Chapter 18
"Lizzie why don't you let me take Michael?" Miranda asks once Lizzie's stress at the news has lead Michael to pick up on her mood.
"No." Lizzie turns away so that Miranda can't reach for the baby, causing her to face Gordo. "All right, so you aren't the father of Michael, Hanna and Lily. And you've been lying to me and my family for months. And you were prepared to lie to these children for as long as you could get away with it."
"Lizzie it's not like..." Miranda interrupts.
"Hang on Miranda." Lizzie's voice is deathly calm, "so if you aren't the father David Gordon then who is?"
"Lizzie maybe we should do this later." Gordo suggests, "when you've had more sleep."
"Who is it Gordo?" Lizzie asks, her voice low and cool.
"You're not going to like it Lizzie." Miranda insists.
"Who is it?" Lizzie's voice escalates at this and Michael begins to cry.
"Lizzie, it's Chad, Chad Craft." Gordo finally states.
Lizzie jumps up quickly her chair flying back and landing on the tile floor with a clatter, all the noise and emotion in the room causes Michael to scream. Jo appears then, "Lizzie why don't we talk?"
Lizzie shakes her head tears streaming down her cheeks, "I need to think, please just let me think."
An hour later Jo knocks on Lizzie's new bedroom door in the guest house, "sweetie can I come in?"
"Yeah Mom come in." Lizzie responds pausing what she was doing for the moment to turn and face her mother.
"Where are you going?" Jo asks taking in the suitcases on Lizzie's bed.
"I've called LeeAnne MacGreggor, my positions still open and she says that because of the multiple birth I get a huge scholarship, Mom I need to go there I can't stay here."
"Lizzie, they mean well you can't just run away from them." Jo softly informs.
"I'm not running away Mom." Lizzie responds dropping the shirt in her hand on top of the others in the large suitcase.
"Then what are you doing Lizzie, because it looks like running away."
"This is what's best for everyone, I'm not burdening you or Daddy with the responsibility of baby-sitting when I'm in school. Gordo was prepared to give up everything for me, and I know he won't stop if I am still here, I'm not going to impose this on anyone. You said that going to Bright Academy was my choice, that we could afford it if that was where I wanted to go, if that's changed tell me and I will work something out."
"That hasn't changed Lizzie, but maybe you are jumping into this."
"Mom you mean to tell me that going to Bright Academy isn't the best idea?"
"Maybe you're right Lizzie, maybe this is best for everyone, that is if you want this, if you don't we could work something out." Jo insists.
"This is what I want Mom, this is what I need." Lizzie drops onto her bed. "This is what's best for my babies too."
Jo drops down beside Lizzie, "I'm proud of you Lizzie, I know leaving behind all of your friends is going to be hard, but yo are sticking to what you think is best."
"Thanks Mom. Can you talk to Dad?"
Jo laughs softly, "yeah, I'll take care of that. But you better inform Melina, I think she was planning on taking advantage of you in the baby-sitting department."
Lizzie's smiles is slightly sad, "I'll be back for breaks and stuff, I'll let her baby-sit then."
Jo gently pats her daughter's hand, "so you've arranged everything with LeeAnne then?"
Lizzie nods, "school starts on the 20th, I have to be there that weekend to get settled in, a lot of the girls are all ready there but LeeAnne thinks I should stay close to home for as long as possible."
Jo nods, "all right, you need to tell Gordo and Miranda today, they've gone through a lot for you and these babies, they've both given up a lot, and were both prepared to give up a lot."
Lizzie nods, tears shimmering over her deep brown eyes, "I know, I will."
Later that evening Gordo, Miranda and Lizzie are all sitting in the living room each are holding and feeding a baby and Gordo and Miranda are staring expectantly at Lizzie, unable to figure out if she was still angry with them. "I've figured out what I want to do." Lizzie states and Miranda and Gordo look up from the babies, where they've had their eyes glued for the last 30 minutes. "Gordo I've called your father, he's so proud of you and you are welcome to move back and, and he also says that he owes you a big apology and you will deliver it wether you move back in or not. And you are welcome to go on living here in the guest room."
"I still want to help you take care of the babies." Gordo insists.
Lizzie shakes her head, "that won't be possible."
"What?" Gordo and Miranda are shocked at Lizzie's words, one moment it seemed as if she was thankful and the next she had changed.
"I've called LeeAnne MacGreggor." Lizzie states, "I'm moving into Bright Academy on September 18th and I will be going to school and living there."
"Lizzie you don't have to do this," Miranda insists, "we're sorry we never meant to..."
Lizzie shakes her hand and carefully adjusts Hanna's bottle as she continues, "I'm not angry at you guys, actually I am thankful."
"Thankful?" Gordo questions, puzzled.
Lizzie nods, "I would never have been able to get through this pregnancy without you guys and you mean the world to me, and I know you are prepared to do anything to help me and that's why I am going to Bright Academy, not because I am angry with."
"Lizzie..." Gordo and Miranda both begin attempting to change Lizzie's mind.
