement. So, why not first try, and we can still think of a different solution if we have to? Maybe, Beck or I will have to take a year off after all."
Her father immediately says: "You won't take a year off."
Annoyed, she answers: "That doesn't mean I would drop out." It's not like she likes that option. But Beck and she should take as much responsibility as they can for this. Before one of their parents would give up their job, they should push back their graduation, right?
"I agree with her," Beck says, looking at his own parents, obviously trying to ignore her father. "We should try."
"Okay," his father says and her mother makes sure: "If there's ever anything wrong, you have to tell us though."
Her mother knows she's as secretive about her feelings as she is open about her opinion. It won't be easy for her to tell if it's too much for her or something.
But she knows, she has to be open about all of this. As much as possible. "We will," she therefore confirms.
Mrs. Oliver turns to Jade's mother again: "We can also call each other whenever we feel it necessary, yes?"
"Absolutely," Jade's mother agrees and then, slowly: "I thought about it anyway... Maybe, we could change to first name basis. We will probably hear from each other a lot and will be a family of sorts."
God, they will be family. Beck's and her parents will be family. Beck's parents and she will be family. Beck and she will be family. Okay, that last part doesn't sound weird or even scary, but somehow comforting.
Beck's parents share a look, before his mother nods: "Yes, I think that makes sense."
"Of course, you will also call me Caitlyn from now on," Jade's mother tells Beck.
"You can also call us by our first names then", Beck's father says to Jade. Okay, Jade might find that awkward. But well... Nathaniel and Leah it is, then.
Jade's father doesn't say anything, but Jade knows she will tell Beck to also just call him Christopher, if the need ever arises. She won't let her father make an exception here, even if it might all seem a little forced, even if it in fact is a little forced. The next time, they visit her father together, Stephanie is also there though and makes sure to tell Beck that he can absolutely call both of them by their first names. That Jade's father has told her about that agreement and that she thinks it's great.
"Is there anything you need to talk about?" Leah now asks Beck and Jade.
They share another look. Beck shrugs and answers: "Not at the moment."
Jade also hasn't got anything at the time, so...
"Okay," her mother says. "I guess that's it already. We will most likely see each other after the birth at the latest. Possibly earlier."
"And probably talk before that," Leah makes sure and Jade's mother nods.
.
.
Her father stays, while Beck and his parents leave.
"Have you already got a car for her?" her father asks, while her mother starts to clean up.
"No, I don't," she says. Jade knows that that also isn't easy. She will possibly take some of the money for Jade for college at first to enable her to have a car, and then fill that money back up over time. Though she also would like for her and Beck's parents to just be able to split the costs about the car, too. Naturally, they both would like to have one on their own, but Jade is also willing to share one with Beck, always the person having it, who has the child with them, if they aren't together.
Her father now easily states though: "Her birthday is coming up. I will give it to her."
Jade blinks, her mother does, too. What? Her father will get her a car? Yeah, right. He never has given her a somewhat big gift. Of course, she has gotten presents, but never too expensive ones, which made sense as he never even payed enough child support. He just doesn't have the money with either job he has worked, and his own life going on, his own apartment and car, and putting a little money away for Jade for college.
But now, he suddenly is willing to pay for a car for her? To give it to her for her sixteenth birthday?
Her father explains to her: "You will need a car if you have a child, so I'll give it to you. As I only want you to have it for emergencies, I won't help you with the upkeep."
Which is fine. The car itself would be a lot more than he has ever really given her.
But now, he even turns to Jade's mother and continues: "I will pay more alimony for her though."
"That would be appreciated," her mother says. Jade is very glad that she doesn't thank him or anything. He should pay more child support, so it's not like he's doing them a favor now – he's doing something, he should have done since forever.
"You will come over next week?" he now asks Jade and she nods: "On Friday." Two days before her birthday.
He nods as well, and then he leaves. Jade and her mother share a surprised look and that's also the second, Jasper comes down the stairs: "Is everyone finally gone?"
.
.
Beck gets called by Jade only shortly after. He's back in his RV by now. He has made clear to his parents that he also will stay in the RV, that he won't move back into the house. Not for now. "I might change my mind when the child is there," he reasons.
Jade tells him about her father offering her a car as a present. He is slightly impressed, but not too much. It was time for him to step up for his daughter. He knows he will do much better by his own child, that Jade already carries.
Later, he goes back inside the house for dinner, and it's there that his mother suddenly asks: "So, what's with Jade's father?"
"What's with him?" Beck returns casually. He doesn't know what his mother expects him to say. His father appears to know; they must have talked about asking him about the cold man.
