Chapter 15
"Melissa?" Spencer called as she unlocked the door and entered the house. She assumed Melissa would be waiting for her in the house instead of in the barn, which she was.
"Hey, Spencer! How was school?" Melissa asked, as she walked into the kitchen.
Spencer replied. "Fine. It was a nice day." She said. "Thank you for the muffin." She added.
"No problem. Do you have time for that chat? Or do you have too much homework?" Melissa asked.
"I have some time." Spencer lied, she still had homework to catch up on from the night before.
Melissa sat down at the kitchen island. "How has everything been? I know it's been kind of lonely around here. You've been the only one home on a daily basis for… over a month!"
"Yeah," Spencer said. "But I've had my friends over to keep me company. It's nicer to have you guys home, though."
Melissa smiled. "I like being home better, too. It's only me in my apartment in the city, and even though I have friends there, everyone is always so busy. At least your friends are free to you almost any time you call."
Spencer was satisfied with the fact that Melissa was actually jealous of something that Spencer had. "Yeah, they're really good to me. I don't know what I'd do without them."
Melissa chuckled. "And how are you and Toby doing?" She was hoping that it wasn't going so well; at least she'd have something over her sister.
"We're actually doing great. He's really good to me." Spencer said. When do I tell her? She thought.
"I'm really happy for you." Melissa said. Not. She thought.
There was silence for a moment. Spencer looked to her sister. "I need to tell you something."
"Go ahead." Melissa said.
Spencer looked down and bit her lip as tears came to her eyes. "I'm expecting."
Melissa's eyes widened. She froze. She wasn't sure if she should comfort her sister, or start discussing… options. She leaned close to Spencer and took her in for a hug. "It's alright." She didn't know what else to say. She took a napkin from the counter and wiped her sister's eyes. She sat back down and said "There's an abortion clinic at the edge of Philadelphia, on the opposite side from Rosewood. No one would ever know."
Spencer looked up at her sister in outrage. "Melissa!" She shouted.
"Okay. I'm sorry." Melissa apologized.
Spencer replied, "We want to keep it."
"Toby knows?" Melissa asked.
Spencer said, "I had to tell him."
Melissa put her head in her hands. "I don't know what to do for you, Spencer."
"What you can do for me is be my sister and support me. Please, Melissa." Spencer pleaded with her sister. Melissa nodded. Spencer continued. "And… can you tell me how I'm supposed to tell Mom and Dad?"
"I don't know. If you give me some time to think about it, I'm sure I can devise a plan so we can tell them in a way that won't create too much damage." Melissa said.
"We?" Spencer was surprised that she had included herself in the situation. She wanted to help Spencer, for once in her life.
"Yes, we. You're my sister, and I love you." Melissa said, her eyes filling with tears.
A new meaning to the word sisters was introduced to the Hastings house that day. The word sisters no longer meant jealousy, hate, and competition. It meant, love, support, and most importantly, a newfound friendship.
Melissa started a fire in the fireplace while Spencer made some tea. It was about 3:10 when Toby knocked on the back door, and Melissa let him in. Toby tried not to make eye contact with Melissa as she greeted him with a "Nice to see you, Toby."
He replied. "Nice to see you too, Melissa." He said awkwardly.
"Toby, it's alright, Spencer told me." Melissa said to him.
He closed his eyes for a second and then looked up at her. She nodded in approval as he made his way toward Spencer. "Hi, sweetie." He said.
She looked up at him and tears were flowing from her beautiful eyes. "I'm sorry; I'm just an emotional wreck." She told him.
"No worries." He said. He put down his keys and lifted her over to the couch by the fire. Melissa smiled and said, "I'll finish making the tea." Melissa walked to the kitchen to finish up what Spencer had started, and Toby sat down next to Spencer and tried to calm her down. He gently rubbed her back and said "Shhhhh…." That always seemed to calm her down. She turned towards him, and he wiped away the tears from her eyes. Toby took her into his arms, and as she lay on his chest, she tilted her head just enough so Toby could lean down and kiss her. They both closed their eyes and took in the beautiful moment.
As they pulled away from each other, Toby said, "Would you still like to go out for dinner or do you want to eat in?"
Spencer replied, "Whatever you'd like better. But, can I have a little time to talk to my sister first?"
"You can have as much time as you want. I'll go upstairs and check my email and things." Toby said.
"We'll eat around five?" Spencer suggested.
"That sounds perfect!" Toby said. "See you in a little bit."
Spencer smiled at him as he walked up the stairs. Soon after, Melissa had finished making the tea, and she carried two mugs over to the couch. The girls sat opposite from each other, each of them with their backs on an armrest.
Melissa wasn't about to ask when or why it happened. She didn't even want to ask how she found out. She knew better than that. So she asked a less stressful question. "Have you scheduled an appointment yet?" She asked.
"No. I only found out yesterday." Spencer said, before she sipped her tea.
"Would you like me to make one for you?" Melissa asked.
"That would be great." Spencer answered.
Right at that moment, Melissa whipped out her phone from her pocket and dialed a number. She held the phone from her ear, and soon she started talking. "Hi, this is Melissa Hastings, and I'd like to make an appointment for my sister, Spencer Hastings…. Yes, prenatal…. Umm, do you have an opening a little later in the day? …. Yes, Saturday at 2 is perfect. Thank you, see you then." And then the conversation was over.
"Your appointment is Saturday at two in the city; I'll take you."
"What about Toby?" Spencer asked.
"Well, they don't do anything really interesting the first visit… I'm sure he'd rather just come to the ultrasounds. But you can ask him!" Melissa said. "The first appointment tends to be a bit… awkward."
"I'll ask him. Thanks, Melissa." Spencer said.
"No problem, Spencer. It's all gonna work out. I'll figure out what to do about Mom and Dad." Melissa said. "I'll be around here for a while, like I said, I'm sick of the city, so just find me in the barn if you need anything."
"…Melissa… Why are you being so nice to me?" Spencer asked.
"Spence. I've realized that you're my sister. We have to stop fighting. All this competition; it's ripping us apart. I need a sister. And you're the only one I have, so I have to make it work." Melissa said.
Spencer smiled and then said, "Well… did you realize that something was up before I told you?"
"I… felt that something was different about you. But I didn't even consider the possibility that you were pregnant." Melissa confessed.
"Are you disappointed in me?" Spencer asked, as if she already knew the answer.
"I didn't ever expect this from you, but I'm not disappointed. The same thing happened to me, as you know. But I wanted to take the easy way out. I'm proud of you for taking responsibility. I wasn't going to." Melissa said, almost in tears.
"I love you, Melissa." Spencer said.
"I love you too, Spencer." Melissa said.
At that point, Melissa went out to the loft, and Spencer went upstairs to get ready for dinner with Toby. She was so thankful for the fact that Melissa was accepting, and even willing to help. I meant so much to Spencer, that after all these years, she finally had a sister.
A/N YAY! Another chapter! That means that I just finished writing Chapter 17... And I'm going to start Chapter 18 when I'm done posting this! You guys are going to love love love 18! I'm so excited to write it! Did you all like this chapter? Are you suspicious of Melissa or not? Is she planning something, or finally stepping up and being a big sister? You guys can always private message me... I tend to give hints if you ask! ;)