Signs of the Past

Peter and the Baby - After Summer

We left the burger place after all three of us barely picked over our meals. My dad didn't interrogate me about the pregnancy and I didn't try to excuse it. We all just sat quietly waiting for the appropriate time to ask for the check. 

After we get up to leave, my dad whispers over to my ear. "I love you, Mar. That will never change." The words don't sound tender, my dad sounds tired and emotional, but I know he means them. My heart swells for my dad and all at once I'm so grateful that he was the parent that stuck around to raise us. 

My dad leans down again, when Colleen and Vivian are already climbing into the car. "You still need to tell the boy, today." 

My dad doesn't look at me, he just opens the driver seat door and steps inside, I get into the car after a quick hesitation. 

I know that my dad wants me to tell Peter because he believe that it's what is fair and right. I forget that my dad once was in Peter's position, just a couple years older worried over the birth of me. I know what I want. I want Peter's life to remain untainted by this, but I never considered what Peter would want. I knew what he would do. Peter would do the right thing and raise the baby and probably marry me, because Peter is a good guy. But I never thought that Peter might want to do that because it just seems so absurd to me.

After considering all of this, I text Peter asking if he can meet up. My phone vibrates after only a minute. 

Yes. My parents are leaving soon, I know they'd want to see you before they go.  

I never considered that Peter's parents would be here which is foolish because it's parent's weekend and they love this kind of stuff. But if I told Peter now it might also be the best time for him to tell his parents too, which puts an extra load of pressure on the moment, but the truth has to come out. 

Ok. I'll head over soon. 

I haven't seen Mr. and Mrs. Campbell since the morning Peter and I broke up. We broke up in Peter's bedroom just two weeks after the accident. Two weeks after I found out I was pregnant. I hadn't decided I wanted to break up with Peter, I still had no idea what I wanted to do. 

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Peter and I were sprawled out on his bed, both of us were still covered in marks from the accident. I was staring at Peter's bruised knuckles, which the doctor said could take several weeks to heal. 

"What are you thinking about?" Peter asked me as he stared up at the ceiling. I could tell he didn't want to look at my face, it was hard for him to see the stitches and bruises. 

"Nothing." I say softly. Bringing up the accident to Peter now would only cause him to become tense and emotional. It was better that we just ignored the accident.

Peter turned over on to his side. I can feel him staring at me, his gaze creating two holes in my head until I finally look over at him. 

"Why won't you talk to me anymore?" Peter asks. 

I flicked my eyes to look at him and I wish I hadn't. Peter's brow was furrowed and his lips hung low. "I do talk to you. Nothing's changed." I lied. 

I reached out to touch Peter's cheek but he flinched away from me. "You're lying. Everything has changed." 

Peter sat up in his bed, his back pressed against the wall with his arms crossed. I sat up too and faced him. 

"I don't even know what our relationship is anymore..." Peter's voice cracked as the words tumbled out. "I'm sorry that what happened scared you or freaked you out or whatever.. but I'm not sorry I did it."