Joey sat in the living room curled up on the couch. She awaited Bessie’s return, scared of what she would say, would think. Joey listened as the car pulled up outside, her heart racing with fear.
Bessie walked in the door and immediately went over to Joey. They hugged each other for a moment, and then Joey stood up. Bodie entered with Alex in his arms. “Can I hold him,” she asked Bodie.
Bodie handed Alex to Joey, and Joey embraced her nephew, tears slowly falling from her eyes.
After a few moments, she returned Alex to Bodie. Bessie put her arm around Joey and they walked out towards the dock. They sat in silence for several minutes, Joey resting her head on Bessie’s shoulder. Finally, Bessie spoke. “Okay kiddo, tell me what’s going on?”
Joey sat up, wiping the tears from her face. “I didn’t think things would be like this. I thought I had enough problems. Bessie, I don’t know how to tell you. I don’t want you to be ashamed of me.”
“Oh, Jo, I could never be ashamed of you. I know I haven’t exactly been there for you these last few months. And I’m sorry for that. But whatever it is, you can tell me. We can work it out together.”
“I wish this was something that would go away, but it’s not. Bess, I screwed up big time, and I don’t know what to do.”
Bessie put her arm around Joey. “Just tell me Jo. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”
Joey remained silent, watching the moon light dance on the water. Finally, she got up the courage to say, “I’m pregnant.”
Bessie looked at Joey, in shock mostly, and Joey burst into tears again. “I’m so sorry Bessie, I didn’t mean for this to happen...”
Bessie took a deep breath, letting Joey cry on her shoulder. She whispered, “Dawson?”
Joey nodded her head in reponse.
“How do you know?”
“The usual,” Joey stated. “Getting sick, not eating, feeling dizzy, no monthly visits.”
“Jo, that could be from stress too. You have been through enough lately. Have you told Dawson?”
Joey shook her head.
“Jo, you have to tell him. We’ll go to the doctor, to be sure. But Dawson has a right to know.”
“I can’t tell him. He’ll hate me.”
“Joey, you have to tell him. If you even suspect, you have to let him know. Don’t make the same mistake I made.”
Joey looked at Bessie in surprise. They hardly ever talked like this, seriously. And Bessie’s relationship with Bodie never came up in conversation. Joey never pushed about it, Bessie never offered any information. But this time, she did. “Do you remember when I told you about Alex?”
“Yeah, you were five months pregnant.”
“That’s when I told Bodie. I kept it from him that long. And he was angry. Joey, Bodie was upset with me for not telling him. He wanted to be there when I found out. He wanted to be with me through all the beginning steps, the visits to the doctor, everything. And that’s something he can never get back. I was too scared to tell him. But Dawson, God Joey, Dawson would want to know. He has a right to know.”
“I can’t tell him.”
“You have to tell him. Trust me Joey, things will be a lot easier with someone on your side. And Dawson loves you so much. I’m sure he’d want to know. I almost lost Bodie because of it, don’t make the same mistake I did.”
“I already have,” she said silently.
Bessie got offensive. “Don’t you ever say it was a mistake. Alex was not a mistake, I love him more than anything in the world. So you and Dawson had fun one night, and a baby is the possible outcome. Jo, that’s part of growing up, and growing together. This whole town knows you and Dawson would be together. Since you guys were born. And you have a bond with him that I’ve never seen with anyone. You don’t know what he was like when you disappeared. You didn’t see the pain and worry in his eyes. Don’t give that up Joey. Not for anything in the world.”
“So what do I do now?”
“I’ll make an appointment for you in the morning. We’ll find out then. But you have to tell Dawson, Jo. Tonight.”
Joey stood up slowly, Bessie following. Joey embraced her sister, enjoying their moment of bonding. “Bess, thanks, for everything.”
“I’m sorry Mom couldn’t be here Joey. And I’m doing the best I can for you. I just hope I don’t disappoint you.”
“You? I don’t want you to be disappointed in me.”
“What, cause you’re the smart one in the family? It happened Jo, you can’t change that now. Look at the positive side of this. Now go find Dawson.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Joey climbed up the ladder into Dawson’s room. He was still awake, lying on his bed watching television. “Joey?”
