Chapter Eight

The next morning Chasity woke up to her phone ringing. She was initially going to ignore it, but then she remembered she had her meeting with the adoption agency today and the call may be something important pertaining to that. So she rolled over reaching toward her nightstand, snagging her phone off its charger. Without looking at the ID Caller screen she answered it, still thinking it could be the adoption agency calling. "Hello," she asked, more than stated.

"Hey Chas, did I wake you up," Jon questioned, hearing the sleep laced throughout her voice.

"Jon," she questioned, wiping more sleep from her eyes. She didn't remember giving him her number, so him calling her was a bit surprising and confusing.

"Yes. I woke you up, didn't I? I'm sorry." Chasity shook her head even though she knew he couldn't see her.

"You did, but it's fine. I have to get up shortly anyway because I have an appointment in a couple hours. But how did you get my number? I don't remember us exchanging numbers last night," she asked, confusion lacing her voice. Jon chuckled.

"Uhh, we didn't. I was walking by the bar earlier and bumped into your friend… Tara, I think, was her name," Jon questioned, but didn't give her a chance to answer. "She had long dark hair and sea green eyes. She was a pretty girl, but definitely not my type. Anyway, she rammed me a new one for ignoring company policy about going back to the back the other day, but then proceeded to thank me for 'saving' you from the jackass. Apparently, you're not the only one working for him that he's been crude to; you're just the only one with anybody willing to help you escape it." Jon finally paused long enough for Chasity to get a word in edgewise.

"Yeah, that's Tara. I'll have to call her later. I haven't talked to her since the day I left that hell hole."

"You'll have to formally introduce us some time. But anyway, the reason I actually called was I wanted to know if I could come over so we could talk about the financial arrangement and get it all set up. I was just gonna come over, but then I figured it'd be a better idea to call first, means I was able to get your number. Good thing I did, given you were still asleep. And yes, I'm aware you hate this idea, but remember you didn't ask me to do this, I offered, and I'm not looking for anything in return, or any of the money back. I have more money right now than I know what to do with, so if I'm helping you get back on your feet, then it's not sitting in an account somewhere going nowhere fast." Chasity chuckled as she pulled a bra and a new outfit out of her dresser before walking into the bathroom.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. As for coming over, you can come over, but give me about fifteen minutes. I'm gonna jump in the shower real fast and get ready for the appointment I have."

Jon cradled his phone between his ear and shoulder as he slipped his shoes on while listening to Chasity. "Alright, I'll be over in a half hour, forty-five minutes then. Don't wanna catch you coming out of the shower," he joked. Chasity shook her head, but laughed despite herself.

"Alright, joker boy, I'll see you in a little bit," she said, hanging up the phone and quickly starting the shower.

When Jon had said a half hour, forty-five minutes, he wasn't kidding. Chasity had just finished getting dressed when there was a knocking on her front door. As she walked to the door to answer it, she ran her brush through her hair. "Boy, you weren't kidding when you said half hour, forty-five minutes, it's been exactly a half hour; and you were good to wait because I only just finished getting dressed when you knocked on the door." She walked back toward her bathroom to continue brushing her hair.

"See, it's a good thing I gave you the extra fifteen minutes, but as for me being on time, I had no reason to stall. I know you have a meeting in a little bit, and I wanted to get this over with before you have to leave for that. By the way, where exactly are you going for this appointment," Jon called to her, making sure her front door was closed behind him.

"I have a meeting with a local adoption agency," Chasity answered, walking out of the bathroom. She wasn't sure how Jon would react to the fact she was considering giving up her child, so she quickly changed the subject. "I need to eat, do you want anything? We can discuss this plan while we eat, if you want." Jon knew she had purposely changed the subject, but he decided to let it slide for now as he nodded his head to answer her question.

"Sure, we can do it that way."

Chasity led Jon into the small kitchen area. She walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a frying pan while Jon sat down at the table. "Are you okay with homemade waffles with bacon and toast," Chasity questioned as she pulled out a waffle iron. Jon shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm up for anything you feel like making." Chasity was content with that answer as she grabbed the box of waffle mix and began preparing breakfast for them.

Jon just sat and watched Chasity walk around the kitchen preparing their breakfast. It wasn't that he didn't want to help her; he would have if he had been asked, or if he knew where anything was located in her kitchen, but without being asked, and without knowing where anything is, he wouldn't have had a clue how to help her. So instead he just watched. However, watching her did show him how domestic she was; despite the fact she wasn't in a relationship, she wasn't married, she didn't yet have any children, and she, like him, had grown up in a messed up circumstance. Maybe it was because she's pregnant, or maybe she had always been this way, and he just never noticed before. One thing he knew was if this was any indication, and if he still knew her like he thought he did, that adoption agency meeting would be for naught because she'd never go through with giving up her own child. That was just Chasity. Or at least, that was the Chasity Jon use to know.

