Her Mother's Daughter (16 page)

“That's right.” She poured her water into the glass and chugged it down.

Tansy walked over to the electric frying pan. “We should be having fruit and cottage cheese, not pancakes.”

“I'm trying to entice Ashley to eat something.”

“She's still moping around?” Gertie asked.

“Mmm. I'm going to insist she see a doctor, even if I have to drag her out of that room.”

Gertie sat at the table with a big sigh. “Sit down, girls. I have some news.”

Bay and Tansy looked at each other, but did as they were told.

Gertie tried not to look too pleased. “I have a date.”

“That's great.” Bay smiled.

“You see?” Tansy grinned. “All this hard work is paying off.”

“It's got nothing to do with exercise, unless typing counts.”

“You met him online?” Tansy asked.

“Yep.”

“You went on that site Ashley told you about?” Bay wondered.

“I went on a Big and Beautiful site.”

“Do you think it's safe?”

“Well, I didn't join the one called Chubby Chaser. And besides, you told me that people do it all the time.”

“I know, but that doesn't mean there aren't risks involved. Who is this guy? He could be a lunatic for all you know.”

Tansy folded her arms across her chest and gave Bay a look. “What is wrong with you? Why do you have to throw cold water on this?”

“People get fooled all the time. You never know what you're dealing with.”

“I'm sure Gertie can handle herself, right, Gertie?” Tansy said.

“Right. If he's a maniac, all I have to do is sit on him until the police arrive.”

The next day Bay told Ashley she was taking her to the doctor after work and didn't want to hear another word about it. Ashley knew if she kept this secret much longer she'd likely burst forth like a volcano, and she didn't want it to happen in front of Dr. White.

She called Maribeth instead.

Maribeth came flying upstairs and didn't bother knocking, just opened the door and barged right in. Ashley was in her pyjamas on the bed, hugging her panda.

“What are you doing in your PJs? Get dressed and let's go to the mall. My mom gave me the car.” She plunked herself beside Ashley and pulled out a pack of gum from her purse. “Want some?”

Ashley shook her head.

Maribeth shoved the gum in her mouth and took a good look at her friend. “If you don't mind my saying so, you look like shit.”

“Thanks.”

“All right, spill the beans. Did you and Matt break up or something?”

At the word “Matt,” Ashley let go of the bear and covered her face with her hands. “I don't know what to do.”

Maribeth crawled over the bed to put her arms around her friend. “Did he do something to you? God, he's not cheating on you, is he? I'll kill him.”

Ashley shook her head. “It's worse.”

Maribeth took Ashley's hands away from her face. “I can't hear you. Tell me.”

Ashley couldn't get her breath.

“Calm down, it's okay.”

“I'm pregnant.”

Maribeth's hand flew up to her mouth. “Oh, shit.”

“What am I going to do?”

“Are you sure?”

Ashley got cross. “Of course I'm sure.”

“Did you take a test?”

“No, but I don't need one. My boobs are huge and I haven't had my period in three months. I'm throwing up every morning and I can't keep anything down. Doesn't that sound like pregnant to you?”

Maribeth nodded as she chewed her gum rapidly. “I still think you should take a test.”

“And I'm going to pick it up where? I know someone who works at every drugstore within a forty-mile radius of here.”

“True.” Maribeth blew a bubble. “Didn't you…you know…use anything?”

“Of course we did.” Ashley looked away. “Except maybe once.”

“Trust you to hit the jackpot. Does Matt know?”

“No. I can't tell him. His mother will kill him and blame me for trapping her precious son. You watch, she'll make him hate me by this time next week.”

“Don't be crazy. Matt would never hate you, and besides, it's his baby too. You didn't do this all by yourself. He needs to know.”

“He's got his whole life ahead of him. He's not going to be eighteen until next month.”

Maribeth gave her a look. “You're not going to be eighteen until Christmas, and you have your whole life ahead of you too. Why are you making it more of a tragedy for him than for you?”

Ashley sighed. “I don't know. I can't think. Tell me what to do. What would you do?”

“I'd leave town and get an abortion real quick.”

Ashley looked up with a shocked expression on her face. “Are you serious?”

“Sure, I'm serious. I'd take my birthday money and get on a bus to Halifax and go to a clinic and no one would be the wiser.”

“But I couldn't. This is Matt's baby.”

Maribeth shook her head. “Don't get all girly, Ashley. It's not
anything
right now. It's a problem that's going to ruin your life, and if you're smart, you'll get rid of it.”

