Free Homecoming: A Secret Baby Romance by Lauren Landish Page B

hands together to dislodge dirt. “Don’t you have money saved up from the money that they gave you?”
    Max looked at me. “I do, but with no job, it won’t last long when we have to get our own place.”
    I stared. “Get our own place?”
    “Yeah.” Max gestured at the house. “Do you actually think they want us staying here? You practically have given up college for now and I’m giving up my stint in the service. I’m sure neither of them are too happy about that. Plus it’ll be weird for us anyway.”
    I bit my lower lip, thinking. What Max was saying did make sense. I really didn’t want to be that couple that depended on their parents for financial support.
    Besides, I thought, they might disown us when they come to their senses anyway.
    “Well, it shouldn’t be that hard for you to find a job.”
    Max snorted. “For you, maybe, since you have a college education, but not for me. All I hear about is how hard it is out there for vets. I mean I could flip burgers, but that’s not going to support anything.”
    A feeling of dread washed over me. “And if you don’t find one?”
    Max next words made me feel even worse. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if they’d take me back.”

    * * *
    M ax and I were in the kitchen talking, discussing what to do about dinner. Mom was locked up in her room and was refusing to come out, so the two of us had decided that we’d try to cook dinner for our parents, though I’m sure the last thing they wanted to do was sit down and eat with us or see our guilty faces.
    We’d just decided on making stir-fry when Jerry walked in from work. He paused when he came into the kitchen, looking over the both of us before turning his gaze on Max.
    “Can I speak with you son?” he asked, his tone firm.
    Uh oh. Trouble.
    Max glanced at me and set down the bag of frozen broccoli he’d just taken out of the freezer. “Sure. What’s up?”
    Jerry nodded back behind him at the hallway. “In my office.”
    The two men left the room together and I tried to focus on making the stir-fry by myself. I lasted less than a minute before I threw the meat down on the counter and made my way to Jerry’s office to eavesdrop.
    At the end of the hallway, I crept up to the door and pressed my ear against the door. Jerry and Max were engaged in heated conversation, their voices were muffled, but I could still make out what they are saying.
    “I think you’re making a terrible mistake,” Jerry was saying. “A really stupid one.”
    “Yeah?” asked Max, his voice hostile. “And what do you expect me to do? Just abandon Nikki?”
    “No.”
    “Then what are you saying?” Max cut in sharply. “You’ve always taught me to be responsible.”
    “Just stop for a second and let me finish. I’m just trying to look out for what’s best for you.”
    There was a pause and then I heard Max blow out a resigned breath.
    “Okay. Go.”
    “At first, I was shocked to find out what’s really been going on, then I got really angry. Now after having a full twenty-four hours to think about it, I see that you two are determined about this. I’ll do what I can to help.”
    “Help? What kind of help?” I could hear the suspicion in Max’s voice.
    “Hear me out before you go getting all defensive. Now, your stepmother and I think you should go through with your commitment to the Marines. While you’re away, we’ll help take care of her and the baby and be her support system. We realize that there is nothing we can do if you both intend on keeping the child, but be there for the both of you. This way, you can still fulfill your obligations to the service.”
    “Thanks, Dad, I’m really grateful that you guys are taking this so well, all things considered, but my obligation is here with Nikki. Just think, I wouldn’t be back until well after the baby was born. I’d miss the first steps and everything. And there is always that chance I’ll never come back . . .”
    “I know, son, and that’s