But he had a feeling she was still the same person she had always been; just older and a little bit wiser now.

Jon was so wrapped up in his thoughts he didn't realize he had been staring at her until she called his name and waved her hand in his face. She couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you okay over there? You look like you're off in another world, or something." Jon chuckled nervously.

"I guess I zoned out a little bit, sorry." Chasity waved him off.

"It's fine. Your facial expression was just comical. But anyway I was gonna ask you if you could set the table. Breakfast will be ready in a couple of minutes." Jon nodded.

Jon stood from the table. "Sure. Where do you keep your dishes," he questioned.

Chasity directed Jon around the kitchen to all the needed utensils, and by the time he had the table completely set she had their food on the plates and was ready to serve it. "Team work gets things done much quicker," Jon said as he sat down across from Chasity. She laughed.

"You would know about team work, wouldn't you?" Jon knew it was a rhetorical question, so he left it unanswered and just laughed, shaking his head.

They started out eating in silence before Chasity finally broke it. "So, how exactly do you want to carry out this plan? This is all brand new to me. I've never had anyone ever help me out financially like this." Jon swallowed the food in his mouth and took a swig of the orange juice they each had in front of them.

"Well, we can go one of a few different ways. You can let me know when each bill is due, I give you the money, and you pay the bill on your own, or another option is for you to give me all the bills when they come in, and I'll pay them, or our third and final option is to switch everything into my name, so I'll get the bills, and I'll just pay them as they come in. Then once you have finally found a job and get back on your feet we switch everything back to your name." Jon gave her a moment to process all three options as he took another bit of is waffle, chewed and swallowed. "I'll leave it up to you which of the three you want to go with. Think about it, let me know either later today before I leave here, or I can call you in the morning before I leave for the airport." Chasity nodded as she continued to maul over the options in her head.

As Chasity loaded the dishwasher she continued to contemplate her options. The apartment was quiet, but Jon hadn't left yet. He had gone into the living room to give her a little time and space. He knew this was a lot for her to digest; especially in such a short period of time. First she ended up pregnant thanks to some plan by a douche bag; then she bumped into him and unexpected quit her job; he offers to help her get on her feet because he can do so financially… to say her head was spinning was an understatement. And to top that off, she still had to go to the meeting with the adoption agency, that she knew was probably pointless because there was no way she was going to be able to give up her baby. This was all one big, huge mess.

She placed the last dish into the dishwasher and glanced at the clock. She was beginning to run short on time. She had to leave her place in a half hour to make it to the adoption agency on time, and she still had to get rid of Jon. Walking into the living room she saw him flipping through channels on her TV. "Hey Jon, I have to get going soon, but I guess we can meet up again after I'm done with this meeting. That is, if you want to." Jon shrugged.

"Why don't I come with you? You're gonna need all the moral support you can get right now. I promise I won't give my two cents unless you request it. I just want to support you right now." Chasity knew he disagreed with what she was contemplating doing, but she also knew he was being sincere when he said he wouldn't say a word unless she asked him to, so she nodded her head. He was also right when he said she could use all the moral support she could get right now.

They walked out to the car and climbed in. "You know, this isn't going to be an easy meeting, right," Chasity questioned. Jon nodded. "You also know I'm likely going to cry when I can't come to a decision even after the meeting ends, right?" Again, Jon nodded. "Are you sure you want to help me with this? Look, I'm thankful you want to help financially; even though I don't even want that, but are you sure you're ready to handle the emotional basket case I'm sure to become after this meeting is over? If not, get out of the car now. I'm serious, Jon. I can handle being a basket case on my own, but if you're going with me, and it's for support, you're gonna have to handle it, too."

"I'm prepared to do whatever you need me to do, Chas. Look, I know you aren't sure if you're keeping this baby, but if you're anything like you were back in high school, you and I both know that baby's not going anywhere, no matter how many options you exhaust. You're gonna need all the support you can get right now, and I'm going to make sure you get it; financially and morally. Now come on, let's go get this meeting over with."

Chasity just nodded her head and turned the key in the ignition waiting for the car to turn over. She was shocked at how well Jon remembered her, and he was absolutely right. She hadn't changed much since high school, and the chances of her giving up this baby were next to zero, but she had to exhaust every option to be sure she couldn't do it; to make sure motherhood was the best one of all her options.