Ashley sat back against her headboard and hugged her pillow. “Wow. I never thought you'd say that.”

“Why?”

Ashley shrugged.

“I'm not a softie. I know what I want. I'm going to be an occupational therapist. They make tons of money and I'll be in the right spot to meet a lot of handsome rich doctors. End of story.”

“Wouldn't you feel guilty your whole life if you got rid of it?”

Now it was Maribeth's turn to shrug. “Maybe. But I'd have other kids someday. You need to look out for number one. Don't let a five-minute mistake cost you everything.”

“I don't think I could do it.”

“I'll go with you, if you like. We can tell our moms we're going on a shopping expedition and we'll stay with my sister. She's got an apartment in Halifax and she won't blab.”

Ashley frowned. “I'll have to think about it.”

“Well, you can't afford to wait too much longer. Just know I'm here if you need me.”

Ashley nodded.

Tansy went to the corner store that afternoon and ran into an old classmate. Tansy didn't recognize her at first; she looked ten years older than she actually was, with greying hair in a ponytail and jogging pants hanging off her ass, but she knew Tansy in an instant.

“My God, is that you, Tansy? Well, blow me down. You look fantastic.”

“Uh, hi.”

“You don't remember me, do you?”

Tansy didn't get a chance to answer because the woman kept talking as if Tansy wasn't there. “I'm Annette Birk, remember? I sat behind you in grade eleven. I was on the school newspaper.”

It still didn't ring any bells, but Tansy pretended otherwise. “Right. How are you, Annette?”

“Oh, don't ask.” She shifted her purse to her other shoulder. They were standing in the aisle by the chocolate bars and a few people had to squeeze past them to get to the cash. “You look fabulous. Are you back for good? Where do you live? I'm stuck here. I ended up marrying Derek. You remember him, the guy with the big glasses who sat in front of you in Chemistry.”

Tansy did remember him. Derek was always passing her notes that said he was madly in love with her and wanted her more than life itself. She'd set them on fire with her Bunsen burner and get into trouble with the teacher.

“Oh, right…”

“He's a complete schmuck, of course, but what can you do. I've got four kids and no job, so I can't leave the son-of-a-bitch.”

Tansy realized she had a willing snitch about village life in front of her, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up. “Would you like to get a coffee, Annette?”

Annette looked like she had won the lottery. “Well, sure! That would be great.” She rooted in her purse. “I'm not sure if I have any cash, though.”

“Don't worry about it. My treat.”

They walked out of the store and over to the local diner. Once Tansy placed their order, poor old Annette couldn't wipe the grin off her face. “This is so neat. You always were the coolest girl in school. We all wanted to be like you. Remember Lois Brewer? She tried to dye her hair your colour and ended up having to chop it all off when it turned green instead.”

Tansy laughed. “Oh, dear.”

“And then there was Karen Musgrave. She ended up calling her daughter Tansy. Naturally she pretended you had nothing to do with it, but I know different.”

“Tell me, Annette. Are there any eligible bachelors in town?”

Annette's chin dropped. “Are you looking for a man? You?”

“No, I'm thinking of someone for my sister. She must get lonely at times. I worry about her.”

“Well, you don't have to bother, because she has Dermot Fraser wrapped around her little finger. I don't know why he likes her. She ignores him half the time.”

“Is he a nice guy?”

“Oh yeah. I wouldn't kick him out of bed for eatin' crackers.”

“If he's so special, why isn't he married?”

“I think he got his heart broke once. That was the story, anyhow, when he moved back to town. Something about his girlfriend going for a walk along the beach and disappearing into thin air.”

“That's awful.”

Annette nodded. “Just my luck Derek never takes a walk on the beach.”

“No one ever found her?”

“Nope. Some say she drowned, and some say she ran off with someone else. There are even a few nuts around here who think he murdered her, but that's crazy. Nothing exciting like that happens around here.”

“Murder isn't exciting.”

Annette waved her hand around, as if to erase the words. “I don't mean it like that. I lead such a boring life. The only excitement I get is watching the soaps, and they murder people left, right, and centre. Only their victims come back from the dead on a regular basis, suffering from amnesia.”

Tansy had had enough of Annette Birk. She rose to her feet. “I'm sorry, Annette, I have an appointment and I'd better dash.” She took a ten-dollar bill out of her wallet and handed it to Annette. “If you wouldn't mind paying the waitress?”

“But what about our coffee?”

“Sorry. Maybe another time.” Tansy walked away.