"Does he take care of her?" his mother wants to know.
In Beck's opinion, he doesn't, but Jade always says there are much worse fathers out there. At least, her father wants to see her and everything. Which doesn't make her father any better, but... well...
He shrugs: "Kind of."
"Kind of?" his father questions.
And honestly, they have to know: "I don't think she would like me to talk about her family with you." They should understand that, right?
His mother doesn't seem even a little bit satisfied with that answer, instead a little angry: "We just need to know how their financial situation is." How her mother's financial situation is, who will help out Jade most.
"You don't," Beck says though. "Jade's mother will manage." Because she always has. Beck knows it's the one thing, Jade actually admires about her mother, even if she has never told her so.
"You do realize that this is about your child, right?" his mother asks, now definitely angry. "We don't want her not be able to make ends meet because of your child, while we travel the world or something."
Okay. Beck gets that. If they split the costs equally, between Beck's and Jade's family, it will be on Jade's mother alone on her side. Yes, Jade has also told Beck that her father wants to pay more alimony, but that very likely won't even suffice half of the costs Jade makes. While Beck's parents both earn money, it's mainly Jade's mother who does for her family – and she also has to provide for two children, not just one.
But Beck knows neither Jade nor her mother would want for him to tell his parents too much. Or for his parents to pay more for the child than they do. They are very proud.
Still... He slowly says: "She may be the only one truly paying for both her children's lives. Though Jade's father has just told her he will give her that car for her birthday. He already said he won't pay for its upkeep though." Okay, he's just bitter about that, which is why he added it.
His parents exchange a look, before his father honestly says: "Okay. Thank you for telling us."
.
.
Beck has always been the one, who payed more often for their dates than Jade. She has let him and also lets him in the future, though she does notice, he pays even more often. He also pays more often if they go shopping together for their son. She knows it's because his parents give him more money to do exactly that, because they do get the different financial situations. She knows her mother wouldn't like it. She doesn't like it herself, but she lets Beck. They maybe should pay equally, but... It is easier for his parents to pay more, so why shouldn't they?
It's when the baby is already born. Little Benjamin is only two weeks old now and Beck's mother is staying home for the week, so Jade can call someone if she needs help.
Beck has a long day in school but his mother has been over earlier and has come back just now with groceries. Jade doesn't like it, doesn't even say thanks for it, because she does consider it inappropriate for her to just buy them – her, her mother, her brother and her baby –any groceries.
But now, Benjamin needs to be changed, so she leaves for the bathroom, where they have put the changing table in this house, while Jasper helps Leah to put all the groceries away.
Jade already hears her mother coming home, while she's still changing Benjamin. As she goes back into the living room and kitchen, she can soon hear her mother say: "You didn't need to buy all these."
With which she must mean the groceries. Jade comes to a halt. God, she doesn't want to be there, when they have this talk.
"Oh, I just wanted to help out," Leah says. "I thought, both Jade and you probably had enough other things on your mind."
Jade knows that that wasn't the right thing to say. Her mother would like for Jasper's and her father to pay more child support, but just because they should, because Jasper and Jade are as much their children as hers.
She now also pointedly says: "I'm working and taking care of my children on my own for a few years now. I don't need help."
Jade can't look into the room yet. She wonders how uncomfortable Jasper feels.
She looks down to her son in her arms and starts rocking him lightly.
"Sorry," Leah now actually says. "I didn't say it right. I'm not helping you." She obviously is. Like they are a charity case, which Jade's mother must think. "I have bought these in exchange for Beck being here all the time and for my grandchild being here."
Okay, that's a valiable point. They also have been at Beck's by now, with the child. But not as much yet. They also have stayed at Jade's the week prior to Benjamin's birth. She guesses that will change. She has enjoyed being in the RV with Beck and Benjamin. But for now, Beck spends almost all of his time here or in school and isn't at home too much. So, he's of course also eating here.
It's silent for a second, then Jade's mother honestly says: "It's not easy accepting these."
"I know," Leah says. "I don't want to be encroaching in any way. But my husband and I both work to be able to spoil our only child. We also want to do that when he's somewhere else. And we want to spoil our grandchild just as much."
Leah sounds unbelievingly nice, saying that, making it so easy for Jade's mother to accept it.
Jade slowly goes inside and catches her mother with a smile, her, Leah and Jasper standing in the kitchen, the groceries all put away.
"Hey, Mom," she slowly says and her mother turns around. "Hey. And hello, Benjamin. How did everything go today?"
They manage. Even with the issue of their families being so different, they manage to get along.