Unexpected Chapter 23

A Chapter by Julie Beth

Grandpa's house!

My dad was never one to question guys about their intention with me, so poor Carson was taken by surprise when my grandpa started to over load him with questions... without me in the room.

After Caron put my bag in my room, he went in my grandfather’s office, and I went in the kitchen to help my mom cook lunch. I felt so bad for Carson; my grandfather isn't one to accept personal space.

"Maddy, will you stop worrying!" My mother exclaimed. "You're acting like were throwing Carson in a tank full of sharks."

"We basically are mom! Grandpa is one of those people who are really nosy. Carson usually doesn't get along with those people." I replied. My mother sighed.

"Can you get the mayo?" My mom asked trying to change the subject. I sighed as I gave my mom the mayo.

"You're no help."

"Maddy, I have known Carson for a long time now; I’m not going to let my father intimidate him." My mom reassured me. As she passed me a plate of cut up food. "Can you go give that to your sister?" I sighed and went to go give the food to Hannah.

Carson was sitting on a huge navy blue chair. He felt so small in that big chair. Across the surprisingly small room, Maddy's grandfather was sitting in his wheelchair staring back at Carson.

"I'm Dennis." Maddy's grandfather held out his hand over the wooden desk between us. "And you are?"

"Carson." Carson extended his hand and Dennis asked without any hesitation. Carson hated talking about his person life with people he didn't know. But then again, it was Maddy's grandpa, it shouldn't be that bad. For what Maddy said about him, he seems pretty cool.

"We grew up together. I use to live next door to her and our friend Xavier; we'd hang out every day." Carson explained as he shifted in his seat uncomfortably. Dennis was staring right at him, it was really uncomfortable.

"When you say use to..." Dennis trailed off.

"Oh, well Xavier and I got jobs, pulled our money together, and bought a small condo." Carson explained. Dennis nodded his head

"A working man, I like that. Where do you work?"

"I work at the local pet store down the road from us, we get pretty good business, but I wouldn't want to work there forever."

"How old are you Carson?"

"I'm seventeen, sir."

"Planning on going to college, Carson?"

"Yes sir, I was planning on going to a culinary school. There's a local one that I was planning on going to." Carson looked down; he never told anyone this, other than Maddy. It just didn't seem manly.

"It's a good thing to learn how to cook, especially if you're going to be taking care of a kid." Dennis switched the subject. Carson looked around at the pale blue walls; Dennis had all types of awards on them. This made Carson feel intimated.

"Oh, we don't know if we’re going to keep it. I mean, I would like too, but Maddy's kind of leaning towards adoption." Carson replied as he fidgeted in his seat.

"So you would be willing to take care of the baby, even though it's not yours, am I correct?"

"Yes sir you are correct." Carson replied as he shifted again in his seat. Carson was starting to wish he was back in the car; it was a lot less awkward.

"Can I ask you something personal Carson?" Dennis asked. Like this wasn't personal enough? Carson thought "Sure why not."

"How did you react when Maddy told you she was pregnant?" Dennis asked, man he really was nosy. Carson wished Maddy warned him of this.

"Well, I was shocked, you know. I thought the baby was mine and I started to freak out on the inside, because I knew I was too young to-" Dennis Cut Carson off. His eyes narrowed as he spoke.

"When you say you thought it was yours, you mean you to already had sex." Dennis stated in his sharp voice. S**t, Carson though. I'm screwed. Carson shifted in his seat.

"Um w-well we uh, w-we." Carson stammered as he shifted in his seat again. Dennis started too laughed.

"Stop fidgeting son, I know you two had sex, I’m just screwing with you head." Dennis laughed. Carson let out a breath of relief. God, this guy is insane.

"How long have you been dating my granddaughter?"

"Almost two year now." Carson replied a bit tense. He didn't know what to expect next.

"Well at least you're not like those teenage couples who have sex after dating for three months. I got to tell you Carson, I like you. You're so much better than that scumbag my daughter married."

"Um... thanks...” Carson replied a bit confused. He didn't know if that was supposed to be a compliment, but if it was, it sure didn't seem like it. Dennis wheel himself from around the desk.

"Now, Carson, are you going to stay for lunch, or are you going to stare at the wall like a monkey." Dennis said as he wheeled himself out of the room. Some old people were just weird. Carson got up and followed Dennis out of the room into the kitchen.

After lunch, Carson and I went upstairs into my room. I was lying down on my chocolate brown bedspread as Carson wandered around my room. The walls were lime green, and I had hardwood flooring and a fuzzy baby blue rug on my floor.

"Maddy, this room is about as big as the condo." Carson stated, but he was over exaggerating.

"It is not Carson, will you please stop pacing? You're making me nervous." I said as I sat up. Carson stopped pacing and plopped down on my bed. I use to love this place when I was little, but now it seemed too big. I like living in condo's, there not too big, and not too small. They were perfect.

"How bad was my Grandpa?" I asked without hesitation. I have been scared to ask him, but I was afraid that if I didn't ask him, something would go wrong.

