Page 57 of SnowBound

I snickered. “Thanks. But not sure I’ll be allowed to have a baby sleeping in the dorm.” I paused, my heart heavy in my chest. “I’ll have to find an apartment. It’s another expense I can’t afford right now. What am I going to do?”

For the first time, my friend remained silent.

I got myself into this mess, I would have to get myself out of it. On my own.

“Let’s go somewhere to eat, away from this campus. I’m buying,” Ellie said. “You need a balanced diet and can’t survive and grow a healthy baby on instant noodles and grilled cheese.”

“But I like grilled cheese. My baby requests them.”

Ellie burst out into a fit of laughter. “Keep telling yourself that. In the meantime, we’re having tacos and guacamole. Who knows maybe your baby will crave that too from now on.”

“Tacos…right.” Any mention of Mexican food now reminded me of Andy. And it prickled my heart every single time.

Ellie moved to her side of the room and threw me a pair of black leggings and a Silverville School of Business sweater that fell to my mid-thighs, oblivious to my mental struggles. “See? Nobody will be able to tell you’re pregnant.”

I got up and pulled my friend into a hug. “Thanks for having my back, Elles.”

“Always.”

In front of the full-length mirror attached to the closet door, I dressed and studied my reflection from every angle, making sure my stomach was concealed. Once I was confident no one could notice my new figure, I breathed out a sigh of relief. “Ready,” I said.

“Yay, let’s go stuff our faces.”

I shrugged. “I might get Mixchos instead.”

“What?”

“Never mind. Let’s go.”

With our arms linked together, we exited our room. “Have you decided when you’ll tell your parents?”

I shook my head. “No. They can’t know. Not until I have no other choice. Trust me, the longer I hide the truth from them, the better it is for everyone.”

“Are you still trying to find your baby’s daddy?”

I nodded. “Andrew is a common name. Since I don’t know his last name, it’s pretty impossible to locate him. When I go home next week, I’ll drive to Memphis. If I’m lucky and the stars align themselves, perhaps I’ll enter a coffee shop and walk in on him. Who knows? Destiny should be on my side on this one, no?”

Ellie tightened her grip on my arm. “You deserve the best, Abby. Never doubt it. No matter the shitty situations life throws your way.” She paused. “For now, let’s celebrate the end of this semester. And I just got an idea. I’ll try to get my parents to pay for a small apartment for next fall. I’ll tell them I need to get out of the dorm. They won’t question it. You could come to live with me rent-free. Nobody would know. Until we figure out a better option.”

I halted and enveloped my best friend in a bone-crushing hug. “Thank you. For everything.” My chest swelled with a new surge of overwhelming emotions I couldn’t contain.

“Hey, don’t cry.”

Leaning back, I wiped my face with my sleeve. “Better get used to it. I’ll be pregnant for another five months.”

* * *

“We’re sorry, Ms. Peña. There’s nothing we can do. Our hands are tied here. The conditions of your grant stipulate you must keep a three-point-seven GPA and graduate within four years. If you finish your classes four months later than prescribed by doing summer school after your peers graduate, then you’re failing that condition.”

Tears pooled in my eyes, and my heart hammered in my chest. This was a nightmare. “There must be something you can do?” My voice quivered with each word exiting my mouth. “I have a three-point-nine GPA. It must count for something, no? I’ll work my butt off. I would take summer classes this year, but I need to work and make some money, and most of my classes are not available this semester.”

“I’m sorry,” the advisor said.

I slouched in my chair and couldn’t stop the sobs now rocking my body. “What am I gonna do? I need that grant. I worked extra hard to get it.”

“You can reapply next year, but I can’t assure you it’ll still be available. There are other students on the waitlist who fill the conditions.” The advisor pushed a box of tissues across the mahogany desk. “I know it’s not what you wanted to hear. Call my office when you’re ready to come back, and we’ll see if there are options available then. Scholarships are rarely given to third-year students. We could set up a payment plan for you.” She moved to stand, letting me know the meeting was over. “Good luck with everything,” she said as she opened the door and showed me out.

Ellie, who was waiting for me in the small, adjacent room, sprung to her feet when I neared her, pulling me into her arms. “Ohmygod. What did she say? Why are you crying?”