Discussion of abortions in this chapter
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Meanwhile upstairs. Rosie was sitting outside the bathroom door.
"Come on Hals. You know I can get you out of that bathroom. Why delay the inevitable?" Rosie asked
"Because this is the best place for me right now." Hayley said
"Why?" Rosie asked
"Cant do what I need to out there." Hayley said
Rosie took a breath. "What do you -need to do?"
"Doesn't matter." Hayley said
"It does if what has popped into my head is what you are planning." Rosie said
"Well pop it out your head and don't worry." Hayley said
"Yeah doesn't work that way. That wont help you feel any better. Trust me." Rosie said
"How do you know?" Hayley asked
"Because I know…" Rosie said "And I struggle a lot of days with those thought. But I have found a way to work through the feelings in a healthy way."
"What do you have to deal with?" Hayley asked
"Are you kidding? You must me kidding." Rosie said
"Well no. I mean yeah you have been through hell but right now what are you dealing with?" Hayley asked
"With a sister who has been an asshole. Having to pick up your slack and help dad and Papa with things I don't normally do. Failing a test because I haven't had time to study." Rosie said
"You were kidnapped?" Callie asked when she came back upstairs. Rosie had been the one to send her to go get dad and papa.
"Okay. Perfect example. Did you hear that question?" Rosie asked Hayley
"I did…" Hayley said
"You think I want to have to answer that question? And all it comes with? The shit it brings up for me?" Rosie asked Hayley
"I wouldn't…" Hayley said
"But I'll answer it. And than I will find a way to work though the feelings. A healthy way." Rosie said
Dave and Hunter came upstairs to hear the end of the conversation.
"Cal. Go. We've got this." Hunter told her.
Callie went to her room.
"Rose you can go too." Dave said
"Nope. Cant move. Foot is asleep." She said
"Lie." Hunter said
"Okay. Yes. But I'm not leaving." Rosie said with a smile
"Come on out Hals. We can talk about this." Dave said softly
"How much trouble am I in?" Hayley asked
Dave and Hunter looked at each other
"Just talk to us and we will try to be understanding." Hunter said
Hayley sighed and opened the bathroom door.
Hunter went in and hugged her tight. Rosie knew she had done her part, so she went and knocked on Callie's door.
"Yes?" Callie said
Rosie went in.
Rosie sat on Callie's bed
"Yes. I was kidnapped when I was two. I don't have clear memories from before that time. I was given to another family. Who turns out is my biological aunt and her husband from my mother. But I didn't know this. The entire time I was growing up I thought they were my parents. When I was thirteen. I got into a bit of trouble with my two best friends from where I lived and ended up getting busted by the police and they took my finger prints, and connected me to a missing child case. I was that missing child. Dad had of course reported me missing and a full hunt was done for me but probably because I was taken so far away. To California they could not find me. But when they found out who I was. I came back here. My real home with my real dad." Rosie said
"What happened to the people who took you?" Callie asked
"They are in prison. The couple who was raising me and their lawyer who was the one who actually came into the house and kidnapped me." Rosie said
"You were abused I think I heard dad say?" Callie asked
"Yes. The people who were raising me were really abusive." Rosie said
"You went to California a few months ago was that to see them?" Callie asked
"No. That was to see my grandfather and cousin. It's a really long confusing story. But the reason I was kidnapped was to cover up the fact that their biological daughter who I used to look a lot like had disappeared and they needed a cover so people wouldn't ask questions." Rosie said she explained everything she could to her younger sister. When she was done Callie looked very confused.
"Yeah. Its a lot." Rosie said, "You can ask me questions."
Callie asked a lot of questions to clarify some things.
Rosie answered them.
"Was it weird?" Callie asked
"Coming here? Incredibly." Rosie said "But now. I am so unbelievably grateful for my dad and the family I have."
Callie nodded.
"And that includes you twinkle toes." Rosie said with a smile
Callie smiled "Oh. By the way. Scarlet told papa you and Noel were kissing in your room."
