Eddie sat on her bathroom toilet with the doors closed wishing the test she bought would hurry up. She had only peed on it a few minutes ago but she anxiously wanted to know and it was taking forever. The house was quiet with both her parents out, which Eddie was grateful for. "Come on, hurry up, she willed the instrument impatiently.
A single pink line slowly appeared on the screen in front of her eyes, confirming Eddie's fear. "Oh," she cried out, throwing the instrument down. She was pregnant with Jamie's baby, barely nineteen and pregnant with some guy who wasn't from the country club. Her parents were going to be furious.
She covered her face with the palms of her hand to sob quietly, wondering what she was going to do. First thing she had to do was tell Jamie. Would he be happy or angry about having a family so early when he was just settling into his career. They talked about having kids but not for some time later once she finished college.
With the back of her hand she wiped the tears, took the test before her parents saw it and went into the bedroom. She barely sat on the bed when small clacks came from the window. Curiously Eddie looked out smiling at Jamie looking up at her from her balcony. "Hey what are you doing here, come in."
She pulled herself together really fast and smiled, "Come on up"
Smiling himself Jamie came in through the window, keeping his voice down, "I had to see you Eddie. Are your parents home?"
"Nope," she replied. "Just me..."
His eyes beamed as he closed the distance between them and pulled Eddie against him. "Hope it's okay I came like this. I couldn't stop thinking about you," he cupped her chin.
"it's always okay," Eddie smiled. "Always."
Quietly his eyes met hers, he leaned down so their lips pressed tightly together. He pulled back slowly, cupped their hands together and looked around, "This is your room? "
"Yeah, this is it," she replied. 'Crazy right, like a princess room."
He looked all around, nodding to that. Her room was probably bigger then his whole apartment, definitely than his bedroom back home. "It sure looks like it. Well princess, I think it's really nice. " He pulled her to sit on her bed, kissing her softly.
She blushed, "So not me, but my mom and appearances..."
"Well I think you are my princess. I'm wondering what the rest of your house looks like," Jamie spoke softly.
"You want to see?" she asked.
He smiled his answer following her out. The hallway opened, painted pearl white with a gold chandelier hanging from the pointed ceiling and paintings hung all the way down the spiraling steps. "Wow. You've always lived here?"
*"Yeah, since I was five," she replied. "it's always been just home."
She showed him through the open foyer into a large sitting room where they cuddled on a white couch beside the fireplace. They sat together on the couch cuddling in front of it. "It's nice Eddie, really nice," Jamie whispered.
"It's just home..." She replied. "nothing special to me but that."
She nuzzled his neck while twirling her hands through his hair. Being in his arms again felt right. Eddie's free hand slipped underneath his shirt, rubbing his stomach. Eddie began to kiss Jamie's soft skin, loving the aroma on him, the masculinity. She wanted to tell him but wasn't sure how to yet.
His breath sharpened as he reached under her shirt slowly , cupping her gently. They reacted in his hand, laying back comfortably. They were too involved on each other to even hear the door open.
Armin's voice called out so not to startle his daughter. Hearing quiet giggles he went into the sitting room. "EDIT MARIE!" Eddie and Jamie both jumped back like shrapnel and looked up sharing the same guilty look.
"Daddy, I didn't hear you come in," Eddie spoke quietly. "I thought you were out until late tonight."
"Apparently, get out of here," he scolded Jamie. "Now! Out of here now!" Jamie stood up slowly, hands out, "Give me a call later Eddie. " He offered her an apologetic look over his shoulder before starting past Armin.
Jamie waited for her call for hours... but it never came. At home Armin was scolding his daughter. "You never did anything like this. He is a bad influence Edit and I don't want you seeing him. You know better then this! That's what you get with low class boys."
He's not Dad!" Eddie insisted. "He's not! I love him!"
Armin spun around towards her, face pinched tightly. "Love him? You are nineteen Edit. You don't know what love is! And you can't love him because I forbid it! You will marry someone from the country club and will not ever see that boy again."
"What if I don't marry anyone?!" She asked. "What if I get a job?"
"Get a job doing what? You've only just started college. Edit, you would have a better life marrying someone from the country club. He could give you everything you would ever want. We're only thinking of you," Armin said. "Either way you won't ever see that boy again."
"Well, I better see him again, because I'm going to have his baby!"
Armin's face quickly turned a deep shade of red. The veins in his neck popped out also turning red. "Excuse me? You better not be serious Edit! He got you pregnant! You certainly won't see him now. I'll make sure of that."
"Then maybe you won't see me again either!" Eddie threatened. "I won't give up my happiness for a purse string!" She stomped up to her room, slamming the door with all her might. The minute Eddie was alone tears streamed quickly down her face, smothered when she lay faced down and sobbed into her pillow.
Some long time after she finished crying Eddie fell asleep curled in a fetal position on her tear soaked pillow, not hearing her cell vibrating with texts from Jamie.
