Death of a Waterfall (The Hayden Falls Saga) (22 page)

"Teghan," her mom said, "will you at least discuss some other options with us?"

"Like what, Mom?" she snapped. "If either of you say abortion, I will walk out of this house and never return."

"Okay, what about adoption then?" her mom said.

Teghan didn't even give it a second thought. "No, I'm sorry. I'm going to have this baby." Her mother began to sob, and Teghan felt like a complete bitch for snapping at her the way she had. Her mother had never done anything but support her, and now that Teghan was faced with the biggest decision of her life, her mother was still trying to support her and Teghan hadn't cared. "Mom," she said giving her a hug. "I'm sorry. Please understand. I love Donnie and I love this baby. The thought of letting either of them go breaks my heart."

"No one is saying you have to let Donnie go," her mother said, releasing her. "And we can find a family that is willing to have an open adoption. You'll still be able to see your baby; you just won't have to be responsible for it."

Teghan stepped back. That was something she'd expected her father to say, not her mother, and it dawned on her that no matter how much she pleaded with her mother, Teghan was on her own. Tears trickled down her face and she hastily wiped them away. "No," Teghan repeated. "I'm having this baby." She grabbed her purse and flung it over her shoulder.

"Teghan," her mother said. "You're my daughter and I love you, but I can't support a decision that I know is going to ruin your life."

"Your mother's right," her father said. "What about all your plans, Teghan? What happened to traveling back to London after graduation? What about grad school? Do you really think you're going to be able to do any of those things once that baby arrives?"

"Plans change, Dad."

"That's your answer?" he said, throwing his hands up in the air. "Mark my words, one day you're going to wake up and resent that baby and Donnie. You'll blame both of them for taking your dreams from you."

"That's a horrible thing to say," Teghan said.

"He's right, Teghan," her mother said. "I know you don't want to believe it. You don't think you could ever feel that way, but you will."

"I can't believe you two," Teghan said, her voice cloudy with disbelief. "Is that how you both feel about me and Trevor and Tayla?"

"Of course not," her mother said with indignation in her voice. "But we were older and married when we had you."

Teghan shook her head. This was a nightmare. "I've heard enough," she said. "With or without you, I'm having this baby." She started toward the door, cursing her voice for wavering. The slightest hint of weakness and her father would exploit it. She had to stay strong and stand firm in her position.

"Teghan!" She stopped and turned around at the sound of her father's voice. "So help me God, if you walk out of this house right now, you won't be welcome back here."

Undiluted anger seethed through her veins. She couldn't believe it had come to this. Her father was actually threatening to disown her? It shouldn't surprise her--he'd done it when she'd refused to get back together with Alex. She didn't have time to dwell on that right now. If she gave in to him now, she'd never have a say in her life ever again. "You don't deserve to have me call you Dad," she said. "Goodbye, Rob." Teghan turned on her heel and walked calmly out of the house. She got into her car and drove a mile down the road before pulling over. Her hands were shaking so bad she couldn't keep the steering wheel straight, and her tears were making it difficult to see.

"What've I done?" she whispered. The full impact of her actions settled on her. She'd just walked out on her parents. She'd given up her only means of support. And for what? A guy she didn't really know anything about? A guy who at any time could decide being a father wasn't for him? Then where would she be? Alone, raising a baby, struggling and miserable? No. She shook the thoughts from her head. Donnie loved her. He'd be there for her. He'd said so. There was no reason she shouldn't believe him. But…a tiny ball of doubt continued to bounce around in her head.

"Oh God," she groaned. Maybe if she went back now, begged her parents to forgive her, she could salvage her relationship with them. Teghan did a U-turn and pointed her car in the direction of her parent's house, but she didn't drive back. Instead she got out her cell phone and called Donnie. Hearing his voice, hearing him say that he loved her and that they were in this together would calm her. No answer. His voicemail didn't even pick up. Where the hell was he? Teghan rested her head on the steering wheel and cried.

Chapter Eighteen

Rob paced in his den, his stomach in knots over what he was about to do, but he knew he had no other choice. His back was against the wall. "Jim, its Rob. I need your help," he said before Jim even had a chance to say hello.

"You sound worried. What's going on?" Jim asked.

"I don't want to get into it, but I need you to find me a doctor."

"A doctor? What the hell for?"

"It's not for me. It's for Teghan."

"Is she okay?"

Rob sighed. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, that Jim would ask a hundred questions. "She's fine."

"So why does she need a doctor?"

"Look, Jim, I can't explain it. In fact, the less you know the better. I just need you to find me a doctor who's willing to do something a little..." he paused searching for the right word, "questionable."

"Rob," Jim said his voice full of cautious concern. "What kind of doctor do you need?"

"A gynecologist. Preferably one with a lot of discretion."

"Okay." Jim paused. "I won't ask. How soon do you need him?"

"Today. Oh, and Jim, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that this is my daughter."

"Don't worry. I'll find the best."

"Thanks." Rob hung up and poured himself another scotch despite his shaking hand. He'd make sure his daughter was cared for then he'd deal with Donnie. Rob made a vow that by the time he was finished, Donnie would wish he'd stayed in Pennsylvania.

~ * ~

Rob's meeting with the doctor Jim found went much better than Rob had expected, and he had a good feeling about the entire situation. In fact, for the first time since Teghan told him about the pregnancy, he'd found some peace with it. Now all he had to do was convince Teghan to see him. Might as well do it now, he thought as he picked up the phone. "Hello, Teghan," he said when she answered.

"Rob," she replied.

He cringed at the coldness in her voice. This wasn't the same little girl who used to light up whenever he'd call. "I want you to come over tomorrow evening."

