Chapter 7

A Not So Merry Christmas

Several days before Christmas, Ruby telephoned Jason again to report on the conversation she’d had with her mother. “Hi, Jason. How are you?” She was unsure about how to start the discussion or what to say.

“I’m good. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“How did it go with your mother?” he asked, showing genuine concern.

“No different than I thought it would be. She yelled and called me terrible names until I couldn’t take it any longer. I went to bed and cried myself to sleep.”

“Hey, I’m sorry your mom treated you that way. I really like you. We can get married if you want. My parents are okay with the prospect of a new daughter-in-law, because they’re quite fond of you already. My mother’s also pleased that we’re giving her a grandchild. You know these Italian mothers. They love children and big families.”

She wanted to scream, But I’m only 16! I have my whole life ahead of me. I had plans. Ruby’s mind was racing around in all directions. Married! This definitely does not fit into my plans.

“Jason,” she said, “I’m confused about everything that’s happening right now. I wanted to go back to school. Did I ever tell you that I’ve always wanted to be a nurse?”

“No.”

“I feel like I’m going through a lot these days.”

“Does this mean you don’t want to marry me or have our baby?”

“It’s more than that. It’s like I’m losing myself.”

“Ruby, you’re okay. You’ll be fine. Please believe me.”

“I know. Let’s talk more later when all these feelings settle.”

She couldn’t, nor did she want to, imagine what it would be like for her baby to be raised in a foster home. What if some really mean people adopted her child? What if the man was a pedophile? She’d rather live on welfare than not know her baby and its future. When she weighed her options, she had to agree that marriage might be better than a home for bad girls and adoption of her baby. She decided that her plans would just have to wait.