Lizzie shakes her head again, "I want to do this, I have to do this. They are my babies, and I am the only parent they have, this is my job and I have to learn how to do this on my own."
"You don't have to do this Lizzie," Gordo moves closer to Lizzie his face insistent, "I made a decision to help you, to be their father that doesn't have to change."
Lizzie nods, "yes it does, but I'll love you forever for wanting to do this for me Gordo, but I have to live in this world. I am a teenage mother who has to raise her babies, and I can do this and Bright Academy will help me do this."
"Everything is packed?" Jo asks as a small group is assembled around the McGuire minivan.
Lizzie nods, "the clothes I am going to need and three babies in three separate baby carries." Turning to her friends assembled there, Gordo, Miranda, Ethan and Larry she states, "I have something for you guys." She hands of them each four separate pictures, each had one with each baby and the final one was the five teenagers with the three babies, Jo had taken and developed the pictures from the Welcome Home party that seemed a world away to Lizzie.
"So this is it then?" Miranda asks moving in front of Lizzie, "you're off to start your brand new life that doesn't include any of us?"
"Just because it doesn't include you guys doesn't mean I don't want you guys to be a part of it. When I baptize them you guys will all be godparents, Aunt Miranda right?"
Miranda nods, "Aunt Miranda, I can handle that."
Lizzie then hugs Larry, "thank you for everything Larry, thank your mother for me too."
"I will." Larry nods, "take care Lizzie."
Ethan is next and when he hugs Lizzie he states, "I'm sorry my family was such a jerk about all of this."
Lizzie shakes her head, they'd told the entire Craft family two days ago and she had assured them that she wanted nothing from them but Ethan's father had offered her the money to pay for her schooling at Bright so long as she didn't contact anyone in the family besides Ethan. "It's all right Ethan, I'm friends with you, not your family."
"If you need anything..."
Lizzie nods, "I know, thanks."
Gordo is the last person to face Lizzie and she has tears in her eyes when he stands in front of her. Gordo had resolved things with his parents and would be moving home the same afternoon, "thank you for everything that you were going to do for me."
"I've got your back McGuire," Gordo grins.
"Protecting me you mean?" Lizzie asks with a sweet smile.
Gordo nods, "always."
~The End~
All right well this is the end, I know there is a lot more than could be done with this...but I kind of like this ending that just hangs there anything is possible and that's what Lizzie is about to face. There may be a sequel...there may not be one...I just go where the mood takes me! I hope you enjoyed this one!
"Lizzie why don't you let me take Michael?" Miranda asks once Lizzie's stress at the news has lead Michael to pick up on her mood.
"No." Lizzie turns away so that Miranda can't reach for the baby, causing her to face Gordo. "All right, so you aren't the father of Michael, Hanna and Lily. And you've been lying to me and my family for months. And you were prepared to lie to these children for as long as you could get away with it."
"Lizzie it's not like..." Miranda interrupts.
"Hang on Miranda." Lizzie's voice is deathly calm, "so if you aren't the father David Gordon then who is?"
"Lizzie maybe we should do this later." Gordo suggests, "when you've had more sleep."
"Who is it Gordo?" Lizzie asks, her voice low and cool.
"You're not going to like it Lizzie." Miranda insists.
"Who is it?" Lizzie's voice escalates at this and Michael begins to cry.
"Lizzie, it's Chad, Chad Craft." Gordo finally states.
Lizzie jumps up quickly her chair flying back and landing on the tile floor with a clatter, all the noise and emotion in the room causes Michael to scream. Jo appears then, "Lizzie why don't we talk?"
Lizzie shakes her head tears streaming down her cheeks, "I need to think, please just let me think."
An hour later Jo knocks on Lizzie's new bedroom door in the guest house, "sweetie can I come in?"
"Yeah Mom come in." Lizzie responds pausing what she was doing for the moment to turn and face her mother.
"Where are you going?" Jo asks taking in the suitcases on Lizzie's bed.
"I've called LeeAnne MacGreggor, my positions still open and she says that because of the multiple birth I get a huge scholarship, Mom I need to go there I can't stay here."
"Lizzie, they mean well you can't just run away from them." Jo softly informs.
"I'm not running away Mom." Lizzie responds dropping the shirt in her hand on top of the others in the large suitcase.
"Then what are you doing Lizzie, because it looks like running away."
"This is what's best for everyone, I'm not burdening you or Daddy with the responsibility of baby-sitting when I'm in school. Gordo was prepared to give up everything for me, and I know he won't stop if I am still here, I'm not going to impose this on anyone. You said that going to Bright Academy was my choice, that we could afford it if that was where I wanted to go, if that's changed tell me and I will work something out."
"That hasn't changed Lizzie, but maybe you are jumping into this."
"Mom you mean to tell me that going to Bright Academy isn't the best idea?"
"Maybe you're right Lizzie, maybe this is best for everyone, that is if you want this, if you don't we could work something out." Jo insists.
