They went around and around for two hours, and when Tim finally got to his room, his head was spinning. He didn’t have the heart or energy to call Pennie as he’d promised. All he could do was send her a text that his parents wanted the six of them to meet the next day. They had insisted on it. They wanted to confront the Jacksons, and come to a reasonable decision.
Pennie told her parents after she heard from Tim, and they agreed to meet with the Blakes at six the next day at the Jacksons’. Paul said he would leave work early to be there and Eileen was going to drop Seth and Mark off at a neighbor’s, so they could discuss the situation openly, without worrying about the twins.
* * *
—
Pennie was wearing a simple pale blue cotton dress when the Blakes rang their doorbell. Tim’s parents looked dour when Eileen opened the door and they walked in. Tim came in right behind them, squeezed Pennie’s hand, and they all went into the living room together. Paul offered Tim’s parents a drink, which they refused. They didn’t consider this a social call, but rather a conference at which to state their position, and save their son from what they now considered a scheming young woman, hell-bent on destroying his life. Nothing Tim had said in the past twenty-four hours had swayed them from that position. They had known Pennie for three years but had always been uneasy about the seriousness of the relationship. It was too intense for such young people.
All six of them sat down in the living room, looking uncomfortable. The Blakes stared at the Jacksons in silence for a minute. Paul spoke first.
“Our children have certainly gotten themselves into a mess,” he said. Bill Blake nodded, and Eileen smiled at Barbara but got no response.
“I think we need to make our position clear here,” Bill said. “We think it would be a disaster, a grave mistake, for them to get married at their age. They have their whole lives ahead of them. Tim is leaving for college soon and we want him to do that. Of course, we’re willing to share in any expenses related to the…uh…ah, pregnancy, and a small amount of monthly support if she keeps it.” They didn’t want the idea of her keeping the baby to be financially appealing.
“This isn’t about money,” Paul said quickly, “it’s about their future and the life of the child they irresponsibly conceived. A child needs two parents, and I feel strongly that they should get married.” Paul made no bones about it. “They’re young, but they took this on by taking a risk, and now they have to see it through.” He glanced at Eileen and she looked away, wondering if he was going to tell them they’d gotten married because she was pregnant, but he didn’t. The chill emanating from the Blakes did not elicit confessions.
“We will do everything to oppose it, if that’s their decision. We’ll pay for college for Tim, of course, if they don’t get married. But we intend to withdraw all financial support if they do get married,” Bill said harshly, which was the first Tim had heard of it, and he looked shocked at his father’s words.
“Then they can live with us,” Paul said somberly, “if that’s the way you want to play it.” The two men looked at each other, like two male lions ready to attack. Tim’s mother intervened.
“We think that Pennie should give up the baby for adoption. It’s really the best solution. Neither of them knows what they’re getting into. They’ll have other children one day with the partners they choose. Neither of them is prepared for this one. They’re children themselves. Giving the baby up is the best possible decision, for the baby too.” Eileen nodded.
“I agree,” Eileen spoke up. “I think forcing them into marriage would be a mistake, and spoil their lives.” Pennie and Tim exchanged a look as their parents spoke, and Tim interrupted.
“That’s not what Pennie and I want, and we won’t agree to it. I want to marry Pennie as soon as possible,” he said clearly. “It’s the right thing to do.” Paul could suddenly remember feeling that way too. He had questioned ever since if it was the right decision, and there were times when he bitterly regretted it.
“And I won’t,” Pennie said, looking around the room at their parents. “I don’t want to ruin Tim’s life, or destroy his future. I’m going to have the baby, and live with my parents. And this isn’t about money, as Dad said. I can defer college, and get a job to pay my expenses. I don’t think putting the baby up for adoption is ‘the best solution.’ I think it’s a terrible one. I love Tim, and our baby, and I won’t do that.” There was silence in the room for a moment. Tim smiled at her. Even her own panic over her future hadn’t changed who she was, or the values she believed in. She was a responsible person, and willing to shoulder her responsibilities alone if she had to. She was adamant about not forcing Tim into marriage. “I think we should do what we were planning to do. Tim is going to China. I have a summer job. Tim will go to Stanford. And I’ll have the baby in December, and we’re not getting married.” She looked stubbornly at Tim and he frowned.
“We can discuss it when I get back from China. I’m not leaving for Stanford unless we’re married when I do. Maybe I can get married-student housing, and Pennie and the baby could come out in January. Otherwise, I’ll transfer back here, whether she marries me or not.” He sounded definite and Paul turned to his daughter with a look of fury.
“And you’re just going to throw your life away like that? Give up college, maybe not finish high school, and not even get married? What kind of future do you think you’re going to have that way? What do you think you’re going to do? Work as a waitress for the rest of your life? And your mother and I can’t bring up the baby for you. We have our own responsibilities.”
“Then I’ll take care of it by myself. But I’m not going to let Tim throw his life away.”
“But you’re willing to throw yours away? It just proves that you’re both too immature to know what you’re doing,” Paul shouted at her.
“Which is precisely why we won’t let the marriage take place,” Bill said through clenched teeth.
“I’m eighteen, Dad. You can’t stop me,” Tim responded.
“No, but I can,” Pennie said softly to Tim. “You can’t make me marry you.”
Paul rolled his eyes, stormed across the room to the bar, and poured himself a drink. While he did, Eileen spoke up.
“I hope you all appreciate the fact that however foolish they might have been for this to happen, we have brought up two responsible, decent, upstanding, loving young people. They are fully prepared to take on their responsibilities, and stand by each other, and have deep love and compassion for each other. Tim is willing to marry Pennie, in spite of the impact it would have on his future, and Pennie is refusing to let him do that, because she loves him. I think we have a lot to be proud of, instead of just telling them what we want them to do. In the end, this is their decision. It has to be. Even if they’re young, we have no right to make that decision for them.”