Mellenda laughed. “Crazy is certainly one word to describe it. I hung up on you because my mom was calling me. When I got back to school that day, there was a note on my door to see the head master. So, I went and talked to him and he told me that the girl that I had bought the answers for my last two tests in my junior year English class from had reported me.”
“Wait, what? You cheated on a test? Two tests? You’re one of the smartest people I know Mellenda.”
“I wasn’t doing well in the class. Tory tutored me, but I was still going to get a C in the class if I didn’t do super well on both of those tests. I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to do that, so I bought the answers from Leslie, this stupid bitch that wants to be a social worker. You’ve probably seen her in town with her girlfriend Beth. She’s tall and thin with dark hair. She always wears capris and sandals and ankle bracelets and toe rings. Beth is shorter and blonde and chunky. Ugly inside and out. If I would have been realistic with myself and would have studied harder, I probably could have pulled off a B in the class on my own. It might have been a low B, but it would still have been a B and at least it would have been an honest one. I lost my scholarship. I’m on academic probation and had my grade in that class amended to an F. It’s bull, but Crestview is Crestview and I don’t think they’re going to change anytime soon. The head master is a disgusting pervert and offered to ignore everything if I’d sleep with him but there was no way in hell I was going to do that, even to save my scholarship. My parents were totally pissed. I’m still not sure how I’m gonna go to college or if I even want to go anymore. It sucks, but I should have known better. Are you still headed to the university?”
“I was planning on it, but I’m not so sure anymore. This is big news Mellenda.”
“It is, but I don’t want you to put your life on hold. For me or for our baby. Then you’ll end up resenting both of us later on.”
“We’ll figure it out honey. Will you let me take you out to dinner now?”
Mellenda laughed. “Yes. I’m going to need a bathroom so I can take the test anyway.”
“I’d say we could back to my house, but I don’t think I want to wait that long and I don’t think you want six people standing outside the bathroom door while you’re trying to pee.”
“Probably not. I love you Jude. Thank you for being here for me.”
“I love you too, baby. It’s may not be easy, but it’s gonna be okay.”
“I hope so. I wonder how my parents will react. How do you think yours will feel?”
“You are gonna have one happy trailer trash grandma and grandpa on your hands.” Jude laughed. “I grew up bona fide poor white trailer trash and I’m damned proud of it. Sorry Mellenda. Some kids were giving me crap at school right before graduation. I punched this guy in the face because he was messed up enough to talk shit about the dresses my mom made for my sisters for my graduation. They were really cool and Marissa and Joelle loved them. Why are you gonna talk shit about little kids and a woman right in front of them? How messed up does your life have to be at that point that you can get any kind of satisfaction out of doing something like that? I should have let it go, but Marissa started crying and Mom looked like she wanted to too.”
“I’m sorry. People can be really terrible. I slapped Leslie across the face because she said some really terrible things and she wouldn’t shut up. It didn’t help much that she told on me and walked away scot free from the whole damned thing, but she grabbed my ass too. Even harder than Brendan did the night before. It was too much.”
Jude laughed. “I don’t much believe in violence, but some people deserve a good slap in the face sometimes to wake them the hell up. Brendan is sorry. He did feel really shitty the next day.”
“Is he still with Shayla?”
“They broke up for a while, but they’re back together. They have an open relationship now, which doesn’t make a lot of sense to me since they’re just dating. But I guess if you know that one or both of you is always going to cheat, you might as well be honest about it. We should hit town in a few minutes. I think I know where the grocery store is.”
“I’m nervous.”
“I totally understand that, but how do YOU feel about the baby? I’m sure you’re a little scared, but are you excited or are you happy?”
“Right now I think I’m more at peace with it than anything. It’s a lot to take at eighteen. I’m glad that it’s you I’m having a baby with, but I’m not sure exactly where our relationship is going. And I have no idea where my life is going right now. You throw a baby into the mix and it all gets more complicated. But I’m not panicking. I never thought about abortion, other than in a no way kind of way. I don’t think that adoption is the right answer either. We’re young, we may not have a lot of money at least at first, but love is what matters. I’ll do everything I can to help make sure that our child always has everything they need. They might not always have everything that they want, but they will always have everything they need.”
“Agreed. You sound like you grew up in a trailer park instead of a big fancy house too. Is my trailer trash rubbing off on you?”
“Ha ha.” Mellenda saw the city limit sign. “This place is called Crestview? Weird. I wonder if the school was originally meant to be here or at least closer.”
“Who knows? There was a lot of controversy when they first built that place according to my mom. Talk of bodies buried out in the woods and concerns about the weirdo that lived in the shack. I don’t know why they don’t tear that place down. Maybe it’s true that the old dude has family somewhere and they’re refusing to sell it. I can’t blame them. I think I’d do it just to piss good old Crestview Academy off. Why wouldn’t they let you retake the class or go to summer school? You’re still graduating aren’t you?”
“Yeah. It’s in their stupid rules and regulations. They bend and break the damned things all the time, but I guess it’s only okay if you’re going down on your teacher or giving the head master blow jobs. I almost miss Marcune and that’s pretty damned sad.”
