The different kinds of love

Chapter 7

Peri stood at the top of the stairs with tear stained cheeks as Leela turned to face her, offering her daughter a tight smile as she looked at her.

Peri stood on the landing of the stairs weighting up her Mum's mood; all she wanted was her Mum to hold her and say it would be alright, even if it wasn't she just wanted that comfort from her Mum.

Leela stood silently watching her daughter, taking in her appearance and the way she stood unsure of herself.

Walking towards the stairs as Peri began to move one foot in front of the other, she opened her arms for her daughter who practically ran into them and held her Mum like she was never going to let go.

"I'm sorry" Peri sobbed as Leela stroked the young girl's hair in an effort to offer her some kind of comfort.

"I never meant for this to happen" Peri sniffled as she pulled back from her Mum who smiled sympathetically at her "I know" she whispered before pulling her into her arms again, listening to the sounds of her daughter's heartbreaking sobs.

After a while of offering her daughter some sort of reassurance Leela pulled back "You need to talk to me Peri" she said softly.

Leela lead them over to the couch, she placed her hands over Peri's joined one and squeezed them, silently letting her know it was okay.

"How long have you known?" Leela asked.

"A few days" Peri said quietly, almost a mumble, but Leela could hear her clearly.

"Do you know how long exactly?" Leela encouraged.

Peri looked away as she slipped her hands out from her Mum's "I only found out a couple of days ago" she took a breath before meeting her Mum's eyes "I'm about a month gone" she muttered.

Leela was quiet for a minute "Who's the Dad?"

Peri shifted uncomfortable where she sat "You do know, don't you?" Leela asked.

"Of course I do" Peri yelled in horror "I've only slept with one person... It was only one time" she started crying again.

"It only takes once" Leela said without much emotion, thinking back to when she found out she was pregnant with Peri.

"But..." Peri looked at her Mum with teary eyes but she just shook her head "I didn't even know you had a boyfriend"

Peri shrugged.

"He's not really my boyfriend" Peri said sadly "Well not really anyway" she added quietly.

"It's Tom isn't it?" Leela suddenly asked.

"How'd you know?" Peri asked.

Leela smiled kindly "I've seen you two together"

"Have you told him? Are you even going to keep the baby? We need to get you in to see the doctor, he didn't force you did he?" Leela rambled on as she thought about all the possibilities; was she a bad mother? Her fourteen year old daughter was pregnant; she must be a bad mother she thought to herself.

"No, of course her didn't force me" Peri said loudly "I wanted to, we both did, he's not like that" she continued in disguest.

Leela just watched her daughter as she got herself worked up "Please Mum, I'm sorry, please don't hate me, I need you" she begged as tears trickled down her cheeks.

"I'm not going to leave you, I'm your Mum and we are going to deal with this together" Leela said firmly, taking her daughters hands in her own and offering them a gentle squeeze.

"You need to tell Tom" Leela said seriously.

"I know, but you know he's gone to London to visit OB and I can't get hold of him" Peri said panicky "I can't just leave a message saying 'hey, I'm pregnant' she let out a humorous laugh as she thought about what she would have to tell Tom sooner or later.

Leela noticed how her daughter was emotional drained and decided to leave it for today "It's going to be okay sweetie, I promise" she said, looking at the uncertainty on her daughter's face.

"How about we order pizza?" Leela offered.

Peri smiled "Great, I'm starving"

Leela got up and began walking to the kitchen before turning to face her daughter "But you need to think about this seriously Peri, you need to decide what you want to do and just know whatever it is you can talk to me okay, don't shut me out"

"Okay Mum" Peri said, offering her Mum a weak smile "Love you"

"Love you too" Leela said as she came back to sit down "So what pizza do you want?" she asked, handing Peri the menu.

"Can I have margarita with chicken and sweetcorn please?"

"Of course, I'll order it now" Leela grabbed her phone and dialled the number before placing their order.

There pizza arrived and they ate and chatted for a while before putting a film on and now it was nearly 8 o'clock as they were curled up on the couch together; Peri was nearly asleep against Leela before she suddenly spoke "Mum..." she mumbled before sitting up and looking at her.

"You're not mad" she said it as more of a statment than a question.

"I'm not mad" Leela confirmed with a gently smile.

"But, why?" Peri asked.

"Well, I've been where you are Peri, and I have no idea what I'm doing but I know you need me and I'm not going to do what Mum did to me, it's going to be different" Leela explained.

"I'm sorry I called you a hypocrite" Peri said before settling back down on her Mum's lap.

"What right do I have to judge you when the exact same thing happened to me? It was a bit of a shock at first that's all" Leela spoke "It is what it is" she stated quietly as she absentmindedly stroked her daughters hair "Sweetie..." she called softly "I think you should go up to bed"

"Okay" Peri mumbled before getting up "Night" she yawned before making her way upstairs.