“I thought you wanted me to save myself for the work of the Lord.” Shelby said ironically as she cradled the cup in her hands.
Her mother eyed her balefully as she took the sheet of cookies from the oven. Sylvia Fraser spent her days doing ‘the Lord’s work’ as she likes to put it and provided pastries and food for the members of her church who could not get around much. She did not have to work as she enjoyed the benefits from her husband’s passing as well as the money her daughter send to her bank account every month. “Please don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.” She said primly.
“Mama, I did not come here to fight with you. I actually have news and I know that you probably will not want to hear it, but I am telling you anyway.”
Her mother handed her the delicious flaky pastries and sat across from her. “I am listening.”
Shelby could face the biggest problems in the world, take on anyone, no matter how intimidating but somehow, she could never seem to be able to tell her mother what she really thought of her. The respect and slight fear had been so deeply embedded inside her since she was a child that it was hard to say anything that would hurt her. “I am pregnant.” She held her breath and waited for her to say something.
“Who is the father?” Sylvia asked stiffly, her mouth tightening.
“His name is Gray Cox.” Shelby watched as the recognition flared in her mother’s face.
“You got yourself knocked up by that philandering white guy who thinks nothing of sleeping around with all sorts of women? How do you bring shame to the family this way? Shelby Grace, what were you thinking? Is he going to mend his ways and offer you a ring or are you just going to be his baby mama?” she got up from her stool and put her hands on the top of her head. “How am I going to hold my head up in church again? What am I going to say to the ladies in my purity group? My own daughter opening her legs for a man like that and foolish enough to get pregnant! How could you?”
Shelby took several deep breaths and counted to ten before she spoke. “I have always respected you, no matter the comments you threw my way or the disparaging remarks about my weight. I have honored you according to the good Book, Mama – held my tongue even when I am tempted to tell you where to get off but this time I am not going to stand here and allow you to talk to me like that.” She got to her feet and planted her fisted hands on her wide hips. “I am pregnant! It was not something I planned but it happened and as you said before, I am twenty-seven years old. I make my own money and do not depend on anyone to support me. I am an independent black woman and am proud of who I am. I will make a damn good mother and will do so with or without your help and I do not give a flying crap what the women in your so-called women’s group think about me. Is that clear to you, Mama?”
“You dare to speak to me like that? In that disrespectful tone? And with those words? I brought you up without a father and this is the thanks I get- “
“Thank you.” Shelby said wearily. “Is that what you want to hear me say, Mama? Thank you for doing what you were supposed to do? How many thanks will do?”
“You have no right- “
“Mama!” she held up her hand wearily. “As I said before, I did not come over here to fight with you.”
“You came for my approval?” Sylvia asked stiffly.
“No. I came to tell you the news before it is plastered over the papers and the internet. My African designs are part of Cox’s holiday showcasing fashion and it will not take long before it is discovered that I am connected to him.” She sank back down onto the stool as it hit her! She looked up and met her mother’s eyes and wiped the expression off her face. It would not do to give her more ammunition to hit her with. This was hard enough as it is. “I intend to be a very good mother to my child, Mama, and I would hope that you would want to be a part of his or her growing up.”
“I would have to pray about it.” She said stiffly.
“You do that,” Shelby got to her feet again. “I will see you for Thanksgiving.”
“We are not doing that this year.”
“What?”
“We are celebrating a holiday that is against our Christian principles. We will be going on fasting and prayer for the country on that day.”
“You are giving up Thanksgiving? A completely American holiday? You love getting up early on that Thursday morning and get the turkey going? Your sweet potato and pumpkin pies are legendary! When did you decide on this? Or should I take a guess? Pastor Reynolds suddenly put it into your head that it is a sin to celebrate a holiday that is older than both of us combined.” She approached her mother and stopped before her. “Mama, I am worried that this church you are involved in is becoming a cult. You have always been able to think for yourself. What is happening to you?”
“I refuse to allow you to talk about my family like that- “
“I am your family!” Shelby pointed to herself. “Me! Your daughter.”
“They were there when your father got himself killed- “
“he was serving his country!”
“He went without even consulting me! Left me to take care of a baby all by myself.” She took a deep breath and stepped back, going to the sink to grab a dishcloth and started wiping the already clean counter. She stopped to glare at her daughter. “They have always been there for me! Don’t you forget that!!”
*****
“So, your mother is not on board, no big surprise there.” Monica said as she reached for a slice of pizza. “She is not exactly mother of the year, honey.”
“I just thought that she would soften to the fact that I am carrying her first grandchild.” Shelby said wryly as she picked at the crust. She had left her mother’s small, neat home, feeling defeated and weary as usual. “And now to think that she is not going to even regard Thanksgiving. That just takes the cake.”
“I was really looking forward to her turkey and that potato pie!” Barbara said with a dejected sigh. “I am sorry honey, but I cannot help but think about the food. Not that I am minimizing your troubles. Anyway, we always knew she would not be open to something like you getting knocked up by some rich dude who has more women than I have shoes.”
“Thank you for making me feel so much better.” Shelby said dryly, feeling her stomach protested as she ate the pizza. “I have managed to piss my mother off more than usual and she is not going to be able to hold her head up in her women’s department at church.”
“So, big deal!” Monica scoffed. “I have been to that church and those women are a bunch of old farts who can never get a man to save their lives!”
“That’s not a nice thing to say,” Shelby said weakly as she doubled over with laughter. “But seriously guys, I had hoped that she would be happy for me.”
“Are you happy for you?” Monica asked her bluntly. “I remember when you were going out with him and we warned you that as gorgeous and as rich as he was, we did not see a long-term there and you agreed. So, what does this mean? Is he going to propose?”
“This is not the dark ages Mon; people actually have babies without the wedding ceremony. I don’t want him to propose to me just because I am pregnant. I am fine with just being- “