Beyond Broken(77)

And Caleb …

God, how would she tell Caleb?

"T-this wasn't the way it was supposed to be," Maddie whispered into Kyra's shoulder. "I have another year and a half of school left. I have my internship and my job. How can I possibly have a … a baby?"

"We'll figure it out," Kyra said. "Let's just be sure first."

One doctor appointment later, Maddie wasn't just sure. She was pregnant.





* * *





"What?" Maddie's mom asked, wide-eyed. She looked like she'd just been slapped across the face. If Maddie didn't feel so sick, she would've found her expression comical.

Thomas sat next to Mom on the same couch that had always been in the house for as long as Maddie could remember. Unlike her mother, he looked about ready to do murder.

"I got the results from the doctor yesterday," she murmured, looking down at her lap where her fingers were fiddling. She'd chewed her fingernails down even though she'd never had the bad habit before. "I'm two months along."

"I can't believe this," her mom said, brows furrowing. "I didn't even know you were seeing someone."

Thomas was still quiet and Maddie cast him an anxious look.

"I wasn't seeing him, technically," she admitted, deciding that she may as well be honest, even as her cheeks heated to unbearable degrees. They would find out eventually. "It's Caleb," she said, looking at Thomas. No flicker of recognition lit his eyes until she said, "Caleb Montgomery."

Thomas went red. "That fucking bastard!" he exploded, rising from the couch.

"Thomas!" her mom scolded. "When you're under my roof, you'll watch that mouth of yours!"

It was like Thomas didn't even hear her. He pointed at Maddie and stalked closer. "How did you even meet him? Where?" 

Maddie looked down. "When my car broke down … it was his garage that repaired it. I've been doing his bookkeeping to pay off what I owe him."

"That's not all you've been doing obviously," Thomas said, his tone quietly furious.

That stung. A lot. And then she got pissed.

"How dare you say that," Maddie said, hands trembling as she stood up from the couch. She poked his chest so he would back up. "You have no right to judge me! It was my choice. You think I haven't been agonizing over this ever since the possibility that I could be pregnant even entered my head? I haven't been able to sleep! I haven't been able to eat! I never planned for this to happen. And the least you, my own brother, can do is not attack me when I already feel like shit!"

Thomas looked stunned by her outburst. Then he looked downright aghast when she burst into tears. Sobs racked her body. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally. She'd shed more tears this past week than she had her entire life. She'd been up for almost 50 hours straight. She'd gotten only a handful of hours of sleep ever since she peed on that damn stick and she was at her breaking point.

Maddie felt his arms come around her and he buried his head in her hair. "I'm sorry, Mads," he whispered. "I didn't mean it."

"Yes, you did, you asshole," she whispered, but her arms came around him regardless. She heard a small, hesitant laugh come from him. Just like that, they were fine.

When they pulled away, Maddie saw her mom crying.

"I'm sorry," Maddie told her, coming to sit down on the couch beside her, wiping at her own cheeks. "I never wanted to disappoint you."

"Oh, honey," she cried, reaching out to touch her cheek. "You're an adult now. And this is your decision. We'll stand by you no matter what."

Maddie wouldn't lie. She'd spent a lot of time thinking about how easy it would be to make it all go away. She could go on with her life with no disruptions. She could continue school and get her degree on time. She wouldn't have to be a single mother trying to support herself. She wouldn't have to move back in with her mom or brother.

But Maddie knew what her decision would always be. She was keeping the baby. It would be difficult, but Maddie would have no regrets. She knew that if she decided to get an abortion, there wouldn't be a day that would go by where she wouldn't wonder, where a part of her wouldn't mourn.

"What did Caleb say?" Thomas asked, his voice tightening when he said his name.

Her heart thudded in her chest. "I haven't told him yet. I haven't seen him for a while and I wanted to tell you two first."

"Do you want me to go with you when you do?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Maddie shook her head. "No, I think I need to do it by myself." She shot him a look. "Without worrying that you might punch him mid-conversation."

"He knocked up my baby sister," he growled. "He has it coming."