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It had almost been a month since I last seen and talked to Bailey. I still remember our first and last night together. I never told Clarissa. We were still to be wed in two months, August 16th. We were lying in our bed, late one night. I was writing lyrics to a new song and Clarissa was doing a word
puzzle. Suddenly our phone began to ring. It was late and I was confused, who could be calling this late? I answered the phone since I was the closest to it.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Nick?" It was a woman's voice. My heart jumped at the sound of it. "Yes this is he." I knew in my heart who it was, but I wasn't sure if I wanted it to be her.

"I'm sorry to be calling you this late, It's Bailey, Bailey Samson."

I was speechless. "Hold on okay?" I set the phone down on the table. "Honey hang this up when I call." Clarissa nodded and slid over some so she could reach the phone.

I walked to the den and picked up the phone. "Okay hang it up!" I called. I heard a click, "Hello Bailey." I whispered. It sounded like she was crying.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

I feared the answer. "No... I'm so sorry, I'm pregnant."

I almost dropped the phone. Just one night had changed my life forever. I was responsible for another human life. "You don't have to pay child support or anything, I just wanted to let you know."

I snapped out of my day dreaming "No, Bailey I'll do more than that, I'll be the father." What was I saying?

"Meet me somewhere, I have three months off. I'll come to Pennsylvania." I
tried to persuade her.

"No Nick you have a wife. I shouldn't have even called." She began to stutter and I knew how frightened she was, and I knew she hadn't told her parents yet.

"Bailey, I don't love Clarissa the way I love you. I fell in love instantly when I saw you. I want to be with you... and our baby." I still didn't understand what I was doing.

"I'll book a flight to Pennsylvania in three days. Just let me settle everything here and I'll be up. I'll call you from the flight. And tell you where to meet me in the airport. Okay?" I waited patiently for her answer.

"Okay Nick." She whispered.

"Okay, just stay calm and I'll see you in a few."

She gave me her number so I could call her and we said our good byes.

I sat in the den and pondered about what I was going to do.

"Clarissa!" I had to tell Clarissa, even if I didn't love her I still respected her. I ran up the stairs and opened our closet door. I pulled out my yellow duffel bag, and began to throw things into it.

"Something wrong baby?" She asked taking off her glasses and setting down her puzzle.

"Yeah. I'm calling off the wedding. You don't deserve me, you deserve better." I went to the bathroom and threw in my toothbrush, shaving kit, shampoo, extra.

"Nick what are you talking about?" She stood up and began to argue with me.

"Clarissa, at the Pennsylvania concert something happened... that shouldn't have happened if we were..."

Clarissa finished my sentence for me. "Really in love... What happened Nick." She asked sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I got a girl pregnant. I love her." I kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I'm going to go stay with Brian for a few days so I can fix some things, Then I'm going to see Bailey."

Clarissa was almost in tears. She nodded weakly. "I'll cancel the arrangements and call my parents, you..."

This time I finished her sentence. "I'll call the guests." I smiled weakly at her and kissed her again. "I'll get my stuff out of her by the end of the month." I whispered.

"Okay" She nodded and smiled at me. I left the house and jumped into my SUV. I drove for almost an hour to Brian's house. I walked to the gate and pressed the button.

"Hello? Who is it?" a tired male voice asked through the speaker.

"It's me, Nick."

There was silence then the gates began to creak open. I stepped inside and hoisted my bag over my shoulder. I walked to the door and waited until Brian opened it and let me inside.

"What's up?" He yawned.

"Clarissa and I broke up. We aren't going to get married anymore."

Brian's eyes grew wider. "You guys have been together for almost five years."

I shrugged. "I met someone a month ago. I fell in love but I wasn't sure she felt the same way. Now I know."

Brian was still trying to figure out what was going on. "Mind if I stay with you for a couple days?" He nodded and took me up to the guestroom.

"Brian, baby who was it." I turned and looked at Leighanne who was standing in a revealing nightgown. I quickly looked away and blushed deeply. I sat in the room alone, staring at the phone. I nervously picked it up and dialed my parents. They always thought that Clarissa was good for me.

They would be furious once they found out that we had broken up and that I had a baby on the way. The phone rang five times before someone picked up.

"Hello?" a tired boy's voice asked. My little brother.

"Hey AC, Could you get mom or dad, it's really important." I chewed on my bottom lip nervously.

"Nick... You're insane... It's almost 1:00 in the morning, and you're calling. Don't you know that some people sleep? Does this seem right to you?"

I had to laugh at my brother's sarcasm "Aaron, please." I heard the phone being set down. A few minutes later I heard my mother's worried voice.

"Nickolas? Is everything all right? You're not hurt are you?"

I smiled. " No mom, But I felt I had to tell you something. I feel this is the right thing to do..." I let my voice trail off. " Go ahead what is it?" I took a deep breath to try to prepare myself for the news. "Mom, Clarissa and I aren't getting married any more. We broke up because..."

I didn't think I could say. "Because I got another girl pregnant, and we decided that it would be wrong for us to get married, if we really didn't love each other."

There was a long silence and I knew my mother was shocked to hear that her son, the little boy that told her he would wait for marriage to lose his virginity, had gotten a girl pregnant.

"Who is she?" she asked quietly. I felt relieved that she wasn't crying or screaming.

"Her name is Bailey Samson, she lives in Pennsylvania, and she's seventeen. We met at a concert about a month ago."

My luck had run out because my mother began to scream. "Nick! Do you understand what you have done! You've committed a crime! Statutory rape! She's seventeen a minor and you are twenty years old!"

"Yes mom I know that but..."

She left me no room to talk. "But nothing young man! I thought you knew better than that. I raised you better."

I knew what I had to do. My mother had taught me never to raise my voice at ladies. But to be heard by my mother I had to. "You raised me to follow my heart mother!" I screamed. I knew she had stopped screaming, so I lowered my voice back to normal. "This just felt right mom, I fell in love with her, her heart is good and kind. I know she loves me for me, not the money I make or the things I can give her." I
sighed.

"But Nick, she is not even out of high school." My mother pleaded.

"And Clarissa is in college studying to be a psychologist. Nick she would have made a wonderful mother."

"Yes mother I know she would have, and she still will make a great mom, but to some other lucky guy's child. I love Bailey. I know you guys will too. Please just give her a chance, that's all I want from you." I waited nervously for their answer.

"All right. One chance for her. I'll get to calling the guests in the morning." I felt relived I knew my mother and father would accept her.

"Thanks mom. I love you and I'll see you soon." I hung up the phone and went to bed.

 

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