Chapter 4
The day after we broke up, Ryan called me seventeen times.
I ignored every single one.
He blew up my phone with more than twenty messages, from [Calm down,] to [Don't do this,] to [I'm begging you.]
The last one was: [I told my dad. He wants to meet you.]
I tossed my phone onto the bed.
Lily poked her head over the edge of her top bunk, looking down at me. "Did you and Ryan have a fight?"
"We broke up," I said.
"What? Why?"
"Just wasn't a good fit."
Lily disappeared back into her bunk and didn't ask anything else.
I knew she would definitely tell someone else.
*****
Right after my second class that afternoon, Ryan was waiting for me at the entrance of the building.
Standing next to him was a middle-aged guy in a black jacket, his hair slicked back and practically gleaming.
He was Ryan's dad, John Reynolds.
There was a woman in her early forties, rocking a perm and a chunky gold chain around her neck. She came over with a big smile, acting all friendly.
She was Ryan's aunt, Mary Reynolds.
I stopped in my tracks.
John was the first to speak, his voice low but every word carrying a heavy weight. "Sophie, let's find somewhere to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," I said.
Mary jumped in right away, and her voice was sweet. "Sophie, don't be like that. We're all family here. Let's talk things out."
"Ryan and I are done. We're not family anymore," I said.
John's jaw tightened, his expression turning cold.
Mary kept smiling as she reached for my arm. "Oh, come on, it's totally normal for young couples to have a little spat. Let me help you patch things up."
I pulled my arm away. "What do you want?"
John said, "Ryan told me your situation."
"What situation?" I asked.
"The pregnancy," John said.
I gave Ryan a look.
He was standing behind his dad, head down, not daring to meet my eyes.
"He told you," I said.
"Yeah," John said, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "You're still a student. You can't have this baby. You know perfectly well deep down."
"What exactly do you think I know?"
"You can't afford it. Ryan can't either. You guys haven't graduated. How are you going to support a kid?"
"I never asked Ryan to raise my kid."
John frowned.
Mary jumped in. "Sophie, listen to me. It's not a big deal for your body. If you do it early, you'll recover in a few days, and it won't mess up your studies at all."
I stared her down. "Are you a doctor?"
"I'm not a doctor, but I know people. I can get you into a better clinic."
"No thanks."
John finally lost his patience. "Sophie, if you insist on keeping this baby, Ryan won't step up, and I won't have anything to do with it. Make sure you know what you're doing."
"I've already made up my mind," I said.
"You're a student. You have no money and no job. How are you supposed to have a baby? How are you going to raise it? You'll end up making things harder for your family. Do your parents know about this?"
"My parents' business is none of your concern."
Just then, a voice came from behind me. "That's none of your business."
I turned around.
My dad, James Harper, stood about ten feet away, wearing his old work jacket that had been washed so many times that it was nearly white, and holding a black duffel bag.
Mom was right behind him.
She'd said she'd tell him.
And now he was here.
My dad walked over and stood in front of me, shielding me with his body.
He was a bit shorter than John, but when he stood there, John instinctively took a half-step back.
"So, you're Ryan's father?" my dad asked.
"Yes, I am," John replied.
"My daughter's pregnant with your son's child, and you're telling her to get rid of it?"
"Mr. Harper, we're trying to do what's best for the kids."
"Best for which kid, exactly?"
"They haven't graduated yet. Who's actually going to raise this baby?"
My dad said, "I'll raise the baby."
John was taken aback.
"If my daughter wants to have this baby, I'll raise it. The Reynolds family doesn't need to worry about it," my dad said.
Mary kept that fake smile on her face, but her eyes shifted.
She gave John's sleeve a little tug and leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
John cleared his throat. "Mr. Harper, let's not rush things. This is something we should discuss privately."
My dad said, "There's nothing to discuss. I support my daughter's decision. If you don't want to recognize the child, that's up to you. But don't bother my daughter again.
"Come on, let's go home." Dad reached out and took my hand, steady and sure.
I walked after him.
After we'd walked a dozen steps, I glanced back over my shoulder.
Ryan was still standing there, head down, staring at the ground.
He hadn't said a word from start to finish, not one word.
Mary stood next to him, pulling out her phone and texting someone. I didn't know who she wanted to tell.
But her fake smile was gone.