Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(63)

His mom and dad seemed to both hold their breath.

“Elise . . . she talked to her mom back in Louisiana and, well, after graduation her mom wants her to come back home and have the baby. Raise the baby.” The conversation felt like something from a dream. Like he could see himself talking, but nothing about it seemed real. He pushed on. “Her mom said I could have the guest room. That way I could help her with the baby and be there. Be a father for her child. But also be praying about whether Elise and I should get married this Christmas.”

There. He’d said it.

His dad slid to the edge of the sofa so he could look right into Cole’s eyes. At least it seemed that’s why he did it. “Are you saying that’s what Elise wants to do?”

Nothing about this felt logical. He was just a kid. Who was he fooling that this would be a good time to forget college and live in the guest room of a person he’d never met? Cole narrowed his eyes and tried to find the right words. “I’m saying . . . that’s what we both decided. That she can’t give up her baby, and I said I’d be there for her.”

“Cole.” His mother’s voice rose and she put her hand to her mouth. Like she was trying to quiet herself. But her tone was still louder than before. “If Elise is going home to have her baby, then she’ll be with her mother. She’ll have plenty of help.” She shook her head, like she couldn’t make sense of the situation. “How does that involve you?”

“Because.” Cole felt his own frustration rising. “Her baby has no father, so I’ll step in. That’s what I said I’d do.” He looked at his dad, then his mom. “Children need both parents.”

The silence was as awkward as anything Cole could remember. His dad cleared his throat. “Son . . . I deeply respect your heart on this issue. And I know you care about Elise.”

“I love her.” Cole thought maybe his answer came a little too quickly. Being defensive would only make him sound like a kid.

His mom shaded her eyes with her hand. She looked like she wasn’t sure whether to break down and cry or send him to his room. Cole turned to his dad and steeled himself for what was coming.

“Yes.” His dad’s voice was nothing but calm. “Okay, you love her. But, Son, that doesn’t make you a parent. It doesn’t mean you’re ready for marriage.” This wasn’t a lecture. The way his father spoke, Cole couldn’t help but listen with his head and his heart.

“Yes, sir.”

Next to him, his mother lowered her hand. She still didn’t say anything.

A long sigh came from his dad. “You and Elise have only known each other a few months. You’ve never even met her mother.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “My advice? Stay in touch, visit her. Let her mom step into the helping role.” His father paused, not a stitch of judgment in his tone. “Take time to see if this is where God is leading or if it’s just you and Elise trying to make sense of a rough situation.”

Cole agreed with every detail, but there was something his dad didn’t seem to understand. “You’re right, Dad. Everything you said.” Cole worked the muscles in his jaw, frustrated. “But maybe all the logic in the world doesn’t stand up against doing the right thing. I offered to be there for her, and now that’s what she wants. She needs me.” He looked from his dad to his mother and back again. “You know?”

Again it was his dad who took the lead. “The right thing comes from God, not from us. No matter how it seems.” He breathed deep, stood and helped Cole to his feet. His dad hugged him and then looked into his eyes. “That’s all I have, Cole. Can we pray for you?”

Cole turned to his mom. “You want to pray?”

“Yes.” It was the first word she’d said in a while. She joined them and they formed a tight circle, arms around each other.

His dad led the prayer, asking for God’s wisdom and for Elise to know the right decision for the baby. Cole hugged each of his parents and then he went to his room. He had no choice but to take Elise’s side. After all, he had offered to skip school to be there for her and the baby. Today on the bleachers she’d made it clear. She was taking him up on his offer. And he would keep his promise.

Like he’d told his dad, staying with Elise was the right thing to do. He would be a man of honor, like his father. But the truth was building and growing inside him. What was he about to commit to? He must be crazy to think he should miss out on school and becoming a doctor. And the more he thought about it, the more he agreed completely with his dad. He understood his mom’s discouragement. The way she looked terrified about his future.

Because deep inside, Cole felt exactly the same way.





19




Lucy and Aaron were sitting in the attorney’s office again. It was clear from the expression on the man’s face the news wasn’t good.

Alan Green sighed as he took the seat across from them. “I told you teenage mothers are known to change their minds.” He opened a file in front of him. “I got a call from Elise yesterday. She says she’s sorry, but she wants to keep her baby.”

This moment had played out in Lucy’s nightmares since they’d heard about the child. Each time she wondered how she would react, whether she would start crying or run to the bathroom or just sit there. Numb to the entire process.