Chapter 14: Family
It had been 4 months since the concert incident, Mandy still wasn't talking to Claude. Regina had given birth to their son James six weeks ago, he was a happy baby who strongly resembled Claude. Regina had figured out pretty quick that Claude could afford childcare as she went to school, this put her worried mind to rest as she continued her studies. She sat in her creative writing class, she sat writing notes when her phone went off. Professor Snyder looked up from his morning paper. "Miss Clarkson, that better not be a cellphone I hear!" He said grabbing his yard stick and standing up. "Sorry, it's probably about my son—" Regina said before Professor Snyder slapped her across the face with the yard stick. "Leave my class!" He shouted at Regina. Regina started crying as she grabbed her stuff, she stood up and walked towards the door. Professor Snyder slapped her across the butt with his his yard stick, she yelped and grabbed her bottom before walking out the door.
Regina walked out into the hall where girls were whispering, two talked as they walked by her. "That's the tramp who broke Ian's heart." She said to her friend. "I heard she got pregnant by a trailer trash mechanic." The friend replied. Ian walked past Regina, he pointed at her and shouted. "Slut!" Followed by laughter from everyone in the hallway. Regina ran out of the school crying, she found a bench on campus and sat down. She pulled her phone out and called Claude, she let it ring three times before he answered. "Yeah babe?" He Regina. "Come pick me up from school, I can't take this abuse." She replied. "I'll be right there." Claude said before hanging up the phone. She hung up the phone, put her face in her hands, and started bawling. She reached into her satchel and pulled out a bottle of anti depressants, she took one of the pills and continued crying. Claude pulled up on his Freeway motorcycle, Regina ran over to him crying. "Get me out of here!" She told him before hopping on the bike.
Claude took her to the park for a walk, she vented her frustrations to him. He decided to take her for a bike ride to make her feel better, she perked up being with Claude. On her worst days he can make her feel better, she was happy with Claude despite the rumors and defamation that she received at school. Claude took her to the countryside of Bone County, she was in awe at the beautiful farm lands and fields. Claude took her to a steakhouse in Blueberry, they sat by the window eating expensive steak. Claude and Regina sat there eating, Claude fumbled around in his jacket pocket before looking at Regina. "I got to use the bathroom." He told her. "Okay babe." Regina replied with a smile. Claude stood up and walked to the bathroom. He entered the bathroom and locked the door, he pulled the ring box out of his pocket and rehearsed the proposal. "Regina, the minute I met you I know I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. You bring a beauty and innocence that I never saw before in my life. Will you marry me?" He said to himself in the mirror. Claude opened the door of the bathroom, he was surprised to find Regina standing there with tears in her eyes. "Yes." She told him after hearing him through the bathroom door. Claude put the ring on her finger and they embraced and kissed passionately.
Claude and Regina went home that evening, they walked in the door while holding each other. Joy was sitting on the couch with James in the crib asleep, she saw them and stood up. "He was good, no problems." She told Claude. "Good, my fiancee and I are grateful." Claude replied. Joy smiled and looked at Regina, Regina showed off her diamond ring. "Great! Congratulations." Joy exclaimed. She hugged Regina, Claude picked up his son and held him. "Mommy is gonna be my wife, we're gonna be a real family." Claude told James. Regina approached Claude and took the baby, they walked him to the bedroom and laid him in the crib in there. They went back out into the living room, Claude poured him, Regina, and Joy shots of whiskey before lighting a joint. They toasted the engagement and shot the whiskey, Claude, Regina, and Joy smoked the joint. After the joint was smoked Claude butted the roach, Joy grabbed her coat and left. Claude and Regina decided to watch TV and cuddle the rest of the night.