"Okay?" Rosie said
"She though that kissing was the reason the door to you room needed to stay opened so you wouldn't do that." Callie said with a smirk
Rosie laughed. "What did Papa tell her?"
"That you are allowed to kiss and that's not why the door has to stay opened. That was enough for her." Callie said
Rosie continued to laugh. "That's good."
Hayley came into the room.
Rosie looked up. "You okay?"
"No." Hayley said
"How much trouble you in?" Callie asked
"I don't think they even know." Hayley said
She looked at Rosie. "Um. I need to talk to my big sister about something."
Rosie looked at Callie. "I will answer any questions you have about what we talked about. At any time." She gave her a hug
Callie gave her a hug.
Rosie got up and led Hayley to her own room. Closing the door behind them.
"Can you promise me. That you will not tell Dad and Papa about this. Ever." Hayley said
"Are you in any danger or anything?" Rosie asked
"No. Um. Its nothing like that." Hayley said
"Okay. It will stay between us." Rosie said
"I plan to tell dad and papa part of this but not everything." Hayley said
"Okay." Rosie said leading her to the window seat to sit.
Hayley sat down and Sascha who had been following Hayley around all day climbed up and put his head in Hayley's lap. "So everything with Matt. Was not what I wanted." She said petting Sascha
"Yes. I know this." Rosie said
"And I told you all we didn't have sex. I lied. We did." Hayley said
"Was it consensual at all?" Rosie asked
Hayley shook her head
Rosie took a breath. "So he raped you."
Hayley nodded.
Rosie hugged her. "What part are you not telling dad and papa?"
"The part I haven't told you yet." Hayley said
Rosie looked at her.
"I'm pregnant." Hayley said
"Okay." Rosie said. "What do you want to do about it?"
"I don't know…" Hayley said
"Do you know all your options?" Rosie asked
"I mean what options do I have? I keep it or kill it." Hayley said
"Okay. Hold up. What actually is your opinion on abortions?" Rosie asked
"I don't know." Hayley said
"Well I'm telling you that you get to choose what you do. Your body your choice." Rosie said
"But I tried to go to a place to get help and there were all these protesters outside." Hayley said
"Planned Parenthood?" Rosie asked
Hayley nodded
"Okay. Well you just ignore the protesters. I will go with you." Rosie said
"But if I choose an abortion wouldn't and papa find out?" Hayley asked
Rosie went to her computer and googles abortion laws in Virginia and than DC.
"We can go to DC. They don't require parental notification or permission." Rosie said
Hayley nodded.
"I will help you through everything." Rosie said
"I'm so scared." Hayley said
Rosie took out her phone. "I know someone who went through having to make the same decision. She is an adult who will not tell dad or papa anything."
"How can you be sure?" Hayley asked
"She once told me if I ever got into this situation she would help and wouldn't tell them. I trust her. And its someone you trust to." Rosie said
"Who?" Hayley asked
"Auntie Emily." Rosie said
"You sure she wont tell anyone? Not even Uncle Aaron?" Hayley asked
"I'm sure." Rosie said "But I'm also telling you that you don't need to hide it from dad. He would support any decision you make."
"Maybe. But legally he is not my parent." Hayley said
"You don't think Papa would?" Rosie asked
"I don't know." Hayley said
"If you want me to find out. I can without telling him anything about you." Rosie said
"Okay." Hayley said.
"You're sure?" Rosie said
Hayley nodded
"Go. Get some rest." Rosie said
Hayley went.
Rosie went to the kitchen and started to make herself some tea.
"Hey." Dave said
"Hey." Rosie said
"You okay?" Dave asked
"Nope. Its just one thing after another. My drama is finally settling but now I'm the person -everyone is going to for help." Rosie said
"Ah. So someone outside the family asked you for help with something?" Dave said
"Yeah." Rosie said, "And I don't know what to do with this one."
"Want to talk about it?" Dave asked.
Rosie nodded abit and sat down at the table with her tea.
