Page 114 of A Good Book

“Gabbs?”

“Huh?”

“I love you. Congratulations,” she said with total sincerity.

“Thank you.”

CHAPTERFORTY

MICHAEL JACKSON, “MANINTHEMIRROR”

Ben

I returned home,and my mom had a million questions written on notecards about the drive, where I stayed, if I wanted to go back to school, how I communicated, and if Gabby was surprised and excited to see me. My dad focused on his dinner, seeing how my mom had all the questions covered. And I felt Tillie’s gaze on me the whole time, so I refrained from looking at her.

Then the next morning, we attended church. After the service, I handed notes to my parents and Gabby’s.

After the congregation exits, I need to talk to you in the church.

All four parents inspected me through narrowed eyes before nodding. Tillie gave me the stink eye when my mom sent her to wait in the car. Then, the five of us gathered at the front of the empty church. It felt like I had God on my side, but I knew better. I was using God and his house as a shield.

“Have a seat,” I said to them, but I remained standing.

Pastor Jacobson was the most reluctant. It might have been the first time he sat in the front row of his own church. I came prepared with four notebooks and pens in my backpack, and I handed them to our parents. The uneasiness in their expressions intensified.

The thought of suggesting a prayer before beginning tempted me. I thought, perhaps, asking God to open our minds and hearts and fill them with love, acceptance, and forgiveness might be a nice touch. But I didn’t.

“Thanks for staying,” I said instead. “I’m sure everyone knows that I’ve been back at school.” I focused on Pastor and Mrs. Jacobson since my parents knew, but I assumed my mom told Gabby’s parents.

They nodded.

“I’m in love with Gabriella,” I said, wasting no time getting to the point.

Our moms glanced at each other with tears in their eyes and smiles so bright I thought they might explode. Our dads were more reserved.

“I’ve been in love with her for a long time, and I thought it was a crush that might go away. In some ways, I hoped it would because I didn’t think she could ever think of me as more than a friend. Come to find out, she loves me too.”

I hoped it was still true.

That’s all it took for a stray tear to escape down my mom’s face as she squeezed my dad’s hand. “I want to ask Gabby to marry me, and I’d like all of you to give us your blessing and support.” I kept my focus on Pastor Jacobson.

He swallowed hard and tiny lines formed along his forehead, then he uncapped his pen and scribbled a response.

You’re both young. Don’t you think waiting until you’re done with college, and you have your future figured out would be a better idea?

“That,” I drew out the word and scratched the back of my neck, “probably would have been the best idea. But,” I dove off the cliff, ripped off the bandage, “life rarely goes as planned. For example, I never imagined losing my hearing. And I don’t think Gabby nor I imagined having a baby together so soon, but we are, so I hope we can all embrace this exciting moment because there’s no going back.” Sweat soaked my pits and beaded along my brow.

It felt like a blinking contest, and I didn’t know who would win as they sat like statues displaying varying degrees of shock.

“I’m sorry,” I continued, forcing my attention to Gabby’s parents. “This is my fault. I should have been more responsible. Sadly, it wasn’t my first time having sex, and I should have known better.”

My mom’s shoulders drew inward as she reached for my father’s hand, holding it in her lap while squeezing it tightly. She dropped her gaze as if they, too, were in trouble with Pastor Jacobson.

Gabby’s mom wrote something, then she scribbled it out. Again, she wrote something, and again, she scribbled it out before setting the pen on the pad of paper with a shaky hand. Then she wiped her tears that no longer seemed like happy ones.

Why are you telling us this instead of Gabby?

Pastor Jacobson’s jaw muscles tightened as he held up his notepad.

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