"This is what I want Mom, this is what I need." Lizzie drops onto her bed. "This is what's best for my babies too."
Jo drops down beside Lizzie, "I'm proud of you Lizzie, I know leaving behind all of your friends is going to be hard, but yo are sticking to what you think is best."
"Thanks Mom. Can you talk to Dad?"
Jo laughs softly, "yeah, I'll take care of that. But you better inform Melina, I think she was planning on taking advantage of you in the baby-sitting department."
Lizzie's smiles is slightly sad, "I'll be back for breaks and stuff, I'll let her baby-sit then."
Jo gently pats her daughter's hand, "so you've arranged everything with LeeAnne then?"
Lizzie nods, "school starts on the 20th, I have to be there that weekend to get settled in, a lot of the girls are all ready there but LeeAnne thinks I should stay close to home for as long as possible."
Jo nods, "all right, you need to tell Gordo and Miranda today, they've gone through a lot for you and these babies, they've both given up a lot, and were both prepared to give up a lot."
Lizzie nods, tears shimmering over her deep brown eyes, "I know, I will."
Later that evening Gordo, Miranda and Lizzie are all sitting in the living room each are holding and feeding a baby and Gordo and Miranda are staring expectantly at Lizzie, unable to figure out if she was still angry with them. "I've figured out what I want to do." Lizzie states and Miranda and Gordo look up from the babies, where they've had their eyes glued for the last 30 minutes. "Gordo I've called your father, he's so proud of you and you are welcome to move back and, and he also says that he owes you a big apology and you will deliver it wether you move back in or not. And you are welcome to go on living here in the guest room."
"I still want to help you take care of the babies." Gordo insists.
Lizzie shakes her head, "that won't be possible."
"What?" Gordo and Miranda are shocked at Lizzie's words, one moment it seemed as if she was thankful and the next she had changed.
"I've called LeeAnne MacGreggor." Lizzie states, "I'm moving into Bright Academy on September 18th and I will be going to school and living there."
"Lizzie you don't have to do this," Miranda insists, "we're sorry we never meant to..."
Lizzie shakes her hand and carefully adjusts Hanna's bottle as she continues, "I'm not angry at you guys, actually I am thankful."
"Thankful?" Gordo questions, puzzled.
Lizzie nods, "I would never have been able to get through this pregnancy without you guys and you mean the world to me, and I know you are prepared to do anything to help me and that's why I am going to Bright Academy, not because I am angry with."
"Lizzie..." Gordo and Miranda both begin attempting to change Lizzie's mind.
Lizzie shakes her head again, "I want to do this, I have to do this. They are my babies, and I am the only parent they have, this is my job and I have to learn how to do this on my own."
"You don't have to do this Lizzie," Gordo moves closer to Lizzie his face insistent, "I made a decision to help you, to be their father that doesn't have to change."
Lizzie nods, "yes it does, but I'll love you forever for wanting to do this for me Gordo, but I have to live in this world. I am a teenage mother who has to raise her babies, and I can do this and Bright Academy will help me do this."
"Everything is packed?" Jo asks as a small group is assembled around the McGuire minivan.
Lizzie nods, "the clothes I am going to need and three babies in three separate baby carries." Turning to her friends assembled there, Gordo, Miranda, Ethan and Larry she states, "I have something for you guys." She hands of them each four separate pictures, each had one with each baby and the final one was the five teenagers with the three babies, Jo had taken and developed the pictures from the Welcome Home party that seemed a world away to Lizzie.
"So this is it then?" Miranda asks moving in front of Lizzie, "you're off to start your brand new life that doesn't include any of us?"
"Just because it doesn't include you guys doesn't mean I don't want you guys to be a part of it. When I baptize them you guys will all be godparents, Aunt Miranda right?"
Miranda nods, "Aunt Miranda, I can handle that."
Lizzie then hugs Larry, "thank you for everything Larry, thank your mother for me too."
"I will." Larry nods, "take care Lizzie."
Ethan is next and when he hugs Lizzie he states, "I'm sorry my family was such a jerk about all of this."
Lizzie shakes her head, they'd told the entire Craft family two days ago and she had assured them that she wanted nothing from them but Ethan's father had offered her the money to pay for her schooling at Bright so long as she didn't contact anyone in the family besides Ethan. "It's all right Ethan, I'm friends with you, not your family."
"If you need anything..."
Lizzie nods, "I know, thanks."
Gordo is the last person to face Lizzie and she has tears in her eyes when he stands in front of her. Gordo had resolved things with his parents and would be moving home the same afternoon, "thank you for everything that you were going to do for me."
"I've got your back McGuire," Gordo grins.
"Protecting me you mean?" Lizzie asks with a sweet smile.
Gordo nods, "always."
~The End~
All right well this is the end, I know there is a lot more than could be done with this...but I kind of like this ending that just hangs there anything is possible and that's what Lizzie is about to face. There may be a sequel...there may not be one...I just go where the mood takes me! I hope you enjoyed this one!