Eternity

Seventy Three

"What" Amy asks when I hand her Sky who is almost a year old "why are you handing me a child?"

"This is Talon's little brother Sky" Amy holds the baby out looking at him "you are going to babysit him for the whole day"

"No" shaking her head "I'm not"

"This" motioning to Sky who begins to cry "will show you what your life will be like if you decide to keep the baby, what responsibilities you'll be given"

I go to the kitchen where Ashley is making a sandwich, we hear Sky cry loudly and Amy playing her French horn to calm him down but he just cries even louder "Really?" Ashley asks me, mom called us out of school because of Amy "gave her a baby"

"Do you want her to have a baby?" I ask her "keep a baby?"

"It might bring dad back" she is being optimistic "this baby might bring us closer together and"

"Stop crying!" Amy begins to cry now

Mom enters the house and is confused "Why am I hearing a baby cry?"

"Talon's little brother" I explain to her "show Amy what it's like to have a baby for twenty four hours" whenever I'm with Talon at his house, there are babies all around so I've gotten practice in taking care of babies.

Amy comes out with Talon who is crying, mom takes him and calms him down. Looking between them all "do you all still think Amy can handle a baby? If you have a baby Amy, best consider adoption" Demetri told me even new time parents have a hard time but as a teenager it will be harder because of the work load and the prejudice Amy will get for having unprotected sex.

I take Sky into my arms and make some faces, Sky laughs as I spend some time with him. Amy and mom leave to talk, get some ice cream or something. Leaving Ashley and I at home "How can you be so negative?" Ashley demands sitting down "our sister is having a baby and"

"Do you even understand how but it is to have  baby?" Asking Ashley as I got Sky him his bottle, he still drinks breast milk even though he also has been transitioning to baby food "you know Amy, Ash. She is immature and just wants to have fun, she doesn't want to take responsibility for the child. Why else marry Ben?"

"Why do you want to marry Talon?" Ashley asks

"For love" I explain "she's been dating Ben for a few weeks and they think they love one another? They don't. Talon and I love one another and one day I'm going to have his babies and unlike Amy I won't regret my decision. She might regret hers if she has a baby and keeps it, a baby is a big thing Ashley not a 'oh so what if you're having a baby'" mimicking Ashley's tone.

When Amy returns, she looks at me confused "How are you able to keep him calm?"

"Because Talon has a huge family and I spend time with babies" shaking my head as I burp Sky "I have experience"

"And Amy could have experience" Ashley says "get some, I mean so what?"

"So what?" Amy demands "I don't want a baby at fifteen, I want to be normal and go to dances and be in the band"

"Then why have sex?" I ask

"I don't know" pushing her hair behind her head "it just happened, promise me Ashley you'll wait till marriage like Autumn. Don't have sex, don't be like me"

She scoffs "I've got condoms"

"You do?!" Amy demands "since when?"

"Since forever" she explains

"How?" She asks

"The grocery store?" I say as Sky falls asleep "it's in aisle where feminine products are?"

"Don't use condoms" Amy orders

"That's horrible advice" Ashley laughs "and you can't tell me not to have sex"

There's a knock on the door and I go to get it, when I open it it's Grace who looks my way and then Sky's "He's Talon's little brother"

"Oh" she blushes "I didn't"

"Something I can help you with Grace?" Grace is the daughter of dad's first wife, I don't know why she's here. She's a devout Christian who is anti abortion. Oh wait, I just answered my own question "If this is about Amy, I suggest you leave"

"I just" she offers "want to talk to her about the baby, that abortion isn't her only option" closing the door in her face, she yells "Amy! Every life matters!" I text Talon to see if he can pick me up.

***

"Mimmsy?" Seeing my grandmother who insists we call her Mimmsy, she looks our way. Talon stays the night and we hold one another as we sleep, just sleep.

"Autumn!" She comes over giving me a hug "and you must be Talon!" She gives Talon a hug, taking my hand "what a beautiful engagement ring. You know, out of all three of you I always knew my Autumn would be the first down the aisle"

"What are you doing here?" I ask

"I'm here for Amy" she motions to Amy who offers a smile "and like I was saying adoption is not an option" in this case it might be.

"And Mimmsy" Amy smiles "agrees that Ben and I should get married and honeymoon in Paris?" Talon and I share a look.

"Excuse us" Talon pulls me away, once outside he sprouts his wings and flies off to his house. Once here, we see Hobbs "Hey Hobbs"

He looks our way "Hey you two, aren't you both supposed to be getting ready for  school?"

"More craziness has erupted" holding my hands out and "so I'm here to get ready" Ruby and Demetri enter the room looking our way.

"You both need to eat" Ruby orders, god. Why can't my family be more like Talon's?