Jennifer had felt distant since marrying Martin because of their daughter. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t fit in with his family. Her biggest challenge came when Martin found a positive pregnancy test in the trash.
Jennifer was sitting by the window, headphones on, reading a book.
Lately, it had become her favorite pastime. Since she married Martin, her life had changed drastically. She loved Martin, and he loved her.
However, Martin had a daughter named Carrie, whom Jennifer had disliked from the start. Carrie had just turned eighteen, but she was still behaving rebelliously.
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But when Jennifer put on her headphones and lost herself in her favorite book, she could forget her worries for a while and find peace.
The room was silent except for the soft buzzing of music in Jennifer’s ears and the gentle rustle of pages as she turned them.
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Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow over her, making her feel calm and secure. But this tranquility didn’t last long.
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Looking up from her book, Jennifer saw a furious Martin standing in front of her.
His face was red and his hands were balled into fists. He couldn’t hear what she was saying, so he took off his headphones.
“When were you going to tell me?” he shouted, his voice shaking with anger.
“Tell you what?” Jennifer replied, genuinely confused.
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“About what? Nothing happened, Jennifer? Are you sure?” Martin’s voice dripped with sarcasm, and his eyes bored into hers.
“Martin, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Tell me what’s bothering you,” Jennifer said calmly, though her heart was starting to race.
Martin gave an exasperated smile and held up a pregnancy test. “This! You think I don’t have the right to know?”
Jennifer’s eyes snapped open.
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“Where did you find it?” he asked, his heart beating faster now.
“In the bathroom trash. Does it matter where I found it? It’s positive. Were you going to tell me you’re pregnant?”
Martin’s voice rose angrily, echoing in the silent house.
Jennifer felt a wave of vertigo.
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“You’re jumping to conclusions, Martin. Please calm down,” she pleaded, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Jumping to conclusions? Jennifer, we’re talking about our future child! Were you planning…? I don’t even want to think about it,” he said, his voice cracking as he tried to control his emotions.
“I wasn’t planning anything. Please calm down. Let’s sit down and talk this through tonight. Now you have to go to work,” Jennifer urged, hoping to diffuse the situation.
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“Work?” Martin exhaled heavily, trying to calm himself. “Okay. We’ll talk tonight.”
When Martin left, Jennifer was left alone with her thoughts. She sighed deeply and closed the book.
The peace he had found was gone. He looked at his watch and realized how much time had passed.
He stood up and headed to the kitchen, his mind reeling from the conversation he had just had.
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Jennifer couldn’t shake the feeling of terror that gripped her chest. She replayed the scene over and over again, wondering how it could all have gone so wrong.
Looking out the window, she watched the cars go by and her mind went back to the early days of her relationship with Martin.
Jennifer approached Carrie’s room and knocked softly on the door. She hesitated for a moment and asked, “May I come in?”
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“Yes,” Carrie replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jennifer opened the door and walked in, leaning against the wall as she looked around the room.
It was filled with clothes, books, and posters, a typical teenage girl’s room.
But what struck Jennifer most was Carrie’s expression: calm and guilty. She could see the fear and uncertainty in her eyes.
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“Carrie, we need to talk,” Jennifer began gently. “I need to know what’s going on.”
Carrie took a deep breath, and tears filled her eyes. “Thank you for not telling Dad the test was mine,” she said, her voice shaking.
“You’re welcome, but what are you going to do now?” Jennifer asked, sounding concerned.
“I don’t know,” Carrie replied, her voice trembling. “I’m scared.”
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Jennifer walked over and sat on the edge of Carrie’s bed, trying to offer some comfort.
“Unfortunately, you have to make a decision quickly. This isn’t like choosing a career, although you didn’t handle that well either,” Jennifer said gently, trying to maintain a relaxed atmosphere despite the seriousness of the situation.
Carrie looked at her hands, her voice bitter. “What’s the point of choosing when Dad decides everything for me anyway?”
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Jennifer sighed, understanding his frustration. “If you’re pregnant, you can’t continue medical school,” she pointed out gently.
“I’m not going to be pregnant,” Carrie insisted, her voice rising in desperation.
“Really? This test says otherwise,” Jennifer said, holding up the test that showed two clear lines.
“If you lend me money… then…” Carrie began, her voice breaking.
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“Don’t rush into a decision, Carrie. What about the baby’s father? Does he know?” Jennifer asked, her voice softening as she tried to fully grasp the situation.
“He won’t find out,” Carrie said, tears in her eyes again.
“Why not? He’s your boyfriend. He deserves to know,” Jennifer said, her heart going out to Carrie.
Carrie tried to speak, but the words stuck in her throat. Finally, she burst into tears. “He left me,” she sobbed.
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Jennifer’s heart broke for Carrie. Understanding the situation, she walked over and hugged her tightly.
He wanted to comfort the girl, even though she wasn’t his biological daughter and their relationship had always been strained.
But none of that mattered now. I wanted to help.
“Don’t worry, honey. We’ll figure this out. Martin and I won’t let you go through this alone,” Jennifer whispered, hugging Carrie. “We’ll support you no matter what you decide.”