"A friend is pregnant." Rosie said
"Wow. Yeah that's a tough situation for a teenager." Dave said
"And because of Virginia law she cant just go get an abortion without parental consent." Rosie said
"Yup. That is a Virginia law." Dave said
"I cant imagine what I would do if it was me. I mean I know you would be supportive. But I don't think I could do it if Papa wasn't supportive too." Rosie said
"Rosie. Are you pregnant?" Dave asked
"What? No! Dad. I promise this is not a 'its my friend' situation and it is me. Its not. I promise." Rosie said
"Okay. I believe you." Dave said. "But this isn't about what me or papa think. Its about the parents of your friend."
"I know her parents but not well enough to know how they would feel so I don't know if they would be. Just made me wonder if Papa would be." Rosie said
Dave nodded.
"Wonder if I would be what?" Hunter asked coming into the room.
"Rosie has a friend who is pregnant and might not have parents who support her decision to get an abortion." Dave said
"That's a big thing. What does it have to do with me though?" Hunter asked
"Just made me wonder what I would do if I was in that situation. I know I could go to dad, and he would do everything to help me and support whatever decision I made. And it made me wonder if you would." Rosie said
"Oh. Well yes. I would. Your body your choice." Hunter said.
"Okay. Well I just don't know how to help her." Rosie said
"Go to DC. If she wants an abortion the laws there allow her to without parental knowledge or permission." Hunter said
Rosie nodded abit. "That is an option we figure out yes."
"Good. I cant imagine any of you girls getting in that situation and being to scared to come talk to us." Hunter said
"You make sure your sisters always know we are safe people to talk to." Dave said
Rosie nodded. "I'll make sure if they ever come to me that they know."
Dave nodded. "Good. Because they should never be afraid of us."
Rosie nodded.
Hunter tilted his head. "Rose. Is this friend you?"
Rosie chuckled. "Dad asked me that. No. It really is a friend."
"A friend. Or a sister?" Dave asked
Rosie let out a breath. "A friend."
"Okay." Dave said
Rosie finished her tea refraining for looking at either of her parents in the eye.
"Rose." Hunter said "If one of your sisters is in trouble and doesn't want us to know. And its something you can handle without our help. You help her."
Rosie nodded. "Always."
"But she can come to us." Hunter said, "We will help her with whatever decision she makes."
"Of course. If it ever comes up. I will make sure any sister knows." Rosie said
"Okay." Hunter said
Rosie let out a sigh. "Is now a good time to tell you about a few things that are about me?"
"Of course." Dave said
"I have taken on to much with everything going on with Hayley. Its gotten to a point where I can not handle everything." Rosie said. "I need help." Rosie said
"Okay. What has happened to make you realize you need help?" Dave asked
"I didn't have time to study for a test. And I did really badly." Rosie said. "I haven't been sleeping well. And the fact that I have been using so much of that heat rub stuff on my back that my bottle is almost out." Rosie said in tears.
"Bambina why didn't you tell us sooner?" Dave asked
"I didn't want to let anyone down. I know that Papa and Hayley and Callie are hurting so much right now. And you needed extra help and I just. I didn't know how to tell you without feeling like I am letting everyone down." Rosie said, "But I have someone who offered to help with driving people to things and stuff so I can get some time to study and just breath."
"Rosie. We know you have been picking up a lot of slack. And while we are so appreciative of it. We didn't want you taking on more than you can handle." Dave said
"And you are not letting anyone down. We are so proud of you." Hunter said
Rosie nodded.
"How bad is the test?" Dave asked
"Failed…" Rosie said looking down
"What class?" Hunter asked
"Pre- Calculus." Rosie said "I am trying to get a retake." Rosie said
Dave nodded. "Okay. And the teacher?"
"He doesn't do retakes that easily there needs to be a -really good reason. And I guess mine doesn't qualify." Rosie said
"Do you want us to talk to him?" Hunter asked
"No. Thank you but this is something I need to fix on my own." Rosie said
"Okay. And who offered to help with taking people to lessons?" Hunter asked
"Noel." Rosie said
Hunter nodded.