“Hey Dawson,” she said while climbing through the window.
He saw that she had been crying. “Jo, what’s wrong? And don’t tell me nothing this time.”
Joey hopped on the bed next to him. “We need to talk.”
“I figured that much. Are you going to tell me what’s been going on? Or am I supposed to keep guessing.”
Joey’s eyes filled with tears once more. “I’m sorry Dawson, sorry if I hurt you. There’s so much going on right now, and I don’t know where to start.”
Dawson put his arms around her. “Hey, I’m sorry if I pushed you. But I’m worried about you. You have no idea how worried I’ve been.”
Joey couldn’t control the tears anymore. Now that she was here, in Dawson’s arms, the tears fell hard. Dawson held her, told her everything would be okay. But Joey knew it wouldn’t be. She couldn’t speak, all she could do was cry on his shoulder. He stroked her hair as she continued to cry, not knowing what to say.
Finally, several minutes later, Joey tried to pull herself together. Dawson looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?”
Joey nodded quietly. She took off to the bathroom to gather herself as Dawson sat in confusion in his room.
When Joey returned, her eyes still red, she returned to the bed. She grabbed the remote and shut off the television. “Are you sure you’re ready to hear this Dawson?”
“God, Joey I’ve been ready. Just say it.. You’ll feel better after you do.”
Joey opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn’t. She could feel the tears coming again, but fought them. The lump in her throat convinced her she didn’t have much time before she would break down again.
“Would it help,” Dawson started, “if I told you that whatever you tell me, no matter how bad it is, I will still be here for you?”
Joey nodded, appreciating his gesture. “I just don’t know how to say it Dawson.”
“Just say it. Trust me Jo, trust our friendship and loyalty to each other.”
Joey sighed, took a deep breath, and asked him, “Dawson, what would you say if I told you that I was pregnant?”
Dawson’s mouth dropped open in pure shock. Joey searched his eyes for answers, anything to tell her what he was thinking. “Dawson, talk to me. Please.”
He continued his silence, now looking away from her and towards the sky for some answers for himself. Against everything he had just told her, he got up and left the room.
Joey tried to call for him, but the tears had now found there way back. She cried uncontrollably at his reaction. She prayed for his return, but it didn’t happen. She heard the front door slam and watched out the window as Dawson took off.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawson climbed up the ladder a few hours later. He decided against the front door, in case his parents were awake. But his mother was waiting for him in his room. “Hello Dawson.”
Looking slightly embarressed, Dawson walked over to his bed and sat down next to his mother. “I don’t feel like talking.”
His mother looked at him with concern, moving the hair out of his face. “Anything I can help you with?”
Dawson shook his head, took off his shoes, and got into bed. Gail pulled the covers over him and kissed him on the forehead. “I saw Joey leave. She seemed upset. Please tell me what happened.”
“Nothing. I just want to sleep, okay?”
“Fine.” His mother stood up and walked towards the door. “Your father and I are here for you Dawson. Just remember that.”
Dawson watched as she shut the door behind her. He let out a big sigh before getting out of bed again. He went downstairs to the kitchen to get something to drink. His father was sitting in the dining room. “Dawson?”
“Hey dad.” He poured himself some orange juice and wandered into the dining room. “Do you have a minute?”
“Sure,” Mitch Leery said removing his glasses. “Sit down Dawson.”
Dawson sat in the chair next to him. “Dad, how old were you when you had me?”
Mitch thought about it for a few minutes. “I guess I was about twenty four. Why?”
“What did you think? I mean how did mom tell you? Where you happy about it?”
Mitch smiled. “I was surprised. Your mother told me after dinner one night. She was so excited, it was hard for me not to be. I was a little scared, but that’s normal from what I hear. Why are you asking me this?”
“I was just curious.”
“Dawson, is there something you want to tell me?”
“You sound like mom.”
“She said you stormed out of here earlier. And Joey left through the front door, something she’s never done in years. What’s going on Dawson?”
Dawson let out a big sigh. “Joey might be pregnant.”
Mitch looked at his son closely. “She isn’t sure?”
