“I think you’re still the same person. You’re just enjoying something for yourself for once instead of making everyone else happy. What’s wrong with that?” Maggie gestured at herself.
“Look at me. I’m going out and doing things my parents would never do themselves. I’m dating a guy who isn’t part of our faith. I’m being a normal person, but I’ve not lost my faith. I still go to church, and I still have a bible by my bed.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you don’t have to be so rigid and take everything you’re taught in the bible literally. A lot of that stuff is really harsh as well, and it makes people back then even worse than the sinners. You’ve read the bible thoroughly, so you know what I mean.” Maggie gave her a small smile.
“What I’m trying to say is you can still have your faith and still be with someone who doesn’t have the same religious values. You just need to relax on your side. As long as you’re not rigid with it, and your other half respects it and doesn’t restrict you, everything is okay. You can still have what you want and keep your faith.”
Diane didn’t think she could do that. Not when her father was the pastor. She knew she was too old to still be following what her father said…
But he was her only family. And Diane didn’t want to lose him once he found out because there was no way she was going to be able to hide this.
“What am I going to do, Maggie?” she asked. “I don’t want to be in this position.”
“You need to tell Gregory that you’re pregnant.”
“I can’t!”
“Why not?”
“Because he’ll say that we have to get married. I can’t do that.”
“Even if you love him?”
Diane glared at her friend.
“Loving someone doesn’t mean anything if they’re not of the same faith. It can’t work.”
“It’s working with me. That doesn’t mean it’ll be a disaster for you.”
“You’re more relaxed about these things. I’m not. I can’t do it.”
Maggie rolled her eyes and stood up.
“Well, then, you’re going to have to marry Brent Maisley. Something I know you don’t want.”
“That’s not happening.”
“You keep saying that, but you refuse to do anything about it. Now you’re getting an opportunity to fall in love and be happy, and you can’t fucking do that. And I know you’ll be happier with Gregory.”
Diane felt the tears pricking at her eyes again.
“You don’t know that,” she whispered.
“Your options are either tell your father the truth and be with Gregory, or you follow what he’s orchestrated for you and marry Brent. I know which one you want to do.” Maggie turned. “It’s just if you’re confident enough to actually follow through on what you want.”
Before Diane could answer, Maggie was leaving the room. She looked at the pregnancy test, now lying on the floor. The results were clear to her, and they looked accusatory.
That just set her off with more tears again.
*****
“I think I screwed up, Mom,” Gregory said, pushing his food around his plate. He really didn’t have an appetite right now.
“Given what you’ve just told me, I’m not surprised that you screwed up.” Moira picked up her glass and took a sip. She looked disapproving. “I get that you can’t control how you feel about someone, but you knew it was a mess before you got involved.”
“I know.”
“And you still got involved with her?”
Gregory felt like he was eight years old being dressed down again. His mother was very good at that. He absently nudged a spare rib with his fork.
“After our first date went horribly wrong, I thought that would be it. Diane would be telling me that she was not going to see me anymore, and then I would have to withdraw and nurse my wounds. But I didn’t expect it to…go the way that it did.”
Confiding in his mother was one thing, but telling her all of the details was something else. Even parents who were close to their kids didn’t need to know about any of that.
“So, you’ve been seeing this girl,” Moira speared some chicken with her lettuce, “and you’re making it worse for the two of you to get out, aren’t you?”
“I wouldn’t put it like that…”
“I would. I did warn you that getting involved with a girl in that community would not work out for you. And I was worried when I saw the way you were looking at Diane. The pastor’s daughter, of all people?”
Gregory winced and looked around.
“Keep your voice down!” He hissed. “I don’t want everyone to know!”
“We’re not in the same town. And this place is busy.”
“But you’re still talking too loudly. You know the news can travel fast.”
“Don’t be so paranoid,” Moira munched on her foot for a moment. “You’ve gotten yourself into a right pickle, haven’t you? Two months, and you’re already saying that you love her?”
“I do, Mom.” Gregory was finding it easier to say each time. He just hoped that he got a chance to say it to Diane. “I know you might find it ridiculous and fast, but it feels right for me.
Diane’s a great woman. Sure, her religious beliefs are a bit of a sticking point, and they do get in the way, but when she’s relaxed and being herself, she’s just incredible. Intelligent, witty, sweet, and compassionate.”
“I get the compassionate part. She actually talked Jessica down from harassing you all the time.” Moira looked bemused. “I didn’t think it would take just that for Jessica to leave you alone, otherwise I would have done it a long time ago.”
“I don’t think you would have gotten through to her, Mom. I have no idea what Diane truly said, but it seemed to work.”
Gregory was hoping not to encounter Jessica again, but he did wish her well. She was going to be a mother, and for the most part, she was going to be on her own with the support of her parents. While it wasn’t ideal for her, Jessica was tough; she would be a fine mother.
It just wouldn’t be with Gregory as the father.
Now if Diane was pregnant with my baby, that would be a different matter.
“Gregory?” Moira snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Are you there?”
“What?” Gregory jumped. “Sorry, Mom. I was…well…”
“Thinking about Diane again?” His mother sighed and dipped a fry into the coleslaw. “Try not to do that while you’re having dinner with your mother. It’s not very polite to ignore me.”