I look down at my stomach. There’s a tiny bulge there, but only Ajay and I notice it. After we’re married, I’ll tell my parents. I know they’ll be pissed but there isn’t anything they can do about it. I’ll be Mrs. Ajay Ballard and they’ll just have to accept my choices.
Ajay reaches across and places his hand under my shirt, his palm on my stomach. Every night since I failed the most important test of my life, he’s laid in bed and spoken to our baby. He even bought me a book on what to expect and we’ve read it together.
I am so in love with the man next to me. I can’t wait to be his wife and the mother of his child.
“We’ll be fine, Ajay. My daddy will come around. Once I tell my mom she’s going to be a grandma, she’ll force Daddy into submission. You know deep down he’s just a big ole softie, like a bear.”
“Like a grizzly, while they’re cute and fluffy, one swipe with a paw and I’m out cold.” Ajay pulls up along the curb and shuts my truck off. “Are you sure about this, Whiskey?” He asks me again, “Marriage… it’s forever.”
“Stop fighting me on this, will ya?”
Ajay looks out the window and finally back at me. “I have nothing to offer you, Whiskey Girl. I’m barely passing school and my job stocking shelves at the mini mart doesn’t pay shit.”
“It pays enough to feed me and our baby. I’ll worry about putting a roof over our heads.” I take his hand in mine. I expect him to get out and drag my ass up the stairs of the courthouse, but he lets go of my hand and turns the truck back on instead.
“Where are we going?”
“Look, I can’t afford much, but I do have a couple hundred saved up.”
“For what?”
He looks at me and smiles. “For a ring.”
“I don’t need one, Ajay. Besides, I have a math test in fifth period that I have to be back for.”
He doesn’t listen and continues to drive us to the superstore. We walk hand in hand to the jewelry counter, all the while I’m looking over my shoulder for a sighting of either of my parents. They’re going to be pissed I ditched out on school today, but not as angry as they will be when I tell them why.
The clerk comes over to help and Ajay asks to see the rings in his price range. I can tell he’s a bit embarrassed but I’m not. I’m in love with him and want to be his wife.
“Which one do you like?”
I point to one of the three he’s showing me. It’s small, simple, and beautiful. He pays for the ring and a band to go along with it.
“What about for you?” I ask.
“Maybe next month, I don’t have enough to buy all three.”
“I should buy yours.”
“Nah, I’ll get it. Besides, after today, my money is yours.”
“And mine is yours,” I say, giving him a kiss in the parking lot. Standing at the truck, his hand rests on the handle. “Everything okay?”
He nods and drops down to his knee. “Whiskey Girl, will you marry me?”
I throw my arms around him and we almost fall to the ground. We’re laughing as he slips the ring onto my finger.
“Come on, we gotta hurry.” He helps me into the truck and makes his way back to the courthouse. Inside, we have to show our driver’s licenses to pro
ve we are of age.
“Does your daddy know what you’re doing, Jamie?” the desk clerk asks.
“Sure does. Told this boy to start acting like a man. What a better way to be a man, right?”
She cocks her head to the side and gives us an ‘uh huh’ as she continues to process our paperwork. We sign our names and she tells us that Judge Harvey can see us in ten minutes. Frankly, that’s too long but I can be patient.
As we wait, Ajay’s leg bounces up and down. “Cold feet?”