Free Pregnancy Plan by Tina Gayle Page A

tall man stood on the front porch. For a
moment her heart stopped, but looking closer, she noticed the sandy
brown hair. “Hey, Michael, what are you doing here?” She hugged her
brother around the waist and stepped back. “Is everything
okay?”
    “ Yes, I was hoping we could talk.” He
didn’t appear happy with the prospect.
    Karen Ann stepped forward, and Michael
offered her a charming smile that lit his face. The dimple on the
side of his mouth flickered. Old resentment surfaced and Jillian
looked away. Her brother could always get what he wanted with a
simple little smile. “Hi, Karen Ann, how are you this beautiful
evening?”
    “ I’m fine. We were just on our way out
to see a movie.” She brushed her hand through her long blonde
hair.
    His smile faded and he glanced at Jillian.
“I guess I should have called, but I never thought you’d go out on
a week-night.”
    “ Gee, Michael, thanks for reminding me
I don’t have a social life.” She could tell he was sweating this
conversation but she had no intentions of making it any easy for
him.
    Karen Ann joined in. “You’ll just have to
come back another night. Jillian and I have been looking forward to
seeing this movie.”
    “ I really need to talk to you
tonight.” He silently begged her to stay home with him. “Can’t you
go to the movies some other night? I drove all the way from Dallas.
I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
    Jillian didn’t want to, but habit forced her
to adjust her plans. She turned to Karen Ann. “I guess we’ll have
to make it another night. Looks like I’m staying home to talk to my
brother tonight.”
    “ Okay, but what are you going to do
for me?” Karen Ann nailed Michael with a stern glares. Jillian
smiled.
    Confused, he answered. “What?”
    “ You interrupted our plans.” She said
the words slowly so he’d understand. “I think I deserve at least
dinner and a movie. Next Friday night I’m busy. Let’s make it the
Friday after that. Pick me up at seven at my place.”
    Turning, Karen Ann smiled at Jillian and
walked to the door. “See you later, Jill. Hope you have a nice
evening.” The wink behind Michael’s back lifted Jillian’s spirits.
Karen Ann left with a small wave.
    “ Was she kidding?” Michael still
appeared confused by her friend’s demands.
    “ No. After all you did say you’d make
it up to us for canceling our evening.” Jillian strolled toward
kitchen, leaving her brother standing in the front
entryway.
    “ Jillian!” Michael yelled after
her.
    She didn’t stop to wait and continued into
the kitchen. “Yes?”
    He rushed in after her. “Look, I’m sorry
about ruining your plans. But we really need to decide what we plan
to do with the house. I have to pay off that margin call.”
    “ Why don’t you sell some other stocks?
Surely, you have other investments you could use.”
    “ Can’t. Everything else is in my 401k
plan. If I sell them, I’ll take a big hit on my income tax. Come
on, I don’t need much. Let’s say ten thousand. You have that much
in your savings account.”
    Her temper snapped. “And it’d wipe me out,
Michael.” Her fists landed on her hips. “Then I’d have nothing to
fall back on if something should happen? I can’t count on you to
help me.” She glared at him angrily.
    “ I’ll pay you back. If we sell the
house, you’ll have more than enough money to tide you over in case
of emergency.”
    “ Look at me and read my lips. I am not
selling this house. Do you understand? I will buy you out, but I
will not—I repeat—will not sell this house.” Her voice rose to a
screech.
    “ Okay Jill, I’ve got it. Calm
down.”
    He didn’t understand. She loved their
parents’ old house and refused to live anywhere else.
    “ Maybe seven thousand? Then you’ll
have some to fall back on and it shouldn’t take that long to get a
house loan.”
    “ Five.” She twisted her hair around
her finger.
    He studied at her as if judging whether
she’d