Page 35 of Two Weeks
“Yes.” His mother looked interested. “Cole told me. He says you’re very good.”
Cole had seen Elise’s website. It wasn’t public, but it had a dozen paintings she’d done in the last year. All of them were good enough to hang in a gallery. At least Cole thought so.
“He’s kind.” Elise smiled at him. “All the time.” She turned to his mom. “What happened in Paris?”
“I made bad choices.” His mom laced her fingers together and stared at her hands. At her wedding ring, maybe. Then she focused on Elise again. “The details aren’t important, but before I knew it I was pregnant.”
“And you weren’t married?” Elise looked at both of them.
His mom nodded. “Not close.” She took a quick breath. “And my family was this... God-loving group. Extraordinary people. All of them. They didn’t do the things I was doing.” A heaviness seemed to land on his mother.
Cole had never actually heard this part. About the rest of the family and how his mom might have felt she didn’t live up to their expectations.
“My mom’s like that.” Elise was definitely more engaged now. “So what did they say?”
“I didn’t tell them at first.” His mom hesitated. “I was a world away in France. I figured I would take care of the situation before anyone knew. So one rainy Friday morning I took a cab to an abortion clinic and paid for the operation.”
Elise’s eyes grew wide. “That...” She looked at Cole. “That was...?”
“Cole. Yes.” His mother folded her arms.
Her eyes were shiny, Cole thought, like right before she cried at sad movies.
She took a quick breath. “I paid the girl and an hour later I was lying on a sheet over a cold metal table. And for the first time I heard the voice of God.”
“God’s voice?” Elise was on the edge of her seat. “I don’t understand. He talked to you?”
“I think so.” His mom angled her head. “It’s been a long time, but there was definitely this voice. And it told me to leave that place. Get up. Get dressed and leave. As fast as I could.”
“Wow.” Elise was obviously gripped. Her arms had goose bumps. “Then what?”
“I listened.” His mother looked down again, like even this many years later she couldn’t imagine what she’d almost done. “God was telling me it was wrong. It was murder.” She shook her head. “And I couldn’t kill my baby. No matter how I wound up pregnant.”
For the first time Cole realized something about Elise and his mom. They were kindred spirits. Both pretty with beautiful brunette hair. Both artists. Both of them dreamers and doers and people who wouldn’t give up on their passions. And both bent on finding their own way. Even in the face of great consequences.
No wonder God had brought Elise into his life.
His mom explained that she had no choice but to keep her baby. “The first time I held Cole I knew. He was mine forevermore. He had always been mine.” A depth filled her voice. Cole had never heard her talk like this. His mother wasn’t finished. “God hadn’t only spared my little boy’s life. He had spared mine. Because if I would’ve aborted that child... that gift... I would’ve hated myself for the rest of my life.”
An awful realization seemed to come over Elise. “You mean, like every time it would’ve been his birthday?”
“And every Christmas and summer vacation.” Cole’s mother slid forward again. Her voice was intense. “Every time I looked out the window at the morning sun, I’d wonder where that baby was. Why I hadn’t done everything in my power toprotecthim.” She stopped and lifted her eyes to the window, to the sky beyond. Then she turned to Elise again. “I thank God every day for Cole. For the fact that God talked to me and because He did, Cole is alive today.”
Cole looked at Elise. It was a lot for her, he could tell. She closed her eyes and hung her head. Cole wondered if she might be changing her mind. Maybe doubting her decision. Finally she looked at his mom again. “So... you don’t think I should have an abortion?”
“Elise.” His mom stood and crossed the carpet to the sofa. She took the spot on the other side of Elise. “The cells inside of you are a life. A baby.”
“But I don’t want a baby.” Elise’s answer came rapid fire. “The... the situation was terrible. Worse than whatever happened to you in Paris.”
His mom’s smile was colored in sadness. “Maybe. But it’s never a good situation when you wind up pregnant and considering an abortion.”
An awkward feeling came over Cole. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear many more details. But he stayed quiet, waiting.
“I volunteer at the crisis pregnancy center, Elise. Week after week I see women who’ve already had an abortion and now they’re pregnant again.” She paused, her voice filled with passion. “The truth is that when a woman goes into an abortion clinic, there are two victims. One doesn’t come out. One does.” She looked at Elise for a long moment. “Keep your baby, Elise. Every child is a gift from God. And if you choose, you could always place your child up for adoption.”
Adoption.Cole let the word ricochet in his heart. What if his mother had done that? They wouldn’t even know each other. And he would’ve missed out on being a Baxter. He would’ve never known his dad, Landon.
His mom was still talking. “Elise, I don’t know if you should raise your baby or place the child in an adoptive home.” Her voice grew soft again. “This will be one of the biggest decisions of your life.”