Jude laughed. “There’s a pharmacy up there. You wanna go there?”
“That’s fine. You’re staying in Brentwood over the summer aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I’m still working at both my jobs. My Dad is gonna try to take over my paper route after I leave, but I don’t know if he’ll be able to handle it even if Jacob helps him. You’re probably going home to your parents huh?”
“Well, that was the plan. I’m not looking forward to it at all though. There are apartments in Brentwood. Some should be pretty cheap or at least I would think so. I could get a job. What do you think about us moving in together?”
Jude parked in the parking lot of the pharmacy and then turned and gave her a wide grin. “Damn baby you’re making me happier that you called me all the time. You’d really want to live with me with my snoring and my bad habit of leaving dirty clothes around? Brendan and Shayla are getting a place together. The building is kinda rundown, but it’s cheap. I think we could afford it, and save up money to get everything we need for the baby. Mom trades clothes with a bunch of other families in the trailer park when one of us grows out of something or needs something in a bigger size, and someone is always having a baby. My parents are doing better money wise than they have been in years. I’m sure Mom would be glad to trade some of our old stuff for baby stuff so we at least have a start. I’ll bet she’d even throw you a baby shower. Then we’d get a bunch of stuff even if it is used. As long as you don’t mind hanging around with trailer trash.”
Mellenda rolled her eyes. “Stop Jude. You don’t really think of yourself that way do you? Your family isn’t poor in any of the ways that count. My parents might even help us out. They might want us to get married, but they were really excited that my sister was having a baby. Maybe having a grandkid will break them out of their misery.”
“Do you wanna get married?”
“I don’t know. Can we take this one step at a time? We ne
ed to find out if I’m pregnant first.”
Jude grinned. “Oh yeah. That might be helpful huh? Let’s go.”
They walked hand in hand to the pharmacy. Mellenda suddenly couldn’t stop smiling. She realized that she hoped that the test was positive. When they reached the doors, Jude held the door for her but didn’t drop her hand. She wondered if he thought she was going to run away if he let her hand go, then realized she didn’t want him to let go of hers either. She suddenly felt very silly, but wasn’t going to let anything spoil her good mood.
They wandered over to the pregnancy tests. Jude did untwine their fingers then. He looked at the selection of pregnancy tests. Mellenda thought that he seemed a bit overwhelmed.
“I didn’t know that there would be so many choices. But it doesn’t really matter does it? You’re just gonna pee on a stick or dip it your pee, right? Ah hell, I don’t know. You’re the girl Mellenda, you pick one out.”
Mellenda laughed. “I don’t know anything about them either. I’ve taken one before but Tony bought it for me.”
Jude gave her a strange look. “Why did Tony buy you a pregnancy test? I thought you were with him a while ago. You had the abortion after you were with Ricky didn’t you?”
“There was a chance that it was Tony’s baby. I was with him for a while at least sexually after I started going out with Ricky. He paid for my abortion too. So I probably didn’t have a right to freak out when you told me that you’d gone down on Shayla. I’m not perfect either obviously, and I never told Ricky the whole truth. But all of that stuff is in the past. I’ve never thought about cheating on you. I don’t want to be with another man. So can we start over, or at least as much as we can start over when we’re probably having a baby together?”
Jude laughed. “Sounds good to me. Let’s pick one of these things out and get outta here. I’m hungry and I definitely want something to eat that’s not Chinese food.”
Mellenda laughed. “Okay.”
She looked at three different tests that were priced midway between the dirt cheap tests and the expensive ones, and selected the one that seemed the easiest to read and with the fastest results. They all seemed to promise 99.9% accuracy and she knew she’d have to have the results confirmed by a doctor anyway.
Jude insisted on paying for the test, and then they walked back to the car and drove to a diner down the street. They were seated promptly. Mellenda started drinking a lot of water so that she’d be sure to have to urinate by the time their food had arrived. The waitress gave her an amused look when she came back to the table to take their foods orders and said she’d bring a pitcher of water with their other drinks.
Mellenda didn’t have the urge to urinate by the time their food arrived. They were both disappointed, but the urge certainly came when she was about halfway through her meal. She gave Jude a smile and grabbed her purse.
She gave him a quick kiss on the way by and said “I’ll be back. Wish me luck.”
Jude laughed. “Good look on being able to pee. No, really. Good luck baby. We’ll be great either way.” He squeezed her hand.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Mellenda walked down the hall to the bathroom. There were two stalls and they were both empty. She took the one furthest from the door and set about her business. She set the plastic stick on the toilet paper dispenser while she finished. She could see the results forming by the time she flushed the toilet. It was positive.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she washed her hands and she left it there. She wasn’t sure how her parents were going to take the news, but she felt good. She was graduating, maybe not exactly with honors, but she was going to start a life with the man she loved.
She walked out of the bathroom, holding the test behind her back. The diner was virtually empty, and their waitress who seemed to be the only waitress on duty, was outside smoking a cigarette with the cook.
Jude gave her an expectant look when she reached their booth. “So?”
Mellenda handed him the test. “We’re having a baby Jude.”