"Why? So you can threaten me some more?"

He sighed. Sometimes she could be so damn dramatic. He hadn't been threatening her. He'd simply been trying to get her to see the reality of the situation. "No. I want to discuss things with you. Talk about your options."

"There are no options. I told you, I'm having this baby. End of discussion. Goodbye."

"No!" he said quickly. "Don't hang up. Will you please come to the house tomorrow evening?" Christ she was stubborn as hell, wasn't she? Under any other circumstances he'd be proud of her. Right now he was just irritated.

"No," Teghan said.

"If you're serious about having this baby, then you're going to need some help." Silence. "Teghan?" More silence. "Teghan? Did you hear me?"

Finally she said, "What time?"

He smiled. Once again, he'd won. "Seven. And for now, I'd prefer if just you and I could talk."

"Okay." She hung up.

Rob exhaled loudly and sat back in his chair. This was for the best. He put his feet up on the corner of his desk. Teghan had been sneaking around with Donnie. Shit. He should've taken Martin's suggestion and tapped Donnie's phone. If Rob had, then he wouldn't be in this position right now. He would've known that Donnie was still seeing Teghan, and Rob might've been able to stop all of this before it happened. Now he had no choice but to do the unthinkable, and that didn't sit well with him.

~ * ~

Teghan paced back and forth in her dorm room, trying to resist the urge to throw her phone at the wall. When she'd called Donnie to tell him about her father's request, she hadn't expected him to flip out like he was. She was shocked and appalled at the idea that Donnie really believed her father would hurt her, or that she was really going to turn her back on her family. Going to see her father was a step toward reconciliation, and that is what Teghan wanted. She wanted to have a relationship with her father where he supported her decision to have Donnie and their baby.

"I can't believe you're going to go see him after the way he treated you," Donnie said.

She held the phone away from her ear. Did he have to talk so damn loud? "He's my father, Donnie. I knew he wasn't going to be happy about this, but I didn't expect him to disown me."

"But he did, Teghan, and seeing him is only going to hurt you more."

"I know my father, and there's a reason he wants to see me. I can only hope it's because he's changed his mind." She really didn't know of any other reason why he'd want to see her if not to make amends.

"Don't be so naïve," Donnie said.

"Are you going to come with me or not?" Teghan asked, her patience wearing thin.

"I thought he told you to come alone?"

"He did, but even if you sat in the driveway or waited for me down the road or something, I just need to know that when I leave there tonight, you'll be waiting."

"I don't think you should go."

"I'm going. Will you please go with me?"

Donnie sighed. "I can't tonight."

She huffed. "Fine." Teghan hung up. She couldn't believe him. He'd promised to be by her side through all of this, and the first time she asked him for something, he'd told her no. Her cell phone rang. It was Donnie calling back. She ignored it and tucked her phone into her purse before heading for class. He didn't want to be around when she needed him. Then she wouldn't be around when he needed her.

~ * ~

Teghan arrived at her parent's house at seven fifteen--a clear message to her father that he wasn't in charge of her or the situation she was in. She opened the door and stepped into the foyer. The house was unnaturally quiet, and a feeling of unease washed over her as she made her way to her father's den.
Stop being ridiculous. Nothing is wrong. You're just nervous about having another argument with your father.
She shook the paranoia from her mind and took a deep breath. "Dad? Are you in here?"

"Come on in, Teghan," Rob said.

Teghan entered the den, leaving the door open a crack so she could make a quick getaway if necessary. A quick getaway? What was she expecting to happen? This was her father. It's not like he'd ever hurt her. She didn't realize pregnancy could lead to paranoia. Next time she went to the doctor, she'd be sure to ask about that.

"Thanks for coming. Sit." Rob nodded toward the couch.

Teghan remained standing. "Where's Mom?"

"At one of her charity meetings."

No wonder he'd insisted they talked tonight. Her mother had been very upset by the news, and clearly her mother still wasn't willing to speak to her. Teghan had walked out on both of them and hadn't returned since. Until now. Apparently her father didn't want her mother present for this meeting. That made her very uncomfortable. "Why am I here?"

She watched her father make a screwdriver. "Would you like some orange juice?" he asked, handing her a glass.

"I'm not thirsty." Teghan folded her arms over her chest.

"It's not all about you anymore," he said. "You've got to keep up your health."

"No, thank you," she said.

"Fine." Rob set the glass on the coffee table.

Teghan sat on the couch. Why was Rob suddenly being so accommodating? A week ago he was screaming and threatening her. And now he was offering her juice? Acting as if he cared about her health or the baby's? What the hell was he up to? She clutched her stomach and bent over, hanging her head between her legs until the nausea passed.

"You look pale," Rob said.

"Just a little nauseous. I'm fine."

"Good." He sat down in the chair across from where she sat on the couch. "I'm very disappointed, Teghan. I expected so much more from you."

"I didn't come here for another lecture, Dad." She stared at the orange juice. Her throat suddenly felt as if it had been lined with cotton and her stomach grumbled. She really could use a drink.

"I know, I know," he said. "I might have been able to accept this if--"

"If what? If it was Alex's baby?" Teghan snapped.

"Yes."

"Well, it's not." Teghan looked away and fought to keep her emotions in check. She'd promised herself she wouldn't cry, and she wouldn't show her father any signs of weakness.

"Does he know?"

"Who? Alex?" She shook her head. "No, nobody knows yet."

Rob smiled. "Not even Annabelle?"

"I'm not sure why that is amusing to you." Teghan knew her father was hard to handle, but he was acting totally strange tonight. It was unsettling.