The Friends We Keep

“Uh-huh. Cami’s getting her learner’s permit.”


Cami was one of Makayla’s friends and a little older than the other girls. As Makayla had just turned fifteen at the beginning of summer, Gabby and Andrew had a few more months until they would be faced with that. Fortunately California had graduated license requirements. Teens had to earn their way into a driver’s license, which meant even if Cami got her permit, there would be no driving her friends around anytime soon.

Makayla finished folding her clothes and pairing her socks. She sat on the bed and picked at the duvet cover. “I’ll be taking geometry for math. Everyone says it’s hard.”

“Geometry is weird,” Gabby said. “From what I could tell, either you get it or you don’t. If you get it, it’s super easy. If you don’t, it’s very challenging. But you’ve always done well in math.”

“Yeah.”

Gabby finished with the twins’ clothes. Even though the next logical step was to pick up the items and take them to where they belonged, her gut said to stay where she was. Until she found out what Makayla wanted.

She had no idea where the conversation was going. Was this about body piercing? A tattoo? Going on a trip with one of her friends and her family? Painting her room purple? There was really no way to tell. She didn’t think she had to worry about Makayla being bullied. She was popular with her friends and didn’t seem to have that many who were mean.

For a second she thought about mentioning Boyd and the kissing. To try to find out how far things had gone. She held back, wanting Makayla to get to whatever was bothering her first.

“When did you know you were in love with my dad?”

Of all the questions, that was not even close to being on the list of those expected.

“About two months after we started dating,” she said. “He was a really great guy. Kind and funny and smart.” She smiled. “He cared about you a lot and that was important to me.”

Makayla finally looked at her. “Why? I thought second wives hated the kids from the first family.”

“Not at all. I liked how your dad was with you. I knew he was the sort of man who would put family first.” The answer was automatic, while Gabby processed the “I thought second wives hated the kids from the first family.” Was that the problem? Did Makayla really think Gabby hated her?

Sure they didn’t always get along, but hate was so strong. Gabby felt herself flushing as she wondered if she’d been more bitchy than she realized. Had she made the teen feel unwelcome?

“Some of my friends have stepmoms who are really mean,” the girl said, turning her attention back to the duvet cover.

“I’m sure it happens.” Did she fall in the mean category?

“You were planning on having the twins, right? They weren’t an accident.”

“I was trying to get pregnant,” Gabby said. “I didn’t think there would be twins.”

“That would be hard.” Makayla looked at her, then away. “Um, a friend of mine thinks she’s pregnant and doesn’t know how to be sure. I, ah, said I’d ask you.”

Gabby was incredibly grateful she was sitting down because if she were standing, she would have collapsed. Now all she had to worry about was screaming. Or swearing. Something she hadn’t done out loud since the twins were born. This time “sugar” was not going to cut it.

Pregnant? Pregnant? She flashed back on the kiss. They hadn’t seemed like they were that intimate, she thought frantically. If anything, she would have said they were awkward together. Maybe there really was a friend.

“How far along is she?” Gabby asked.

“A few months. Maybe two or three.”

Makayla’s voice shrank with each word until there was barely any sound. By the end of the sentence, the world shattered and Gabby knew there was no friend. Makayla was pregnant. Now what? What were they supposed to do? Was being pregnant better or worse than being on drugs? Better or worse than stealing or being a bad person or...

Gabby stood. “Can you please stay with the twins? I have to go to the drugstore.”

“Um, sure.”

Gabby started for the door, then turned back. “Start drinking water. Lots and lots of water.”





Chapter Ten

The pregnancy test sticks were lined up on a paper towel in the master bath. Each one of them showed the same result. Whether it was a plus or lines or the word yes, the answer was clear. Makayla was pregnant.

They stood as far apart from each other as the small room allowed. Gabby was by the counter, the teen was by the tub. Silence filled the space, pressing in on them.

“I’m sorry,” the teen whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Me, too. Not that Gabby could say that. She couldn’t say much of anything. Right this second, it was hard to catch her breath. Her chest was tight, her legs shaking. Makayla was pregnant. That changed everything. What were they going to do? Worse, she was faced with the dilemma of when to tell Andrew. The how would come later. Unless...

“Do you want to tell your dad or should I?”