“We’re having a baby. My baby is having my baby. Damn. I wanna call my mom, but I think I’d rather tell her in person. Are you gonna call your parents?”
“Not right now. This has been such a nice night so far. I don’t want to spoil it if they’re not happy about it. Are you sure your parents are gonna be okay with this? I mean, they seem like really great people, but you know, they’re parents.”
“They like you even more than they liked Tory. And Jacob and my sisters love you.”
“I really like them too. I was actually kind of stuck up when I first started at Crestview. I probably would have said mean things to you if you had asked me out back then.”
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s get outta here.”
Jude took her hand. He left a tip on the table and then led her to the register. The waitress had returned. She gave them a look.
“You’re having a baby aren’t you?”
Mellenda blushed. “We are.”
“Congratulations. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two kids who look so in love.”
Jude grinned widely. “Thank you. Is the cook your husband?”
She winked. “He’s my boyfriend, but don’t tell my husband.”
Mellenda let out a weak laugh. “We won’t.”
The waitress shook her head and laughed. “I was kidding. He’s my husband.” She stuck out her hand and showed them the wedding ring tattooed on her finger. “We are just not the traditional couple. Good luck you two.”
Jude paid the check and then said “Thank you. Have a good night.”
“You too.”
Jude pulled Mellenda with him out of the restaurant. “I want to celebrate. Do you want to drive? It’s a lot easier to drive than the truck.”
Mellenda shook her head. “No thank you.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Jude, do you think we could make a stop on the way back to town?”
“Sure. Where do you need to go babe?”
She gave him a sly grin. “Do you think we could stop at the old make out spot?”
“I think I like you when you’re pregnant. But I thought we could get a room tonight. I want to stay with you and I don’t think my parents will let me get away with having you in my bed even when you are pregnant with my baby.”
“Thank you.” Mellenda pressed him gently against the side of the car and kissed him. “I love you so much. I never thought I’d feel this way.”
“Hell baby how do you think I feel? I’m the reformed player.”
Mellenda shook her head. “You are still a big dork. But you’re my dork.”
“Damned right I am. I love you Mellenda.”
Jude opened the door for her and then went around and got behind the wheel of the car. They didn’t speak on the drive back to Brentwood. Mellenda’s heart was pounding in her chest. She felt like she was on the verge of a panic attack by the time they pulled up in front of Jude’s trailer. They got out of the car.
Seneca called to them from across the street. “Jude, did you finally convince Mellenda that you’re a changed man? Girl, he is gone over you. I never thought I’d see the day when Jude Ashland wasn’t chasing after one girl or another. But since you dumped him, he’s been walking around like the world ended.”
Jude laughed. “Shut up Sen, like you wouldn’t be broken up if Grant dumped you.”
Seneca gave Grant a look. “Grant will never dump me.”
Grant gave her an easy grin. “Of course not baby.”
Jude shook his head. “Have a good night guys.”
“Oh we will,” Seneca said. “My parents are gone again.”
Jude laughed. “Horny teenagers.”
“Damned right.” Seneca laughed. “See ya’ll later. It’s good to see you again Mellenda.”
Mellenda smiled at her ex roommate’s pretty best friend. “Thank you. You too.”
Jude squeezed Mellenda’s
hand. “Are you ready for this?”
Mellenda put her head on his shoulder and breathed in the scent that she loved. “No.”
“It’s gonna be okay baby. I promise. They’ll be happy.”
“I just hope my parents don’t kill us both.”
“Are you gonna call them or are you going to wait until they come down for graduation?”
Mellenda sighed. “They threatened not to come to my graduation at one point. I think I’ll call them tomorrow. I’m sure if they want another excuse not to come to my graduation this will give them one.”
“Baby, it doesn’t matter whether they’re happy or not. It’s not their baby. Yeah, it’s gonna suck if they want to be complete assholes, but you can’t let yourself get lost in the crap that they’ve put you through for so long. You are so strong. We’ll get through this no matter what. I will always be there for you.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too baby. Let’s go inside.”
Jude took Mellenda’s hand and they walked up the steps together. She took a deep breath and then let it out as he opened the door. His parents were in the kitchen and his siblings were in the living room, watching a movie.
Mrs. Ashland looked up and gave them a bright smile. “Mellenda it is so good to see you. Jude has been so lost without you.”
Mellenda gave her a smile. “I’ve been pretty lost without him too.” She squeezed Jude’s hand.
“I need to talk to you Mom, Dad. Do you want to send the kids to their rooms?”
His brother gave him a puzzled look and his sisters both gave him a dirty look.
Mr. Ashland cleared his throat. “Is it something that shouldn’t be discussed in front of your brother and sisters?” Mellenda thought that he looked a little worried.
“Not exactly. I just wanted to tell you guys first.”
“If it’s G rated, they can stay where they are.”
“Okay. Um, I don’t know how to say this, so I guess I’m just gonna say it. Mellenda is having a baby. I mean, Mellenda is having my baby.”
“Judeah Wallingford Ashland are you serious?” Mellenda couldn’t read the look on Mrs. Ashland’s face. She stepped back into Jude’s arms.
Misty Reigenborn Romance Boxed Set Page 185