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Carrie clung to Jennifer, and her sobs slowly subsided. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do, but knowing you’re here helps.”
Jennifer stepped back a little and looked Carrie in the eye. “We’ll take it step by step. First, we’ll talk to Martin. Then we’ll figure out what’s best for you and the baby.”
Carrie nodded, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Okay. I’ll try to be strong.”
Jennifer smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Carrie’s face. “You’re strong, Carrie. And we’re here for you. We’ll get through this together.”
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That night, Martin returned home, tired from a long day at work. When he entered the kitchen, he saw Jennifer and Carrie sitting at the table, their faces serious.
“What’s wrong? Why is Carrie with you?” Martin asked, sounding confused.
“Martin, sit down. She needs to be part of this conversation,” Jennifer said firmly, leaving no room for argument.
Martin looked puzzled. “She has nothing to do with this. She should focus on her studies and getting into medical school. She has a bright future ahead of her,” he insisted, raising his voice slightly.
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Carrie took a deep breath, her hands shaking. “Dad… I have to tell you something,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What are you talking about, honey?” Martin asked, his brow furrowed in concern.
“It’s my proof,” Carrie admitted, her eyes filling with tears.
“What?! That can’t be true!” Martin exclaimed, turning pale with astonishment.
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“It is, Martin. Believe him,” Jennifer added, her voice calm but firm.
Stunned, Martin sank into a chair, head in his hands. “What? What do we do now? What about your education, your future?” he asked, his voice filled with despair.
“Education? Is that all you care about? I don’t care about medical school. I never wanted to be a doctor,” Carrie yelled, seething with frustration.
“Honey, what are you saying? It’s your future,” Martin said, puzzled.
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“Not anymore,” Jennifer chimed in, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
“I’ve already made my decision. She’s too young to be a mother. The most important thing is her education,” Martin argued, trying to regain control of the situation.
“What? Do you realize what you’re suggesting? Have you even asked her what she wants?” Jennifer defended Carrie, her eyes shining with determination.
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“Ask a girl who’s been spending time with some guy instead of studying? No, thank you. She’ll do what I say,” Martin insisted, his voice raspy.
“No, Daddy! I don’t want to!” Carrie cried, tears in her eyes.
“You’d better shut up. You’ve said enough. You’ll do as you’re told,” Martin blurted out, his frustration turning to anger.
Jennifer’s patience finally ran out. “I can’t take it anymore. She’s a grown woman and she’ll make her own decisions,” she cried, her voice shaking with emotion.
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“You want her to be a young mother? What about her career?” Martin argued, his voice desperate.
“Her career doesn’t matter as much as her happiness. All you care about is her education. You haven’t even asked her about the baby’s father or if everything is okay with them,” Jennifer replied, her voice firm.
“But…” Martin began, but Jennifer interrupted him.
“Do you want her to regret this decision for the rest of her life? Even if she makes the wrong choice, let her choose for herself. As parents, we will support any decision she makes and will always help her,” Jennifer said firmly, her eyes fixed on Martin’s.
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Martin looked at Jennifer, and understanding dawned in his eyes. He realized she was right.
He’d been so focused on what he thought was best for Carrie that he hadn’t considered her feelings. He nodded slowly, and his anger disappeared.
Jennifer turned to Carrie, her expression softening. “And you, young lady, will introduce me to your boyfriend. I’ll talk to him myself. He’s a man and he should take responsibility.”
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Carrie nodded, wiping away her tears.
The tension in the room began to dissipate as everyone took a deep breath, preparing to face the challenges ahead together.
It wouldn’t be easy, but as a family they would find a way to support each other and make the best decisions for Carrie’s future.
Jennifer and Carrie visited Carrie’s boyfriend, Billy, and his parents. The atmosphere was tense, and everyone clearly felt the weight of the situation.
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Jennifer broke the ice: “Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. We have something important to discuss.”
Billy’s parents exchanged worried glances. “What’s wrong?” Billy’s father asked.
Carrie, her voice shaking, said, “I’m pregnant.”
Billy paled. “Pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me, Carrie?” he asked, shocked.
“I just found out,” Carrie replied, her eyes filling with tears. “I was scared and didn’t know what to do.”
Billy’s mother placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get through this together, Billy.”
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Jennifer then addressed Billy’s parents: “This is a difficult time for all of us. Carrie and Billy need our support now more than ever.”
Billy’s father nodded. “We had no idea things were so serious between them. We’ll support whatever decision they make.”
Jennifer added: “Carrie has decided that her education can wait. Now she wants to focus on having the baby and starting a family.”
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Billy’s mother smiled gently: “Love knows no age. We’ll be here for both of you, always.”
Jennifer felt a sense of relief wash over her. “Thank you all. We can’t protect our children from the world, but we can help them grow stronger.”
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The families spent the rest of the evening discussing plans and offering support, knowing that although the road ahead would be difficult, they would face it together, united in their love and commitment to the young couple and their unborn child.
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