Vi said. For the first time since she suspected she was pregnant, Vi felt an overwhelming urge to protect her baby. “I will not let that man anywhere near my child.”
Her mother scoffed. The softer side already gone. “What other choice do you have? Do you want everyone in the church, in the neighborhood, to know what kind of girl you’ve become?”
“If they want to judge me like that, then I don't care what they think,” Vi said. “Don’t you worry about me; I’ll do this on my own.”
“No, you won’t,” her mother said. “He won’t let you.”
“He can’t stop me and neither can you.”
“I don’t want to stop you. Do you think I want to spend the next eighteen years raising another bastard child? You can stay with your grandmother.”
The words surprisingly didn’t even sting. Her mind was hung up on what could only be described as hope. Hope that would only come in the form of her beloved grandma. “Do you think she’ll let me?”
“Yes, but you won't be able to come back here, and I can’t help you financially, you’re on your own now, my girl. You better just hope she can afford to feed you.”
“Okay.” She didn’t want any of her mother’s money or anything else she had to offer. Especially when anything her mother owned came from him. Just lead me to Grandma's house, she thought. Her grandma had always been one of her favorite people, but her visits to her grandma’s house had been few and far between. Who knew that a talk with her mother would actually give her peace. There was a first time for everything.
“I made you some oatmeal, Vi. I think you better get up. It’s nearly time for you to leave,” Her grandma said, breaking into her thoughts.
“Sorry, Grandma, I didn't sleep until the early hours.” For some unknown reason, memories about all that she’d been through were close to the forefront of her mind and she didn’t seem to be able to shift them. “I’m coming now. I’ll just have a shower first.”
“You do that, honey,” the older lady said.
How had she been so lucky to end up here with this gentle woman? The big question was, how had this gentle woman raised her witch of a mother? From the moment she knocked on her grandma’s door, she had enveloped her with love. She stood under the hot spray and her mind drifted back to that first day…
“Vi?” the elderly lady asked. “Is that you?”
Vi stood, suitcase in hand, unable to find words to explain how or why she came to be standing there on her grandmother’s doorstep. So much rested on her grandma’s acceptance, she didn't have a plan B. What if she turned her away? “Yes, Grandma Lillian, it’s me. Do you remember who I am?”
“Of course, I remember who you are!” the woman said, taking the bag and pulling her into the house. “You are my only granddaughter; how could I forget you? There has never been a day I didn’t think of you, or a night that I didn’t say a small prayer for God to protect you.”
“Grandma, I know it’s a lot to ask but could I stay with you for a bit?” Her eyes filled with tears. Asking for charity was never an easy thing for her. “I don’t have anywhere else to go.”
“As if you have to even ask, I’ve longed for this day.”
Now, for the hard part, fear twisted in her belly. “I have to tell you something first, it’s only fair.” Vi fiddled with her raggedy ponytail, one hand instinctively protecting her still flat belly.
“You want to tell me that you’re having a baby?”
Vi was shocked that her grandma had guessed her secret and even more stunned that she didn’t seem to mind. “Um, well, ah, yes, but how did you know?”
“There are signs,” Lillian said with a smile. “When I opened the door, you had your hand on your belly, like you were protecting something, you still do. Only one thing that you could be protecting in there,” she said with a chuckle.
“Are you okay with this? I mean, you don’t mind?” Vi asked.
“Why would I mind about an innocent little tot? Especially one that will be my great grandchild.” Lillian smiled.
Vi did something she hadn’t allowed herself to do up until that point, she burst into tears.
“Oh, honey, everything will be okay.” Lillian hugged her tightly. “You poor little thing, I bet you’ve been worried sick all the way here. How did you get here?”
“My mother bought me a bus ticket,” Vi said through her sobs.
“Oh well, it might have been the kindest thing she did for you yet, to get you away from that man. I'm just sorry I couldn’t have taken you away from there myself sooner.”
“She couldn't wait to see the back of me.”
Lillian said nothing for a minute and then grinned. “You know what we need? A little bit of cheer. I’ll get us something to eat, a hot drink and then we’ll go to bingo.”
“Where is bingo, Grandma?” Vi asked as they walked along the sunny, tree lined street.
“The church hall, not much further to go.”
Vi stopped in her tracks. “You won’t tell them I'm pregnant, will you?”
“Why ever not?”
“It’s a church! Won’t they think I’m an evil sinner?” Vi had been told her whole life what God thought about sinners, she thought she'd finally escaped all the judging.
“Not all churches are like that, honey. In my church, God loves everybody.”
“Sorry it’s only oatmeal, honey,” Lillian said, as she sat down at the table.
“I love the way you serve oatmeal, Grandma,” Vi answered with a smile. This woman could serve burnt toast and make you feel like you were eating pancakes and bacon.
“Why don’t you call in sick today, Vi? Have yourself a little nap.”
“I can’t, Grandma,” Vi said. “But I’ll get an early night tonight if I can.”
“You need some fun, Vi, it isn’t good for you to hang around here punishing yourself forever you know.”
