Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
When he didn’t say anything, I went on.
“So…when I found out halfway through my junior year that I was pregnant with Robert’s baby, I totally panicked.” I didn’t look at Ladd for fear of seeing his expression. “I knew he wouldn’t want the baby. My parents definitely wouldn’t. And truth be told, I wasn’t going to be able to give a baby the life they deserved. Before I’d even told anyone, I’d decided to give the baby up for adoption, and I knew Robert would be on board. He wouldn’t want to give up football.”
I paused and drew in a breath before starting again. “I told Robert first—and he was relieved, to say the least, that I wanted to give the baby up for adoption. We told his parents, and they said they’d be there for me during the pregnancy, and they’d help however they could.
“My parents, on the other hand, were completely outraged. Worried about what everyone would think if they found out. My father said that if he could, he’d kick me out of the house immediately. That part, I didn’t tell your mother. She already looked horrified as it was.”
“You told my mother all of this?” Ladd asked, sitting down on the sofa.
“Just the pregnancy stuff. And I don’t know why I told her…I’ve never told anyone, Ladd. Not another single person. Being around your family, though… Then this morning, I was watching from the window. You with your dad and brother, so loving toward each other…I realized I was jealous. And I broke down. When Nellie came to my room and saw me crying, she was so kind to me. I just let it all spill out.”
“Viv, what did your parents do? You said your father wanted to kick you out?”
Drawing in a deep breath, I exhaled. “I made them a promise that no one would find out. When I started showing a little, I wore baggy clothes. My father arranged for me to take my finals early since I was so far ahead in school, and he was a senator with a lot of pull.”
Ladd’s eyes went wide. “Wait? Your father? He was a senator?”
“He still is.”
He nodded. “My God. What happened after that?”
“They sent me to a home for girls who’re pregnant and unwed, run by Catholic nuns, and I stayed there until I had the baby that August.”
Ladd looked stunned. “You were all alone?”
“Well, Robert stopped by a couple times to see me and made sure I didn’t need anything. His parents hired a lawyer, and they took care of all my bills, as well as any expenses related to the adoption, because my mother and father refused to pay for anything. His parents also offered to let me live with them after I had the baby. But by that time, Robert and I were basically just friends. He’d started dating another girl without his parents’ knowledge, so I wasn’t about to take them up on their offer, even though I would have loved to. My own parents told me that the second I graduated, I was on my own. Said I needed to be out of their house.”
Ladd closed his eyes and balled his hand into a fist. “How could they do that to their own daughter?”
I shrugged. “I spent my last year of high school trying my best to stay out of their way. I stayed with friends a lot, kept my focus on my schoolwork, and when they required me to attend a party or event, I went. I’d smile, be polite, then get sent away when I was no longer needed. Robert accepted a scholarship to a college in Florida, where he’s now the starting quarterback. I got a full academic scholarship to Colorado State, but without any help from my parents, I’ve also taken out a couple small loans, and that’s why I work so much.”
He lifted his hand and rubbed the back of his neck.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I know I should have told you before we got so serious, and I understand if you want to call things off.”
Ladd’s head snapped up, and he looked at me with a shocked expression. “Are you serious? Do you honestly think any of that would change how I feel about you?”
I could feel the tears burn at the back of my eyes. “I didn’t know how you’d react, Ladd. I mean, I got pregnant at seventeen and gave the baby away.”
He stood and made his way over to me. Taking me gently by the upper arms, he stared down at me. “I love you, Viv. All of you—and that includes your past. I’m all in. Nothing you could ever do would make me not love you. You were young, and I’m sure you were scared shitless. I’d love to have a few words with your parents for treating you the way that they did, but sweetheart, I don’t think less of you because of your past. You did what you thought was the right thing to do, and I, for one, think it was a brave decision. I’m just sorry you were alone through all of it. I also hope I don’t ever meet this ex of yours.”