A soft song played from her cd player while Eddie sorted through her clothes before meeting Jamie. She and her father hadn't spoken since last night and she wanted to leave before he came home. After staring at the same outfits she picked a pink skirt and white short sleeve shirt. Other than the workers Eddie was alone or so she thought. She turned around and looked at her mother, "Hey Mom."
"I was going to ask if you wanted to have lunch but I see you're going out. Are you seeing Stan from the country club," Lena smiled, walking in. "He's quite handsome and comes from a good family. His father makes a lot that Stan will inherit."
"Uh no, in seeing someone else," Eddie went to quickly snatch her purse from the bed. "I'm late mom I have to go."
Lena's eyes sparkled excitedly, "Oh who is he? No let me guess Dan? He also comes from a very good family. Is that who you've been seeing Edit? His parents never said anything to me. I wonder why Teresa and Michael kept such wonderful news. "
"Not exactly Mom," Eddie replied. "His name is Jamie Reagan."
She raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar name. "Is he new in the club, I don't know him. What are his parents name? I can have Tanya bring over a welcome gift. "Wait Reagan? Is he any relation to the commissioner?"
Eddie replied. 'Yes, that's his father and he's training for the NYPD. He's a rookie cop, we met…" she paused not wanting to tell her their spot.
"Is he the boy who was over last night while your father and I were gone. Dad told me all about your little party in our absence. You have never broken the rules until you started seeing him Edit. No you won't see him again." Lena reached around her daughter's shoulders with lips pursed out.
"Mom," Eddie replied "I'm in love with him. He's the man, not the boy, I want."
Lena laughed, amused her young daughter thought she was in love with a nobody cop. "No Edit you aren't. You're only nineteen years old, impressionable and think you're in love but that cop can't give you a good life. He already influenced you to make a poor decision."
"What's a good love mom? I am old enough to be considered an adult and can make decisions about my life," Eddie shouted back. I am in love with him, with Jamie Reagan. He's been a great influence, total gentleman and helping me study. "
"Someone who can afford to give you the lifestyle you deserve," Lena slipped her arm through Eddie's. "And this Jamie can't on a cop's salary so you are going to forget him, understand?"
Eddie wanted to cry. She had never defied her parents before. On little things yes, but nothing this big. "I can't...I can't forget him Mom. Eddie shifted her body away sharply, staring at her mother. "No mom. I love Jamie and I know that I'm in love with him and he's in love with me. We're going to have a family." The minute that slipped from her mouth Eddie regretted it. She fingered the pocket book strap that hung over her shoulder in a tightly fisted hand.
"A family, that is ridiculous! You are too young to be even thinking about raising a family! Especially with that boy. He isn't good enough for you! He isn't classy , he's just another low class worker." You hear me Edit, you are forbidden to see him."
The truth was going to out and since they were on the topic she might as well say it. "Mom I am an adult and can decide what to do with my life and with who. We are going to have a family and raise that family together."
"Edit, you're in a fantasy world! You don't even know if he loves you enough to have a family with you. Even if he thinks he does you are to young. You just started classes so now you'll have to drop out because of him," Lena shook her head. "To what become a cop's wife? No."
She let in a slow breath, "He does love me mom. We talked about having a family together, getting married and I'm going to tell him later when we meet up but we're going to have a baby. "
Lena's eyes bugged out of her head. 'You certainly are not going to have a baby with him! You've already been with this boy? Your father told me about last night and that you're pregnant. That boy got my nineteen year old unmarried daughter pregnant! Think of what people say Edit!"
"Jamie is really sweet and caring and he loves me. We've been together for a few months now and yes I am going to have his baby. He has a name mother, it's Jamie, " Eddie replied defiantly. "He's going to be thrilled."
"Well, if that is how you want to ruin your life, your father and I will stay out of it and you can do just that. If you go with this boy we will take away everything we have given you and let him take care of you. You will not ruin our family and embarrass us." Lena turned on her heels out of the room, leaving Eddie to think.
Holding both hands over her stomach Eddie went and sat on her bed, tears flowing. Now that she thought about it Eddie wasn't sure whether or not Jamie would be happy. They talked about it but he was only just starting with the department. What if her mom was right? What if Jamie didn't want the baby or couldn't provide for it?
Her stomach turned at the possibility that Jamie wasn't ready for the responsibility. Then what would she do? Would she be able to care for it at just nineteen, a freshman in college. She couldn't risk either of them being rejected but she couldn't do it alone. Eddie knew what she had to do.
Coming off the bed she packed a small bag with clothes, money she had tucked away and other necessities. Throwing the bag over her shoulder quietly Eddie slipped out her window, using the balcony to slid down. Safely on the ground she gave one lasting look at the house then turned and headed to Jamie's apartment.
She had to tell him the news first and give him a chance but by the time she stood in front of his door Eddie was shaking with fear.