Harris nervously opened the door. On the couch sat her mother. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure." Darlene replied.
"I want to move back in."
Darlene chuckled. "Yeah that's not going to happen. I thought you and Aldo are living together?"
"We're not together…."
"Since when?"
"It's been a couple of weeks, and I don't see us reconciling." Harris replied, firmly.
"Well, I'm glad you've finally come to your senses. Where have you been staying?"
"In grandpa's trailer, in the backyard."
"Well, you can continue to stay out there until you get a job and afford your own place."
"Mom, I'm pregnant."
Darlene froze. "You're-"
"Two months."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah."
Darlene spent a few minutes composing herself.
"I don't mind living on the street or in the trailer, mom, I know I deserve it, I just don't know about living out there with a baby."
Darlene continued to gather herself.
"I know I've made mistakes, mom, and I'm sorry, but I don't want my baby to suffer because of mistakes I made."
"You're seriously pregnant?"
Harris nodded.
"You know what? You have said a lot of stupid things to me and made a lot of stupid mistakes, but I'm not going to let my grandchild suffer because of your mistakes."
"So I can stay?"
"You have to stay. My grandchild will not be growing up on the street or in a trailer. He or she needs to grow up in the same house full of misery that the rest of us grew up in."
"I can't imagine a better place."
The two shared a hug.
"Does Aldo know?"
"He's in denial and says it's not his."
"Well…..we'll get a paternity test and then go to court and get child support. Have you been to the doctor?"
"Last week."
"And they said everything is fine?"
"Yeah. Mom, I'm really scared."
"Don't worry, pregnancy is the easy part. Then they put you through 18 years of hell and never move out once they're adults."
"Not helping."
"Sorry. Honestly, I never thought much about having kids or anything before you were born, but I love being a mom. You and Mark were the best things that ever happened to me. I promise, it's going to be okay."
"I'm going to need a job, and daycare."
"Yeah, if you recall, your aunt Becky freaked out when she found out she was pregnant, too. But we Conners always make it work, Harris. It'll be okay, we will figure out daycare and all that after the baby is here. How long have you known?"
"Two weeks." Harris sighed.
"Is the baby the reason you and Aldo broke up?"
Harris nodded. "He said he had a vasectomy and that it isn't his."
"And you know it's his for sure? I mean, you haven't-?"
"Mom!"
"Just making sure."
"He told me to have an abortion."
"Are you thinking about that?"
"Not at all, I know it's only been a couple of weeks, but I feel attached to the idea of being a mom. Even though I'm scared."
"Well, I'm proud of you for not allowing Aldo to run your life."
"I'm going to be a mom, I have to stand up for myself and my kid."
"Sounds like you're going to be a great mom. Sounds like that little baby is lucky to have you."