Toxic 2: Lethal

Fight

Chapter7-Fight

"She's on her way," Dad said, putting the phone back in its holder.

Ava squeezed my hand and kissed my cheek. "Relax, Lydia. You're starting to look pale."

"I think I'm gonna be sick," I mumbled, just before I threw up in the garbage can.

Dad rubbed my back and held out the bottle of water he'd been drinking. "She's not going to yell at you, Lydia. We won't let her."

"Mom'll just yell at you for bad parenting."

"If my math is right, you were with her when you got pregnant," Larry said.

Dad shot him a look.

"He's right, dad," I said, taking a sip of the water.

"No, Lydia-"

"She doesn't have any reason to get mad at me. Neither did Darren. But he did anyway."

"Oh, we talked to him," Dad's voice lowered and I wondered what he said.

"You don't have to fix our battles for us," Ava said.

I sat down beside her at the bar and rested my forehead on my arms. "It's not your fault I was stupid."

"You're our daughter and that's our grand-baby. We're not going to let him do that to you."

"What if he ends up hating you? Like mom did."

"Then that's our problem and not yours."

Ava took my hand and squeezed it. "Your mom's going to be here soon. Don't let her see you all freaked out or she'll worry too."

"I can't help it."

"Yes, you can. You're stronger than you let on."

I looked over at her and she was smiling at me. I trusted her and knew that she wouldn't tell me to do something unnecessary.

I laced my fingers with hers and got to my feet. "Let's us know when mom gets here."

Dad raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Larry laughed.

Ava followed me to my bedroom and shut the door behind her. "It's gonna be okay, Lydia."

I wrapped my arms around her and hid my face in her shoulder. "I'm so glad you're with me for this."

She hugged me back and her voice was close to my ear when she spoke. "I couldn't imagine not being with you."

"What if my mom's mad at me? What if she never wants anything to do with me?"

She put her hands on my shoulders. "Relax, okay? Everything's going to be fine."

I wanted to believe her. I really, really did. But I knew my mother and I knew her when she was angry. This would make her mad. I knew it would.

But she needed to know.

Thankfully, mom was more confused than mad. I wasn't sure she was even mad, really. She didn't seem mad. But that could change.

"I thought you said Darren was here," She said suddenly, looking up from the picture.

"He didn't take the news very well," Dad said.

"I'll talk to him."

"Mom, no. You guys can't fight my battles for me," I said.

"Lydia-"

"This is my problem and I need to take responsibility for it."

Ava squeezed my hand. "We're glad you want to help us with this really but you don't have to fight our battles for us."

"It's the least we could do." Larry said.

Mom looked at the two of us, the picture still in her hands. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. It's obviously not one of those things we planned but we want to keep the baby."

"You'll still be in school when you give birth."

I nodded. "The doctor said it should be around February or March. But we're going to stay in school as much as possible."

"I'm home most of the time so I can take care of the baby while they're at school," Larry said.

"I'll help out as much as I can," Mom said, standing up. "I'm going to go talk to Darren."

I watched her leave without saying anything more. I rested my head on Ava's shoulder. "I have a feeling taking care of the baby will be less stressful than this."

Ava laughed. "I don't think so."

"I think this is the first time you've never put a picture on the wall," I said, flipping through empty pages of the baby book.

"Maybe with the next baby."

My eyes widened as I looked over at Ava. "Next baby? Are you serious?"

She laughed. "This one's going to need a brother or sister to play with."

"I think you're only saying that because you never had any brothers or sisters."

She laughed and laid back against the pillows. "Maybe. Though my parents were trying. When my mom got sick, they stopped. Then she passed away and it's just been me ever since."

I hugged her, the book still in my hand. "Thank you for this."

"Can I ask you something?" She sat up, bringing me with her.

My eyes widened a little but I nodded.

"When the baby comes, can you promise me that I'll be involved? I mean, I know that I'll be with you but... I don't want you to be the baby's only mom."

I squeezed her hand. "You don't have to worry about that, Ava. As long as we're together, you'll be the baby's mother."

"No, that's not what I mean," She said, running a hand through her hair. "I don't want you to take on all the responsibilities and leave me behind."

I took both of her hands in mine and kissed her. "I can't promise that it won't happen, because it'll be hard to share a baby that's been inside me for nine months. But I promise I'll make sure you're not left out."

She smiled a little, blush creeping on to her face. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Ava."