An Open Secret

Chapter Four

I stared at my mom for what seemed like an eternity. I couldn't speak and I couldn't move. After several tense minutes, I finally nodded my head.

"Yeah, mom it's mine. I'm pregnant."

"DAMNIT, ARIANA!," she yelled. I flinched at the sound of her voice. She got up and stood in front of me. "Whose the father? Does he know?," she demanded. Tears started coming down my face. I nodded my head and said, "It's Dustin's baby. He already knows."

She shook her head. "I raised you better than this. You know better. This is not what I wanted for you!"

"Ma, I know! I didn't want this for myself! I was stupid and reckless-"

"You damn right it was reckless!," my mom yelled. "Both of y'all were reckless. Not only were you selfish, you were foolish!"

I sat down on the couch and cried. "Mama, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She sighed and sat down on the couch next to me. She rubbed my back as I cried. All of the drama from today and the past few days festered into one big emotion bomb.

"Go upstairs and go to sleep, sweetie. We can talk more in the morning." I got up and wearily walked up to my room. I didn't bother getting undressed, I just took my shoes off and climbed in bed. Just as I was about to close my eyes, my phone chimed twice with two new messages.

Mariah

Bestie, are you okay? How did everything go?

Me

Bad. I'll call you in the morning.

Dustin

Ari, I'm sorry. Please call me. I want to be in my baby's life.

Tears fell down my face again. I ignored his message and rolled over and went to sleep.

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I woke up around 10 a.m. My mom was downstairs, cooking breakfast. I heard her talking to someone, I assumed she was on the phone. I walked into the bathroom, checking my phone as I brushed my teeth. Dustin sent me three more messages, but I just ignored them. I took a shower and got dressed. I slipped on a pink t shirt and some gray Adidas joggers. I took a deep breath and walked downstairs into the kitchen.

To my surprise, my mom wasn't alone. She sat with my aunt, Tessie, at the kitchen table. Once I walked in, they stopped their conversation and looked at me. I waved my hand. "Hi, Aunt Tessie. Good morning, mama." They both nodded at me.

"Come sit down, baby. We fixed you a plate," Tessie said. She and my mom were complete opposites. She has smooth chocolate skin and warm brown eyes. Her brown hair was streaked with bits of gray. I sat down and looked at my plate. It was loaded with pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage and gravy. I had a glass of orange juice sitting next to the plate.