“No. I guess her sister is taking her to the doctor tomorrow. I don’t know what to do,” Dawson stated, resting his head in his arms.
“What do you think Dawson? Are you ready for this kind of commitment?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well you have to be. Dawson, the minute you and Joey decided to become sexual partners, you took on whatever responsibilities might follow. But most importantly, you have to be there for Joey. Let her know that, because she’s going through enough as it is.”
“Why are you so calm about this? I thought you’d be upset.”
“I don’t think I’ve had time for it to register yet. But there’s nothing we can about it now. I’ll let your mother know.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Joey and Bessie sat in the waiting room at the doctors office. Joey bit her nails as Alex pulled her hair. “Josephine Potter,” the nurse called.
Joey stood up, giving Bessie one last look before walking towards the door.
“Joey!”
Joey turned around and looked towards the front door. “Dawson?”
Dawson walked up to her and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry about last night Jo, you scared me. I want you to know that I will be here for you, no matter what happens.”
Joey gave him another hug, tears filling her eyes. “I’m so glad you came Dawson.”
Dawson let go of the embrace. “Go ahead, I’ll be here when you get out.”
Joey looked at him, gratitude in her eyes. She took one last glance at Bessie, then walked into the office.
Dawson sat down next to Bessie, taking Alex from her and bouncing him on his knee. “So, Dawson, glad you could make it.”
Dawson smiled at her while Alex giggled. “I told my parents, or at least my dad.”
Bessie looked at him with surprise. “You told him? What did he say?”
“He was cool about it actually. Talked about responsibility and all that.”
“What made you change your mind? Joey told me how you ran out after she told you.”
“I did a lot of thinking. I mean Joey is my best friend, and we’ve always been there for each other. I didn’t expect this to happen this soon, but it did. And I think it’s a good thing, at least I know it will be a good thing.”
“Do you think you’re ready for it?”
Dawson thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. But I’m willing to try.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Joey had come out of the doctor’s office a few minutes later. The doctors had to send the blood test to an outside lab, so they told Joey that they would call her with the results later in the day. Bessie took Joey and Dawson home before going to work. The pair agreed to watch Alex while Bessie worked.
“God Dawson, you would think their as fast as them damn home tests.”
“Jo, it’s only been a few hours. You can’t sit by that phone all night.”
“Try to take me away. Do you realize Dawson the future of our lives depends on this one phone call? Some stupid nurse who probably doesn’t care about anyone in the world is about to call me and tell me if I’m a soon-to-be mother. And she’ll go home to her happy little home, kiss and feed her cat, take a bath and fall asleep without knowing the lives she’s affected today. And meanwhile, while she’s painting her nails and my file is dropped in her in-box, I’m sitting here dying to know what’s taking so long.”
“Joey, calm down. Alex is asleep, don’t wake him.”
“That’s another thing! That demon child keeps me up all night, I can never get homework done, what then Dawson? I can’t finish high school, I can’t work, I’ll be the happy homemaker, taking care of the baby while you work seven jobs just so the kid has clean diapers. Dawson, what were we thinking?”
Dawson walked over to the table and sat down. “Jo, we’ll deal with it when the time comes. Until then, try to relax.”
The phone rang and Joey jumped out of her seat. “Hello?”
“You sound happy to hear my voice.”
“God Pacey, I can’t talk now.” She slammed the phone down without an explanation.
“Jo, you need to calm down.”
Dawson got up and began massaging Joey’s back. She moaned quietly, relaxing for the moment.
As Dawson continued, the phone rang again, this time Joey was calmer. “Hello?”
“Is this Josephine Potter,” came the mysterious voice.
“Yes, it is,” she said quietly, looking up at Dawson. He stopped and sat back down next to her, holding her hand.
“I’m calling with the results of your pregnancy test.”
“Yeah,” Joey said impatiently. She squeezed Dawson’s hand as the voice gave her the answer. Dawson searched Joey’s eyes for the answer.
“Okay, thanks,” said Joey quietly as she hung up the phone.
“Well,” Dawson pressed.
Joey stood up and walked towards the back door. Dawson came over to her, putting his arms around her. “Jo, what is it? What did they say?”