Angie and Taylor stared at the door, which Mrs. and Mr. Hanson were conversing behind.
“Taylor, this is crazy. I’m sorry for everything,” Angie said, through her tears.
“Sorry for what? This isn’t your fault,” Taylor told her.
“I seduced a teenage boy!”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Yes I did!”
“Angie…I didn’t have to do the things I did!”
“Yeah, but I should have never even talked to you”
“But, I’m glad you did.”
“I don’t know what I would do with out you, but I don’t know what to do with you!” Angie half-laughed. The entrance of his parents interrupted Taylor’s reply. They sat at the table and arranged themselves, seemingly taking forever. Taylor could see the strain on Angie’s face. He, himself, wanted to get up and run out. But that definitely wouldn’t be the mature thing to do.
“We have talked it over,” Taylor’s father said. Angie and Taylor held hands under the table.
“And, we decided that,” Diana sighed, “She can stay here.” Taylor began to smile, and squeezed Angie’s hand.
“But, there is to be no physical actions between you two. When the baby is born, we want to adopt it. And then Angie will leave,” Walker said crisply. Angie drew her breath in sharply. Who were they to tell her that she couldn’t keep her baby? Taylor kept looking at his parents, his face not revealing any emotions. Angie wanted to tell them that it was her baby. But she couldn’t say anything, they could have her put in jail on statuary rape charges. Her chest was tight and she felt like she was covered in concrete.
“Do you understand this?” Mr. Hanson’s eyes were angry as they looked at Angie. She nodded meekly.
“Excuse me?” He said rudely.
“Yes, sir.” Taylor glared at his father.
“Dad, you don’t have to be rude!” He exclaimed.
“Taylor, if you had a son, and he had a pregnant twenty-seven year old whore, would you be rude?”
“Dad! She’s not a fucking whore!” Taylor stood up, tipping his chair over.
“Watch your mouth!” Walker yelled back.
“I can say whatever I want! It’s a free country!”
“Not when you don’t have responsibility! And you obviously don’t!” Angie began to sob now, she put her face in her hands. A look of pity crossed Mrs. Hanson’s face for a moment. Then her tired look returned.
“I’m sorry,” Angie said, through hiccups, “I’m sorry for everything! I should just leave and never see you again!”
“No, Angie!” Taylor said, looking near to tears himself.
“All I have ever been my whole life is trouble! I’m always in the way.” Angie’s eyes were red, and the tears ran in steady paths down her face.
“Well if you go around molesting children, I can see that!” Walker snapped. Angie stood up abruptly and ran out of the dining area.
“Asshole,” Taylor said, before running after Angie.
Angie was walking quickly down the Hanson’s street. Taylor caught up and tried to stop her.
“Don’t listen to my dad okay? He’ll cool down.”
“No! He won’t! Taylor, this is just so stupid!” Angie yanked her arm out of Taylor’s grip and continued to walk.
“Angie, I love you,” Taylor said, stopping. Angie, although not wanting to, turned around to look at him. His eyes were full of tears, threatening to spill over.
“Taylor, you’re a kid…” Angie began. Taylor looked hurt.
“How can you say that!” He spat.
“You are…and I was wrong to do what I did.”
“Angie…”
“I’m just sorry I screwed things up for you and your parents.”
“Stop, okay? Just stop!”
“I’m going to feel guilty about this forever.”
“Don’t.”
“And I don’t want them to take my baby, our baby.”
“My dad is just angry right now, he will get over it I promise.” Angie walked slowly back to Taylor, looking at the ground.
“I’m scared, Taylor. I feel like I’ve screwed up worse than ever this time.”
“I am too, we’re together though, so we can make it.” Angie gave a half-smile.
“Yeah, maybe we can.” Taylor took Angie’s hand and they walked back to the house.
Angie sat on her bed in the Hanson’s guest bedroom. It was certainly much nicer here than in the motel. Except for the fact no one other than Taylor even talked to her. She figured that the younger children had been warned to stay away from her. Zac would look at her sometimes, looking as though he wanted to say something, but didn’t. Isaac threw her the same looks Mr. Hanson did, but not as severe. Mrs. Hanson wouldn’t even meet her eyes. She seemed more hurt than angry. Every night Taylor would sneak into Angie’s room and lay with her for a little while. One night he fell asleep with his arm around her, and it hurt to wake him up. She would lay awake for hours, feeling lonely. She still missed the sound of another person sleeping in the room. Just the sound of someone breathing was so much better than eerie silence. Sometimes Angie would hear Mr. and Mrs. Hanson talking about her. Mrs. Hanson would usually be crying. It made Angie ache with guilt. She felt like she ruined the Hanson’s life. She knew she had. She didn’t even deserve to live. She was nothing but a whore, like Mr. Hanson said. Angie got out of bed. She went to her bag and pulled out the various bottles of pain medication. She poured them out on the dresser. They made a large group, sitting there in yellows, browns and whites. Angie scribbled an apology on a piece of stationary, and picked up a handful of pills. She gagged as she swallowed them. After taking the pills, Angie placed her hand on her stomach.
“I’m sorry,” She whispered to the small child in her stomach, “I would have been a horrible mother.”