Linka spent the next few hours in perpetual despair, everything was falling apart and there was nothing she could do to stop it now.
Linka was dreading the coming family meeting, her mom was furious but restrained from yelling at Linka. This made everything feel worse, the older woman hardly looked at her the whole ride home from the hospital.
The door opened, and Linka's stomach dropped when she saw her mom standing in the doorway. It was finally time for the dreaded family meeting...
Behind their mother, Linka's brothers were complaining as they went to their respective bedrooms. Lynn Jr was the last to go up, but Linka felt her heart quicken. However, her mom put a hand on Linka's shoulder and directed her downstairs.
In the living room she found her older brother, Loki, who was sitting in the armchair texting. Meanwhile, Loni, Luke, and Lane, her other brothers, were sitting on the couch, not looking particularly worried.
When Linka entered the room, all eyes were on her, and on impulse, she flung herself into Loni's arms and started crying again.
The entire room erupted, and all the boys started talking over each other, trying to figure out what had Linka so upset.
Lynn's father found them like this. The patriarch was worried and concerned about his only daughter. When he got the call from Rita earlier, Lynn started running through all the worst-case scenarios.
Rita refused to tell him over the phone, stressing the need for a family meeting. Her tone gave away the seriousness of the situation, after being married for so long Lynn almost always knew when Rita was upset.
Lynn entered the house and the rapid sounds of multiple people speaking at the same time overwhelmed him audibly. When he came to the living room, Lynn found his daughter inconsolable, surrounded by a crowd of her oldest brothers. Rita was standing off to the side with a faraway look on her face.
Lynn was instantly worried, and the noise in the room seemed to disappear as everyone turned to look at him. The boys in confusion and worry while Linka gave him mournful look with tears in her eyes.
"What's going on here?", Lynn Sr. asked bewilderedly.
Lynn looked towards his oldest and Loki shook his head, "I've got no clue, dad. Mom just said we were going to have a family meeting."
Luke exhaled a heavy sigh, "Don't look at me, dude. I think something is wrong with Linka."
At these words Linka's sobbing increased considerably, Loni rubbed her back and shoulders as he still tried to console Linka.
Rita motioned for everyone to sit down, and Linka sat in the middle of the couch, with Luke and Loni on either side of her.
Across from them, mom and Dad pulled two chairs from the kitchen and then the uncomfortable conversation began.
Linka's head was hug low, the preteen couldn't bare to look at her father or older brothers. They were all going to be so dissapointed in her, and that was the best case scenario.
What if they wouldn't let her keep the baby?
Linka didn't know if she could give away the small life growing inside of her. She already loved her baby, and talked to it sometimes so it would know her voice.
Rita took a deep breath before she began speaking, "Linka... do you want to tell your father and brothers what happened at the doctor's office?"
All eyes were on Linka now, and the preteen seemed to sink into the couch. Her chest felt entirely too tight.
Loni tried to coax her. "It's okay, you can tell us."
The blonde smiled softly, his eyes were kind and filled with love. Everyone looked worried and concerned. It made Linka feel awful to think about how much she was loved.
Linka lurched forward and her eyes burned. "Please don't make me say it," the pre-teen moaned brokenly.
Rita's face softened, " Linka ended up going to the hospital today...she fainted in class from an underlying condition. When I spoke with our pediatrician Ms Figaro, she disclosed that...Linka is pregnant"...
The room was silent for only a second before everything dissolved into chaos.
Loki turned to his mother, "What do you mean Linka's pregnant? How is that even possible? She's only in the sixth grade."
Lynn Sr turned to Rita, "What do you mean Linka is pregnant?"
While the adults argued, Loki cornered Lane physically. "Are you messing with us? Is this another one of your stupid jokes?"
Lane's face fell and he looked hurt. The brunette pushed Loki away, while Luke tried to talk to Linka. "Hey, did something happen, dude? Whats going on?"
Rita put her hand on Lynn's shoulder in an attempt to Calm her husband," she's twords the end of her first trimester...I dont know how we missed something like this but its true.
Loni was the only one in the room not visually upset, "So Linky's going to be a mommy, that's great!"
The blonde teen beamed brightly and patted Linka's back, before asking the question everyone had on their mind: "Wait...how did Linka get pregnant?"
"Dude", Luke admonished Loni.
Lynn Sr spoke up, "Boys, settle down now. We need to talk to your sister."
The boys scattered back to their seats while Rita came to stand behind Lynn.
Linka looked at the floor, trying to prepare herself for whatever her dad would say next. She reflexively wrapped her arms around her belly in a protective manner. This action was not unnoticed, however.
Lynn's jaw tightened and he let out a tired sigh. "No one here is going to hurt you, Linka, but you need to be honest with us."
Linka glanced up at her father, the older man looked exhausted almost as if he aged several years in the span of a conversation. the guilt hit her, knowing how hard her parents worked to provide for them already.
" I'm really sorry Daddy"...
Lynn Sr almost teared up, instead he cupped Linka's cheek and kissed it, she was still just a child, his only daughter.
Every parents worst nightmare, and now it was Lynn's and Rita's responsibility to pick up the pieces. That didn't mean that he wasn't disappointed in Linka, Lynn had never even seen Linka with a boy and considering her age...
" So you're pregnant"...
Linka nodded, and Lynn sr shook his head a sadly.
Rita cleared her throat before addressing the next question. "When exactly did this happen? And most importantly, who is the father? He needs to take responsibility for his part."...
Linka chewed her bottom lip, "Thanksgiving break...I had sex with a boy from a different school...I know how it sounds, but I don't really know his name or how to get in touch with him."
Lynn Sr grimaced while Rita narrowed her eyes, Linka shrank under her mother's gaze.
"What do you mean, you don't know who the father is? This is serious, Linka. I don't know why you're protecting this boy, but it has to stop. I want a name.", Rita snapped, finally losing her temper.
Linka's face flushed and she scrambled for a response. "Mom...Please it's the truth. I messed up and did something stupid."
Luke let out a low "Dude," and wrapped an arm protectively around Linka.
Rita took a step forward, "What were you thinking? Were you even thinking, Linka? What were you going to do? Just lie and hope that it all goes away?
Linka shook her head, "I'm sorry, Mom...I was scared because I didn't know if you would
Let me keep the baby, "...
At this Rita saw red, " What about Your future Linka? your not even thirteen years old yet, how do you think you can take care of a baby"!
Lynn pulled Rita back while Linka tried not to cry. the pre-teen looked pale, and she had prominent bags underneath her eyes. she looked absolutely miserable.
Lane stood up and spoke up nervously, "Can we please stop for now? I don't think yelling at Linka is good for the baby."
Loki put himself in front of his parents and sister, "We should probably stop here..."
The sight before her tore at Rita, her sons were worried she'd hurt their sister. Loki taking a defensive stance while Lane, Loni and Luke shielded Linka behind them.
"I think you're right, boys...Luke, take your little sister upstairs so she can rest.", Lynn Sr sighed.
Loki's face relaxed, and Loni and Luke practically ran up the stairs with Linka. They were all desperate to escape the anger radiating off their mother.
Lane and Loki soon followed their brothers and sister, leaving Rita and Lynn Sr. to be alone with their thoughts and worries.