A/N: Mature themes throughout this story, including content on sex and reproductive healthcare.

Chapter Two: Pregnant

Tuesday, October 16, 1990

Sam shook herself loose from her memories and returned her focus to the piece of plastic in her hand.

PREGNANT

The word reverberated through her head. She was not prepared for this, though she had known it was a distant possibility. She had hoped if it ever happened, it would be under different circumstances.

Wait, would there actually be a baby? Women had options, since Roe v Wade. Sam knew where her Catholic father stood on the issue. She was pretty sure Angela was pro-choice, though. Sam was supportive of women deciding when and how to become mothers, in theory. But how would she feel if the issue was closer to home?

She needed to talk to Angela right away, and keep this news from her father as long as possible. He would be devastated.

"Bower Agency, this is Mona. How may I direct your call?"

"Hey, Mona. I need to talk to Angela. Is she available?"

"She just started a client meeting that's scheduled for two hours. Is it urgent? You never call here, Sam. Is everything ok?"

"No. I mean yes. I mean, it's not urgent. Everything is fine. I just thought of something Jonathan might like for Christmas, and I wanted to ask her about it."

"OK. Well, I can let her know you called."

"Sure." Sam hung up the phone. She loved Mona—like a cool aunt, not a grandmother—but did not want her involved. That woman was relentless when it came to uncovering secrets.

Angela's meeting ran over, and by the time she got back to her office, she was starving. Mona had gone out to lunch, but left a note saying that Sam had called with a non-urgent matter. Angela called in a salad order for delivery and then dialed home.

Sam waited until the last possible second to leave for class. She knew that when she returned, her dad would be home. It would be impossible to guarantee privacy.

"You've reached the Bower-Micelli residence. Please leave a message at the sound of the beep."

"Hi. I was just returning Sam's call. I guess you're in class now, sweetheart, but I'll be home around 6:30. We can talk then." Angela had a sneaking suspicion the message about a gift for Jonathan was a cover.

Sam returned home around 5:30, after killing some time at the library, and went straight to her room to do more reading. She didn't want to face her dad, who was preparing dinner. She hated lying to him, even by omission.

Angela came through the front door right on schedule, just as Tony pushed through the swinging kitchen door to announce that dinner was ready. Sam heard the commotion and jumped up from her bed. She was hungry, after all. As she exited her room, Jonathan bumped into her and yelled "Watch it!" Sam stepped back and let him pass, and he turned his head in confusion at her lack of retort.

The four of them (or was it five, now?) squeezed in around the kitchen table as Tony served up plates of pasta. Mona breezed through the back door in a fresh outfit. "I have a date. Don't wait up!" she announced. Then, as Tony placed the serving dish back on the counter, she squeezed Sam's shoulder, leaning over to ask "Did you get that thing straightened out?"

"Not yet," she hissed. "Go."

Mona looked at Angela. Angela looked at her mother and then turned to Sam. They locked eyes for several seconds before Jonathan whined "Tony, they're being weird. I can't handle this." He took his plate and headed up to his room. None of the women spoke.

Tony sat down at the table and Mona walked toward the door, saying "Sam, you can ask Angela about Jonathan's gift now that it's just the three of you. Bye!"

Sam turned red. Angela asked "What gift? Is that why you called the office?"

"Yeah, Sam. I heard Angela's message on the machine when I got home. What are you doing, bothering her like that?"

"Tony, stop. It's ok. Sam can call me at work. She isn't bothering me. I want her to come to me whenever she needs something." Angela looked expectantly at Sam.

"Oh, you know what? It isn't really a big deal. It was just...someone at school said they could get limited edition Reebok Pumps. But I'm not sure Jonathan would like them. So never mind." Sam pleaded silently for everyone to drop it. The scene was tense, and no one spoke for several minutes.

"How was class, honey?" Tony inquired.

"Fine. How was your class, Dad?"

"Fine." It was a struggle to keep the conversation going. He turned and asked, "How did your client meeting go?"

"Oh, it was a little rough at first, but we found a way through our issues." For some reason he didn't understand, she directed the response at Sam.

"You always do, Angela." Tony smiled broadly.

"I'm, uh, going out with Andy tomorrow. I won't be home for dinner."

Tony nodded, his smile falling away, and the table lapsed into silence again. Sam ate quickly and placed her plate in the sink, informing her elders that she wanted to get ahead on her reading. This wasn't exactly true. Earlier, she had opened a text book and stared at one page for an entire hour. She was pretty sure her swirling thoughts wouldn't allow her to accomplish anything this evening. She needed to talk to Angela tonight or wait until the day after tomorrow.

Angela pushed herself away from the table and Tony said, "I got it," placing his fingers on the edge of her plate. She nodded and left the room.

"Sam? Honey? Can we talk?" Angela called through the open doorway to Sam's bedroom.

Sam scrambled to her feet and dragged Angela into her room, shutting the door. "I messed up," she admitted, tears running down her face, "and I hope you can forgive me." She sniffled as Angela drew her in for a hug. "This is going to break my dad's heart."

"What are you talking about?" Angela asked, but Sam just sobbed in her arms.