The Friends We Keep

So she peed with Boomer sitting patiently on the mat by the tub and Jasmine rubbing against her legs. When she returned to the chaos of the kitchen, Makayla was at the table with the twins coloring. The smell of rosemary and garlic from the rub she’d made filled the room. The brownies she’d made earlier were cooling on a rack. A salad was in the refrigerator. She’d marinated vegetables that would go on the grill along with the pork chops. Andrew had promised to be home right at five-thirty. If he made it, he would be in charge of the cooking—otherwise she would get it started.

She walked over to the table and put her hand on Makayla’s shoulder. The teen smiled at her, then handed Kenzie another crayon.

This was what she wanted, Gabby thought. Time with her family. Not the crazy stress of her supposed part-time job. Not reading briefs and analyzing new laws. She wanted to be working with actual people. Kids and adults. She wanted to help in a way that made sense to her.

Several hours later, when the twins were in bed, Gabby, Andrew and Makayla sat around the kitchen table. They’d already discussed the three couples Makayla was considering. Andrew had asked several good questions about them, but then had agreed with Gabby.

“There’s no wrong decision. You have to do what you think is right.”

Makayla nodded. “I like the couple from Maine the best. I want it to be them.”

“Why don’t you take a couple of days,” Andrew began.

Makayla cut him off. “Dad, I’m not going to change my mind. I know I’ve been immature about a lot of things. Especially when I first thought I might be pregnant. Thinking that Boyd and I would be together always. Well, that was stupid.”

Gabby leaned toward her. “No, it wasn’t. You trusted him and believed in him. That’s not immature. That’s not wrong. The person making the mistake was him, not you.”

“I was unrealistic. I’m fifteen and he’s only a year older. How were we supposed to like raise a child together? This is better. I’m not going to want to keep the baby. He needs to go to a good home where the parents are ready for him.”

Gabby hugged her. “You’re doing really well.”

“Thanks.”

Gabby straightened. “Okay, my turn.” She looked at her husband. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Makayla isn’t comfortable at her high school and I don’t think she should keep going there.”

His expression was cautious. “We talked about this. Where would she go?”

Gabby thought about the research she’d done. “It’s just a suggestion, but I could homeschool her for the rest of the school year. I’ve looked online and there are some excellent programs.”

She had more to say—that scholastically, it would be a challenge. Makayla wouldn’t be skating through her studies. Instead, Gabby would choose a well-respected program that would be the equivalent of advanced placement in several subjects. That when Makayla returned to high school the following September, she would be ahead of her classmates.

But there wasn’t a chance because Andrew was staring at her openmouthed and Makayla was out of her chair and jumping up and down.

“Yes!” the teen crowed. “I want that. I’ll do everything you say. I’ll do my homework and study and be the perfect student. Yes. Yes!”

Andrew pulled himself together enough to ask, “Gabby, are you sure?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”

“You’d have to quit your job.”

“I know. To be honest, I don’t want to work there anymore. I hate it. I’m not a lawyer anymore. I don’t know when that changed, but it did. I want to homeschool Makayla and then when she goes back to high school, I want to return to college and get my master’s in educational administration.”

Andrew laughed. “You want to be a principal?”

“Eventually, yes. I’ve learned a lot dealing with Makayla and her pregnancy. I think I could help.”

“Damn, you constantly surprise me. Good for you.” He looked at his daughter. “All right. So we’re in agreement? Gabby’s going to homeschool you through June.”

Makayla hugged them both. “Yes. It’s going to be great. You’ll see.”

“It’s going to be interesting, at the very least.” Gabby held on to her. “I have a lot of ideas about different things we can do.”

“I can’t wait to hear what they are,” Makayla said. “Now I’m going to go upstairs and write a letter to the couple in Maine. Oh, once I tell Amanda they’re the ones, do you think we’ll get to know their names?”

“I’m sure we will.”

“Cool.”

The teen left. Andrew stood and drew Gabby to her feet. He kissed her.

“How do I thank you?” he asked. “For all of this?”

“You don’t have to. I want to help.” She put her hands on his chest. “It’s strange. When I first found out she was pregnant, I felt trapped and angry. But somehow her being pregnant has brought us closer. She’s important to me, too. I want her to be happy. The next time she gets pregnant, it’s going to be our grandchild, not just yours.”

He kissed her again. “Thank you, Gabby.”

“Thank you. If we hadn’t fallen in love, I wouldn’t have any of this.” She leaned against him. “You’re my handsome prince, Andrew. Even when you make me crazy.”

“Then my work here is done.” He bent down so he could whisper in her ear. “So, what are we going to do with the rest of our evening?”

“How about something naughty?”