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Dior was nervous as she waited for her mother to finish getting dressed. She’d told Donna that Belinda had invited them over for dinner, which was partially true. Brian had told Belinda that he and Dior wanted to take her and Donna out for dinner, but she’d insisted on cooking.
“Ma, you gon’ make us late,” Dior whined as she checked her watch.
“I’m done,” Donna said as she checked herself in the mirror one last time.
***
“Hey girls,” Belinda said as she opened the front door.
“Hey. Thanks for inviting me over,” Donna said as they embraced in a quick hug.
“I’m just cooking. It was the kids’ idea,” Belinda said.
“Really?” Donna asked as she eyed Dior suspiciously.
“Umm hmm.”
Dior sat down on the couch while Donna helped Belinda in the kitchen.
“Where Brandon at?” she asked Brian.
She wanted him to be there when the bomb was dropped. He was on her and Brian’s side, so it would be three against two if their mothers disagreed with their decision to keep their child.
“He ran to the store.”
Brandon returned a few minutes later and gave Brian and Dior a big smile.
“Why is he so happy?” Dior asked nervously.
“I don’t know. Cuz he ain’t the one that got somebody pregnant,” Brian joked.
“Dinner is ready,” Belinda called out from the kitchen.
Everyone sat down and made small talk about their days as they passed around the good looking and smelling food that Belinda had prepared.
“Okay, what you kids got goin’ on?” Belinda finally asked.
“Well,” Dior said as she looked at Brian.
He took her hand into his and squeezed it.
“Me and Brian wanted to tell you that...”
“Come on Dior. You’re starting to scare me,” Donna said impatiently.
“I’m pregnant,” Dior said quickly.
“What?” Donna yelled. “Are you serious?” she asked.
“Ma, calm down,” Dior said as Donna pushed her chair away from the table.
“Calm down my ass! Why didn’t you tell me this alone! Let’s go!” Donna demanded.
“Donna, maybe Dior should stay here until you calm down,” Belinda said cautiously.
“You knew about this bullshit? You told her before you told me?” Donna asked Belinda then Dior.
“I just got the news like you did,” Belinda assured her.
“Dior, let’s go!” Donna yelled again.
Dior didn’t want to go home with her mother, but she was too embarrassed to face Brian and his family.
“Are you fuckin’ crazy?” Donna asked as Dior followed her back to the car.
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Dior said meekly.
“Did you use condoms? Why didn’t you get on birth control? I really expected more from you,” Donna said as she shook her head.
“Me and Brian will take care of our own baby. We just wanted to tell you and Miss Belinda before—”
“Before what?” Donna cut her off. “Before you started needing our help?” she asked with a laugh.
“We gon’ take care of our own baby,” Dior said again as she stared out of the window.
“Right. And how is Brian gon’ teach a baby to walk when he can’t even walk?” Donna asked harshly.
“Ma!” Dior yelled as she turned to face her mother. “Why would you say somethin’ like that?”
“Why would you throw your life away? You can’t take care of him and a baby. This has to be one of the dumbest things you’ve ever done, Dior,” Donna said, the disappointment oozing out of her pores.
“It’s not like I did it on purpose,” Dior said as tears started to stream down her face.
She was hurt by her mother’s reaction, but she was also being forced to admit that Donna was right. This was one of the dumbest things that she had ever done. She hadn’t intended to get pregnant, and although she hated to admit it, she knew that things would be very hard with Brian being in a wheelchair.
If she could go back and do things over she would never have been so irresponsible and gotten pregnant by him at such a young age. Then again, maybe she would have made sure that they weren’t present when the shooting had started if she had the ability to go back in time. Now that it was all said and done she was really confused.
She loved Brian, that she was sure of, but how was she supposed to finish her last year of high school while pregnant and trying to stand by Brian? And what was she going to do once she had the baby?
She’d still have a few months of school left and if Donna wasn’t willing to help what was she supposed to do? Brian had physical therapy and doctor’s appointments. How was he going to care for the baby while she was in school? It was all becoming more than she thought she’d be able to handle.