"Okay. This is what is going to happen. I know you said you would book a massage therapy appointment and I want you to do that. Monday. And if you need to continue going after. Do it. I don't want any argument about it." Dave said
"Okay." Rosie said, "I do want to still help the family."
"Okay. I'm glad you do, and you still can. But you need to tell us when you have been asked to do to much. We will try to limit what we ask you to do. If you cant do it and we need the help we will ask Nolan." Hunter said
Rosie nodded.
"You do not keep anything about your health. Physical or mental from us." Dave said
"Okay." Rosie said
"And if you decide you want us to talk to your teacher you let us know." Hunter said
"I will keep that in mind." Rosie said
"And if your sisters. Any of them. Are putting to much on you. You tell us." Dave said
Rosie nodded abit.
"We are proud of you for coming to us to tell us." Dave said
"Well. If I'm being completely honest if I didn't Nolan would." Rosie said
Dave smiled "I really do like that boy."
"He's not a 'boy' he's a man." Rosie said with a smile.
Dave sighed a bit. "Okay."
"He's a good one." Hunter said
Rosie nodded. "One of the best."
"Go. Get some rest." Dave said
Rosie got up and hugged them both before going upstairs. She found Hayley in her room.
"What took you so long?!" Hayley asked
"You were supposed to go rest." Rosie said "I had more than one thing to talk to them about."
"Oh. sorry…" Hayley said
"Okay. So you would have their full support if you went to them. But if you don't want to tell them we can go to DC and get it done." Rosie said
Hayley hugged her "Thank you."
Rosie hugged her tight. "I will always have your back."
"What would you do if you were me?" Hayley asked
"As in would I get an abortion, or would I tell dad and papa?" Rosie asked
"Both." Hayley said
"I don't know what I would do. Have the baby or get an abortion. But I would tell dad and papa." Rosie said
Hayley nodded.
"I can go with you to tell them if you want." Rosie said
Hayley nodded.
Rosie went with her and went to the kitchen.
"Um. I need to talk to you both…" Hayley said
"Okay." Hunter said
"And I want Rosie here." Hayley said
"Of course." Dave said
They sat down at the kitchen table.
"Um. I lied. Matt and I. Were intimate. I didn't want to. But he told me I had to." Hayley said
Hunter clenched his fist.
Dave put a hand on his knee.
He took a breath to try and calm down, but it didn't work like it normally did.
Dave squeezed his knee.
"Papa. Please don't be angry with me" Hayley said in tears.
"Oh peanut no. I'm not angry with you at all." Hunter said calming down he got up and went over to her and wrapped her in a hug.
Hayley sobbed into him.
Rosie let out a breath and couldn't help but feel like all this was her fault. She got up from the table and went outside to get some air.
Inside Hayley calmed down and noticed Rosie wasn't there. "Where did she go?"
"I'm not sure." Dave said, "But you don't need her here to tell us -anything."
"You know…" Hayley said
"Rosie's not as good at being evasive about her questions as she thinks she is." Hunter said
"Oh…" Hayley said
"You're not in trouble. You didn't do anything wrong. Even if you had chosen to have sex. You're a teenager. We want you to wait till you're an adult but if you are going to have sex your going to. But this situation. You didn't choose. You are not in trouble. At all." Dave said
Hayley nodded.
"Do you know what you want to do?" Hunter asked
"I'm not sure. I know I'm not ready to be a mother." Hayley said, "And I don't know if I want to but a child in the foster care system."
Both men nodded.
"But I feel like I'm doing something wrong if I get an abortion." Hayley said
"Why do you think that?" Dave asked
"I tried to go to planned parenthood for help. And there were protesters outside. Really mean." Hayley said
"You don't need to go through them you can go to your regular GP. You have our support no matter what you decide." Hunter said, "Mom would support you too if she was able to understand."
Hayley let out a breath and nodded.
