It was late afternoon. We were in the parking lot of an abandoned hotel and his red pick-up truck is parked on the weed dominated black top. Aiden was lying on top of a jacket we’d laid on the hood. I snuggled next to him with my head on his chest and his arm is around me. The radio was playing softly through the truck windows. He was clad in a light gray tee, medium blue jeans, and work boots. I had on a dark gray tank top with black lace trim, faded denim jeans, and black flats.
“If I left would you go with me?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, if I was to go, just take off and leave, would you drop everything and go with me?
“Where would we go?”
“I don’t know yet, but I want you to come with me.”
“Why?”
“They’ll take you away from me if we stay here.”
“So we’ll just leave? We wouldn’t fight it out?”
“You wouldn’t have to but I’d want you to come with me. It’d be the only way we can be together.”
“What happens if we do?” I pulled away to look into his face .
His eyes were steady and determined as he said. “We’ll find somewhere to stay. I can get a job. You can stay in school. I’ll take good care of you and the baby. We’ll never have to worry about anything ever again. “
“What about my parents? Nikki? Bear?”
“What about them?! They’ll never let you keep baby. You know that just as well as I do.”
“They would understand. Nikki and Bear will be happy for us. And my parents will just be happy he has a dad that’s here and loves him.”
“No they won’t. They’ll tell you to get rid of it or give it up because we’re not married or it will ruin your school life. And you’ll do whatever they tell you to do because you want to make them happy.”
“I won’t ever give this baby up. I would never voluntarily give up a part of you. I love you too much and I’m not strong enough.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Please come with me.”
“They’ll come looking for me.”
“They won’t find us baby. I promise it won’t be possible.”
“We can’t just leave.”
“Why not? “