Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(25)

“Then what’s going on?”

Missy hesitates, twists the tissue in her hand. After a beat, she blurts out, “I’m pregnant, Kay.”

“Oh…God.”

A million things run through my mind: Does Missy know who the dad is? How far along is she? She’s not still doing drugs, is she? But ahead of all those thoughts, I’m just thankful Chase never stuck his dick in Missy. I’d die if there was a chance he was the father of her baby.

“Don’t look at me like that, Kay,” Missy snaps when she catches me staring her way. “I haven’t been with as many guys as you’re thinking. I know who the father is.”

“Tony?” I venture, since she just told me she and Nick never had sex.

Missy nods. “We used protection, but I guess it’s true when they say condoms aren’t one hundred percent effective.” A tear trails down her cheek, and she swipes it away impatiently.

“Have you talked to Tony yet? Does he know?”

Missy scoffs. “No. I’ve only told my mom—and now you.”

“How’d it go with your mom?” I inquire, genuinely interested in the answer.

I guess my feelings for Missy are softening already. She was my friend at one time. Not a close friend, but still, enough of a friend that my heart now goes out to her. In the situation she’s in, she faces a rough road ahead.

“My mom was pissed as hell,” Missy says. “That’s why I’m in no hurry to tell the father the”—she coughs sarcastically—“happy news.”

I lean forward and put my hand on her arm. “But, Missy, you have to tell Tony. He has a right to know.”

She doesn’t answer, and I whisper, “Unless you’re thinking of—”

“No,” Missy barks out, and even more vociferously, she adds, “I’m keeping this baby, Kay. And I will tell Tony. I just have to get the nerve up, okay?”

Any leftover anger I was harboring towards Missy evaporates. I can’t fathom what she’s going through, so I say as comfortingly as I can, “Yeah, Missy, I get it. Just talk to him when you’re ready.”

Missy seems so, I don’t know…deflated, maybe. She’s clearly a little broken. Maybe she thought her wild behavior would never bear any consequences. Speaking of which, I carefully inquire, “Um, you quit all the drugs, right?”

Missy narrows her eyes at me. “What drugs?”

“Missy…” I impart a “come on” kind of gaze in her direction.

“Chase,” she spits. “I should’ve figured he’d tell you I was using the night we—”

“Yes,” I interrupt in a rush, “he told me you had cocaine in your purse that night.”

Missy sighs and averts her eyes. “I did have cocaine with me,” she whispers, “and, yes, I snorted a bunch that night. He told you the truth.”

Before I can respond, hers eyes meet mine, and she says, “I’m not doing that shit anymore, though. I quit everything, Kay. I plan to be a good mother. I want to be the kind of mom my kid can look up to.” Her eyes fill with tears. “I just want him or her to love me, you know?”

There’s so much yearning and hope, even desperation, in Missy’s voice. And it’s then that I realize all she’s ever wanted was to feel loved and accepted. I am no different—no one is. I can’t condemn Missy for desiring the same things we all ultimately crave.

“Hey.” I place my hand on Missy’s hand. “I’ll be here for you—that is, if you want me to.”

She nods, prompting me to go on.

“You’ll get through this, Missy. And you’ll come out stronger. You’re going to be a great mom, I know it.”

She looks surprised. “Do you really believe that?”

I think about it, and I realize I really do. I think Missy has had goodness in her all along. She’s never done anything to hurt anyone, only herself. But she seems to have conquered those demons.

So I say, “Yeah, I do believe it.”

She inquires softly, “Does that mean you’ve fully forgiven me for not telling you about what happened between me and Chase?”

I’m truthful and sincere when I say, “All that stuff is in the past, Missy. It doesn’t matter, anyway. I didn’t even know Chase back then.”

Missy suddenly leans over and gives me a hug. It feels like one from the heart.

“Thank you, Kay, thank you. I have a feeling I’m going to need a friend to get through this.”

I close my eyes and realize I want to be there for Missy. I want to be her friend.





Chapter Five


Chase


On Friday morning, the day Cassie’s mom is due to come into town to pick her up, Kay is in a great mood. I ask her what’s up when I find her in the kitchen, cooking up a big country breakfast.

She smiles and keeping her eyes on a skillet filled with scrambled eggs as she stirs, says, “I don’t know, nothing in particular. I just feel happy today.” She turns away from the stove and stands on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. “Now, sit down. I sent Cassie upstairs to get Will. The eggs are almost ready.”

“Who can argue with that?” I remark as I follow my girl’s instructions.