The Baddest Bad Boy

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work. Tears continue to stream down my face even as I shower, and I step out of the stall, sniffling. Throwing on some clothes, I bolt for the front door. If anything, I need my family right now, and Mom and Dad are just the answer.

“Cammie!” my mom says when I knock on the door of their apartment. “I wasn’t expecting you. Didn’t you say you were really busy with work?”

“I rearranged some things,” I sniffle. “I hope that’s okay.”

Mom pulls me in for a hug. “Of course it is, sweetie. We’re glad to see you. Leo! Come see who it is!”

“You don’t have to yell, Marcella. I could hear Cammie’s voice from the bedroom. The apartment isn’t that big,” my dad says as he lumbers over, as portly and jolly as always. “Hiya Cams! Come and give your old dad a hug.”

I laugh and run over only to be smooshed in a big bear hug.

“Hi Daddy,” I say, my voice muffled by his thick jacket. It smells like grease, which makes sense since my dad is the best mechanic in Medina. “Where are the brats?”

At that, my three brothers show themselves. Les is twelve now, so he’s got his cell phone in hand, and kind of waves and then slinks off. But Winston and Mikey are still children, and they jump on me, covering me with kisses before tumbling back into the bedroom. It’s a typical welcome. The boys are excited to see me for a minute before they’re back to their video games and iPads.

“They have been pretty good,” Dad chortles. “Les scored a goal at his last game, and Winnie and Mikey haven’t broken anything in over a week.”

“There can’t be much left for them to break,” I joke. Then again, I miss my siblings. I always thought it was my big dream to move out of here and into my own place, but I forgot how comforting home is too.

My parents usher me into the living room, and I plop gratefully onto the fold-out couch. It’s shabby and worse for the wear, but I like the creaky springs and faded flower pattern. The curtains on the windows don’t match, and my mom always keeps a rosary on the wall, but that’s okay. This place represents peace and comfort to me.

My mom sits next to me and takes my hand in hers.

“Honey, are you okay?” she asks in a gentle voice.

“What do you mean?” I fib.

“Sweetheart, your eyes are watery and your nose looks like Rudolph. And I know you don’t have a cold, so it must be something else. Is it work? A boyfriend?”

Tears pool in my eyes and I swallow heavily. But this is what I came here for, right? With that, I reveal what happened with Troy. It’s an awful story, and my parents are utterly shocked.

“Engaged?” my mom asks.

“To a woman from Malaysia?” my dad echoes, totally befuddled. “But he doesn’t know her? How does that work?”

I shake my head miserably.

“No, he knows her, but not in that way. They weren’t dating or anything, it’s just … well, it’s that kind of relationship.”

Marcella and Leo’s mouths snap shut. They’re conservative folks, and if I said Troy had a harem of women at his disposal, they would be just as shocked.

“Well, maybe you’re better off without him then,” my mom ventures.

“In fact, I’m sure you are,” Leo adds dryly. “Who even does shit like this?”

My mom shoots him a warning glance at the curse word, but the thing is, there’s more to the story than Troy’s perfidy.

“Well, the thing is that … well … I’m pregnant. With his baby.”

My parents’ jaws drop open.

“You didn’t use protection?” my mom whispers, her eyes wide. “Why not?”

“No, we did!” I protest. “It’s just that contraception doesn’t always work and well, sometimes …” I leave out the part where we decided to skip protection because it felt so good. I can share with my parents, but not that much.

My mom takes a deep breath before exchanging a look with my dad.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. Things are going to be fine. You know I was your age when I had you.”

I look down.

“Yes, but you were married. You already had a ring on your finger.”

Marcella nods.

“Yes, but times change, and I know kids these days don’t necessarily do things in order. Have you told the father?”

I shake my head. “No. I was waiting so it would be special, but then that woman burst in the door! Literally burst in, and ruined everything. Although I guess I only have myself to blame. He’s engaged to her, and not me, and now I’m the one who’s going to be a single mother.”

My mom takes my hand before sharing another look with my dad.

“No, you won’t be a single mom, sweetheart. Your father and I will help you.”