"How far along are you?" Hunter asked
"eight, ten weeks." Hayley said
"Okay. We will get an appointment with your GP, and we will go from there." Dave said
Hayley nodded.
"We love you Hals. And we will help you with whatever you decide." Hunter said
Hayley nodded.
"You look tired." Dave said
"Exhausted." Hayley said
"Go get some rest." Hunter said
Hayley went upstairs.
Dave looked at Hunter. "We will get through this."
"I don't know how much more I can take." Hunter said
"Hunter. Its time for you to stop trying to do everything alone." Dave said
"Dave." Hunter said
"I'm not asking. I will let Aaron know. I am taking a couple weeks off." Dave said
"Dave." Hunter said again.
"Its time for you to admit you need help. Just like our daughter did." Dave said
"Well she is sixteen its different." Hunter said
"Age doesn't determine if people need help in life. Everyone needs help sometimes. I have taken a step back because you asked me to. And I trusted that when it became to much you would ask for help. But you haven't. And you haven't been sleeping. The knot on your back. You need help and if you wont ask for or accept it. Than I wont give you a choice." Dave said
Hunter took a breath and smiled abit. "How do you always know what I need?"
"Because I love you." Dave said with a smile. "And you know how good I am at reading people."
Hunter chuckled. "Yes. I do."
"I will get the kids ready for and in bed. You go take a shower and get some sleep." Dave said softly
"I." Hunter started to say
Dave just shook his head.
Hunter sighed. "Hate that you can do that."
Dave smiled and kissed him "Go."
Hunter went. Dave got the littles ready for and into bed. He checked and found Hayley asleep, so he left her and Callie's room. He went to find Rosie. Who was sitting on the swing on the front porch.
"Hey." He said
"Hi." She said
He sat next to her. "You are freezing out here." He said putting his arm around her
Rosie shrugged.
"What's going on in your head?" He asked
"This is all my fault." Rosie said
"What is?" Dave asked
"Everything with Matt and Hayley." Rosie said
"Rosie Bianca. None of this is your fault." Dave said softly
"If I didn't meet all these people. If I stayed in California. Maybe I deserved what I had in California. Coming here. I tore so many friendships apart. My little sister is pregnant now. Everything that has happened is my fault." Rosie said in tears.
Dave moved so he was in front of her and held her chin, so she was looking at him.
"No. None of that is true. You are not responsible for the choices of anyone but your own. What Matthew did was not because of you. If it hadn't been you it would have been someone else he choice to attack. Rosie. You are so important to every. Single. Person you have met since coming home. You did not deserve anything you had in California. You deserve. Every. Single. Good thing in this world. Because you are everything that is good in this world. You put yourself at risk to protect your friends. If it wasn't for you do you think I would have ever met Hunter? Do you think Nolan and his parents would have been able to fix everything with Mia and her daughter? Rosie you are one of the strongest people I know. You were living in hell, and you climbed out of it, and you have not let it make you like the people who were the cause of that hell. Do you hear me?" He asked
Rosie let her tears fall as she listened to her dad.
"Daddy. I just. I cant do it anymore." She said sobbing
"Bambina what cant you do anymore?" Dave asked
"Be strong." Rosie sobbed out
Dave wrapped her in a hug. "You don't need to be. You let me be strong for you." He said
Rosie sobbed and sobbed into him. Till she was out of tears
Dave picked her up and carried her inside and to her room.
"It has been a long day. You need sleep. We will talk more in the morning. I love you." Dave said
Rosie nodded and fell asleep pretty quickly
Dave sighed and texted Aaron. 'Things have gotten so much more complicated. I need some time off or I wont have a family left by the end of this'
Aaron got the text. 'Take the time you need. And you let me know what I can do to help. That's an order' Aaron sent
Dave chuckled 'What you going to do if I don't? Bench me?'
'I will show up and figure out what needs to be done and do it whether you ask or not.' Aaron sent
'Okay. I'll let you know. Thank you.' Dave sent
Dave checked on everyone and made sure they were asleep before he locked the house down and went to bed himself.