Thanks to all who have reviewed my story so far, You have no idea what it means for me to have 22 good reviews! I love you guys so much and I don't even know you! Thank you auggy1984, psalm57, EverwoodADDICT, cait, tardychick06, couriro, and CaptainOats1230. (Captain Oats, do you watch OC?) Again thank you all. If it weren't for you I would have stopped at chapter 2.
"What was that all about?" asked Nina later that night.
Andy was expecting this. He leaned up against a counter and stared at Nina, "If I told Ephram he couldn't be engaged to Lilly, he would have run off, married her anyway, and I would have never seen him again. They're going to wait until after high school, but he said he just wanted to know they would have each other,"
Nina still didn't approve, it reminded her too much of her own marriage. "And, they're teenagers. They shouldn't be engaged yet. What if this was just a fling? They would have to live with this mistake forever,"
But Andy just smiled at her, "Something tells me it's going to be okay,"
"Maybe it's time you told Ephram about Madison," said Nina.
Andy tensed up and his smile faded. He had told Nina about Madison one day when he couldn't hold it to himself anymore. "I don't know,"
Andy was starting to believe what he did was wrong. That poor girl.
"Well you should, he deserves to know," said Nina.
"I'll take care of it," said Andy.
Nina wasn't sure, but she dropped the subject. Upstairs Lilly was on the phone telling her father. He was a lot more laid back than her mother, and he would talk to Lilly.
"I am so happy for you, sweetie, just make sure this is what you want," her father was a little unsure of this arrangement. He had never met Ephram, or his father, how did he know that these people weren't murderers or child molesters?
"I'm positive, I love him daddy," she smiled, she was walking on air. She had never felt this happy before.
"Well I'll tell your mother. I love you," he said.
"I love you, too. Bye daddy," she hung the phone and turned to Ephram who was sitting next to her.
Ephram smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her. She slowly wrapped her arms around him and he laid her down on the bed. But instead of going any farther, he pulled back and laid next to her. Lilly was happy they didn't do anything else. She loved him but she had decided never to give in to temptation again. Thankfully she had a wonderful boyfriend, or fiancé now, who knew what she wasn't ready for.
"I need to call Bright!" Ephram said hoping up from the bed.
Lilly lied there a little longer until Delia came in.
"I can' believe that you're going to be my sister," Delia said jumping next to Lilly.
"I'm so happy. Hey, maybe we can talk Ephram into putting on makeup tonight!" said Lilly looking mischievously over at Ephram who had just hung up with Bright.
"No!" he said with a great look of fear.
"Please! It would be so much fun! It's not like anyone will see you!" begged Lilly.
"No," said Ephram with a smile.
Lilly smiled over at Delia, who smiled back. Then Andy walked in and leaned on the doorframe.
"Can I speak to you, Ephram?" he said.
Ephram got up off the bed and Andy led him down stairs.
"Is there something wrong?" asked Ephram. Andy was acting unhappy and sulky.
"I need to tell you something about Madison. You're not going to like it, and you most likely will hate me for it," Andy said as he started to pace. "Before you left for Julliard, Madison stopped by my office. She had a problem and wanted me to clarify it for her. She was late,"
Ephram looked at Andy, he didn't understand what he meant by late, "So she isn't punctual, that's okay,"
"No Ephram, she was late for her period. Meaning she might be pregnant," Andy said stopping to watch his son's expression.
Ephram's face was blank. He didn't know what to think, "Was she?"
"Yes," Andy said shaking.
Ephram started to shake harder. He couldn't stand anymore. It was too hard for him to take in. He stumbled over to the couch and sat down. He put his head in his hands and just sat there. Nothing came to his head.
Andy watched as his son took the news. He looked near tears.
"How, we were safe," was all he could come out with.
"Condoms and birth control are never one hundred percent accurate. But Ephram, it will be okay. We will work it out," said Andy leaning in trying to help his son.
Ephram sat there wondering what to do, what could they do?
"I need to tell Lilly," that was all he could think to make things better.
Andy let him go. Ephram ran up the stairs as fast as he could. He had to get away from there, like that was the area what was going on was real, and every where else it was fake. When he got to the room he saw Lilly and Delia sitting on the bed talking and laughing.
"Delia could you leave, I need to talk to Lilly," said Ephram, mad that they were happy and he felt as if he could never be again.
Delia saw that he was upset and left without question. Lilly saw something was wrong too, it worried her and she was grateful that Delia was leaving so she would not here this.
"What's wrong?" asked Lilly as soon as Ephram closed the door.
Ephram didn't say anything at first, instead he just leaned into Lilly's stomach and cried. Lilly was worried, she hugged him and tried her best to make him better. Nothing worked. He stayed in this position for a half hour until he finally pulled away.
"I have to tell you something, and I hope you won't kill me," said Ephram.
"Of course," Lilly was really afraid.
"I told you Madison and I had sex, Dad told me that before I left Julliard, she came to his office and she was pregnant, with my baby," It took all of Ephram's being to say that, now it was real.
Lilly didn't want to say anything for a while. She knew that she had to be supportive of Ephram, she wanted to be his rock. "It'll be okay. We will do anything we can, everything will workout, I'll be here for you,"
Ephram was so grateful that she wanted to help with something that happened before he knew her.
"I should call Madison," said Ephram.
Lilly nodded and let him go. Ephram got up and started to dial the number. He could barely do even something that simple. He heard the phone ring and Madison pick up.
"Hello?" she said.
Ephram said nothing at first he just listened.
"Hello?" now she was starting to get angry.
"Hey," was all he could force himself to say.
"Ephram? What are you calling for?" Madison got nervous and shifted in her seat.
"Madison I know,"
Madison got scared. What did he mean knew? Was he drunk? Or did he really know? "What do you mean?"
"I know that you're pregnant, Dad told me,"
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I've been better. I thought you would want to talk. To figure out what to do,"
They talked for a while and Madison told him about how scared she was and how scared he was. Ephram felt better after he hung up. When he turned around he noticed Lilly was asleep on his bed. He went to lay next to her. But the thought of kissing her made him flinch. He was afraid to get close to anyone. He left her there on his bed and went down stairs. Andy was there with Delia and Ephram came to sit near them. Nothing was said, they just sat there and watched a movie. When it was late they went to bed. Ephram went to his room and was surprised to see Lilly. He went sat next to her and just stared down at her. What was going to happen to there relationship? Was it going to be the same? Most likely not, but Ephram said he was going to try. It would be hard, but he would do his best. He started thinking of that REM song, Everybody Hurts, and knew that he would make it.
"Lilly," he said gently nudging her.
She slowly woke and smiled at him. His heart hurt a little, he loved her so much.
"Come on," he said pulling her underneath his covers. He climbed in next to her and they slept in the same bed all night. Ephram knew they would find some way to work through this.
Madisa Delinda Est!