"Maddy, I hate to tell you this, but your grandfathers a nut job." Carson said in a voice so serious, I had to laugh.

"I'm sorry; I should have warned you about that. I didn't think he would actually go off and question you, and if he did, I at least thought he would have let me be in the room." I replied feeling guilty. "Do you forgive me?" I looked at Carson with my big green puppy dog eyes. Carson laughed and leaned in to kiss me. I kissed him back and I was happy. I no longer had to hid anything from him. He now knew everything and it felt like a burden was lifted off my shoulders.

"I'll take that as a yes." I said smiling. Then Carson's phone buzzed. He took out his black Samsung Intensity™ II and replied to the text message he just got.

"Was that your work?" I asked as Carson studied the text message once more.

"No I already called and said I can't come in. That was Xavier bitching about being all alone in art." Carson replied. Carson and I took a day out of school today even though I protested; Carson thought a road trip would be fun. Unlike all of the other times I missed school; we picked up our work in advance. I talked to all my teachers and they said if I can make up my assignments, then I will be able to go into the elventh grade. That’s what I’ll be doing here in my spare time.

"Why does he have so many art classes?" I asked Xavier had three art classes and the funny thing is, Xavier hates art with a firing passion. I kind of felt bad for him, but it am funny to see the stuff he brings home. He can't do art to save his life.

"Cause we only have four mandatory classes this year so they stick us in all stupid art classes that teach us absolutely nothing." Carson replied ignoring his new text message.

"Please don't text and drive on your way home tonight. I'll die if anything happens to you." I whispered in a soft voice.

Carson sighed and rubbed my stomach. "Your mom and Grandfather are right, you have to stop worrying. It's probably horrible for this poor kid."

"I'm horrible for this poor kid." I said not realizing I said it out loud. Once I did I looked up from my stomach and saw Carson staring at me.

"Mad-" Carson started, but I cut him off. I took his hand off my stomach and got off the bed and stretched.

"I didn't mean to say that out loud Carson. Just forget I said it." I said as I walked over to my big window. The grass was green outside, and it was beautiful out. I could picture this boy with a good family running around outside, happy. If he was with me, I wouldn't be able to give him a good life like the other family. I'm not equipped to deal with it, I can barley handle being pregnant.

Carson's arms wrapped around me. I don't know how he can do it I feel huge, but he still managed.

"If you can go through all you went through, you can be a mom. You wouldn't be alone either, you would have me and Xavier." Carson kissed my cheek and held. Carson stayed till three o’clock. Then went home because I have fears of him driving at night. Carson kissed me goodbye and I went off to take a shower.

After supper, I Carson black hoodie that he let me take with me, and went in the backyard and sat on the white bench. There was not a cloud in the starry sky. I heard the door squeak open then shut. I turned around to see my grandpa wheeling over to me. He was struggling because he was weak and it's hard to use a wheelchair on grass.

I got up and helped wheel grandpa next to the bench, then sat down next to him. It was quiet at first, I mean, I don't blame him. I would be disappointed to if I was in his position

"When your mom first brought your father home," Grandpa said looking up at the sky. "I did the same thing to him that I did to Carson. Your mother didn’t agree with it, but I do this for a reason. I do it to protect my family. I didn't think your mother really understood this until she found out the truth about this pregnancy. She cried so much when she found out. She loves you more than you know." My grandpa took my hand. "I always thought your father was a scumbag. I told your mother this repeatedly. She always let it fly by her. I think that's the one thing she regrets the most."

"It's not her fault though." I simply said. I don't know what to say. It's just one of those talked were you nod and listen.

"She knows that." My grandpa replied. "Carson on the other hand, is a good kid. He has plans and will go far. Hell, he'd even make a good father." I looked up at me grandpa and groaned.

"I can't take care of him grandpa. I'm not equipped to do that." I said as I hugged my stomach.

"Him? So it's a boy." I looked at my grandpa with a glare, but he ignored it. "When you were little, I use to tell you could do anything. You believed me then, now why won't you believe me now when I say you can be a parent?"

"Grandpa, I'm not even finished school, and Carson is going to college next year. I just, I don't know how I would be able to do it. I don't want to be a stupid teen without a good education." I said frustrated. "Everyone wants me to keep this baby and I feel like a total b***h because I want a better life for him." I wiped the tears out of me eyes.

"Maddy, first, I don't like that langue especially since you're using it on yourself in a time like this. I don't want you to call yourself a b***h, ever. Second over all, it is your chose. Whatever you decide, you decided because you thought it was right and we will stick by you, Carson will stick by you. Give it time Maddy, when the time is right, you will know what to do. Just give it time." My grandpa and I sat there in the silence until Hannah came outside and wedged herself on the side of me so she was next to me and grandpa. Then grandpa told her stories about the stars just like he did for me when I was little. It made me think maybe I could do this, after all I did help raise Hannah. I guess I’ll just have to see where time takes me.

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