That night, Andy, Jessie, and Lizzy were at the dining room table eating dinner when suddenly Jessie spoke up.
"Are you gonna keep it?" She looked at her mom.
"Keep what?" Lizzy joined in.
"The baby." Jessie snapped at her younger sister in a this-is-none-of-your-business tone.
Andy bit her lip and thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure. I hadn't really thought about it." That was a complete lie. In fact, that's all she could think about since she had talked to Lu.
"I think you should." Lizzy picked around at the vegetables on her plate. Andy was amazed at how lightly she could take things considering everything that had happened. "It would be so cool to have a little brother or sister." She smiled at Andy.
"Believe me, it's not as great as you think." Jessie said.
"Hey!" It took a minute, but Lizzy realized Jessie was talking about her. "Mom!"
"Jessie…" Andy spoke in a warning tone.
"What?" Jessie gave her mom an innocent look. Then she glanced over at Lizzy with a smirk on her face. "It's the truth!"
"Mom!" Lizzy yelled again.
"Jessie!" Andy tried to scold Jessie again, but she was barely heard over the insults the two girls were shouting at each other. "Girls!" Andy gave a look of impatience. "GIRLS!" Andy stood up hastily, causing her chair to fall over backwards.
Her outburst quickly got the girl's attention. They quieted and looked at her.
"I am tired of you two arguing! Can't you just get along for a change?" Andy was in a really bad mood and this was the last thing she needed. "You girls clean off the table and put the dishes in the sink." Andy turned around and started walking upstairs. She needed a chance to cool off. "I'll get them later."
A few minutes later, while Andy was lying on her bed, she heard a knock on the door.
"Can I come in?" It was Jessie.
"Yeah." Andy had calmed down now.
"Hi Mom." Jessie walked into the room.
"Hey Jess. Come here." She patted the bed next to her.
Jessie laid down and put her head on her mother's chest. "I just wanted to apologize Mom. With everything that's going on, Lizzy and I shouldn't be making things harder by arguing."
"Thanks honey." Andy wrapped her arms around her daughter's shoulders. "I'm sorry too. For flipping out like I did."
"It's okay. You are pregnant after all."
"Yeah…" Unbeknownst to Jessie, her comment made Andy's smile fade.
"So, are you going to keep it?" Jessie stressed the "are".
"I don't know." Unlike before, now she was telling the truth. She really didn't know if she could go through a pregnancy that happened because of a rape.
"Want my opinion?" Jessie looked up.
"Sure." Andy smiled.
"I think Lizzy was right. You should keep it." Jessie put her head back down and just looked out the window. "I think you getting pregnant is the best thing that could of happened."
"Why is that?"
"I mean, think about it. I can sort of remember when you brought Lizzy home from the hospital when she was born. Everyone was just so happy."
"Yeah." A smile crept across Andy's face as she remembered when she had arrived home from the hospital with Lizzy.
"And I think everyone could use a little happiness about now."
I don't think you could be more right, Andy thought to herself as she imagined having another little boy or girl running around the house.
