Part 19 (1/2)
Farah was right - I was petty and selfish. I gazed into the mirror above my dresser then averted my eyes. I didn't want to see myself. I was a horrible person. Who would think in such a way?
Sarah hollered, ”Emili, phone!”
I squeezed my eyes shut. No one called my home phone. No one even knew the number; everyone called my cell. I went to the kitchen and took the receiver from Sarah. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”Emili? Pete. So glad I got you.”
”Where are you?”
”My apartment. I'm looking for Farah. She's called a bunch of times, and now she won't pick up.”
”She's super busy with her mom right now.”
”Do you know what she wanted? She sounded desperate.”
”Yeah, I know, but I can't tell you. You need to talk to her. Don't call, though. Let her call you.”
”Emili, you're not making sense. Is she in trouble?”
”You could say so.” Was I saying too much? Farah would kill me if I told him.
”Well, is she all right? Has something happened to her?”
”Just talk to her, okay? Pick up when she calls.”
A short silence, then he replied, ”Okay. If you won't tell me, I guess I have no choice. I'll wait for her call.”
Mom came home as I hung up the phone.
”Is she all right?” I asked quickly.
”I'm sure she's fine. Well, as fine as she can be. I didn't stay long, didn't seem appropriate. It'll be okay, Emili. Her mother will come around.” She pointed to a kitchen chair. ”Sit.”
I did. Mom stood across from me. ”How did this happen?”
I blanched. ”What do you mean? You know how.”
”Emili, who's the father? Has she been having relations for a long time? Are you?” Her eyes drilled into me.
”Oh, man. No, I'm not. And she's hasn't been having *relations.' She's only done it with one guy.”
Was I telling the truth? I didn't know.
”Who's the father?”
”I can't say.”
”Can't or won't? You must know. You're with her all the time.”
”I can't say,” I said, my tone insistent.
”I don't like any of this. Everything is out of control, and I'm the last to know anything. You'll have to be grounded for a while.”
I stood up. ”What? So not fair. I haven't done anything. I'm not the one who's pregnant!”
Mother's shoulders fell. ”You're right. It's not fair.”
”Am I still grounded?”
Mother began to study the cupboard door behind as if it held some secret code. ”I guess not,” she said.
Chapter Fourteen.
I walked back to my bedroom and picked up my phone. Before I could dial, it rang in my hand - Lance.
”What's going on?” he asked.
”What do you mean?”
”With Farah. Have you heard from her?”
”You're calling me to check up on her?”
”I'm only asking. Look - I knew you were concerned, so I'm checking.”
”Why don't you ask your brother?” The words came out before I could stop them.
”Pete? Why? What does he know?”
”Nothing, apparently.” I couldn't help it; my voice was cold and stiff. Why was I turning on Lance? He hadn't done anything.
”Cecily, what's going on?” He was tender now, probing.
”I can't tell you. Farah would string me up.”
”Tell me what?”
”Lance, I have to go. Mom's hot on my trail.”
”Fine. But I want to talk tomorrow, first thing.”
”Right.”
I hung up, walked over to my desk, and sat on the chair. I was exhausted, but didn't want to lie down. My stomach twisted and gurgled. What would happen to Farah? And the baby?
Most of all, what would happen to me?