Chapter Seven: It Never Stays Easy

Ruthie walked over to her dresser and pulled out a t-shirt, she tossed it back into her dresser and let out a cry of frustration. She finally picked up a t-shirt and a sweater. She threw the sweater on and headed downstairs to get some breakfast (or pretend to at least).

Ruthie headed into the kitchen luckily nobody was there. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet and pulled out the water from the fridge. She poured herself some water and went into the living room. She sat down and turned on the TV. Where is everyone?

Ruthie sat watching TV for a while, after about an hour her mother and the twins walked in. Sam and David sat down on either side of her; David took the remote and changed the channel.

"David I was watching that." Ruthie said. David shrugged.

"We want to watch cartoons." David said.

"Yeah. It's Saturday morning." Sam said. Ruthie rolled her eyes and looked up at her mom.

"Hey, where's everyone been?" Ruthie asked.

"Oh, around. Lucy wants to talk to you. She called and asked if you go over." Annie said looking at Ruthie suspiciously. "Is something going on between you too?"

"No." Ruthie said simply. "I'm gonna head over." Ruthie got up and headed out the front door. She backed up against the door as it closed. Her mother was getting suspicious; they couldn't keep it a secret much longer she was already almost three and a half months pregnant.

Ruthie walked over to Lucy's house when she arrived at the back door Lucy was in the kitchen making lunch for Savannah and Kevin. Ruthie knocked twice. Lucy looked over and her face got very serious.

"Finally." Lucy said pulling the door open.

"What do you mean finally?" Ruthie asked walking in and sitting at the counter.

"I mean you've avoiding me for the past two weeks!" Lucy said angrily.

"I have not." Ruthie said stubbornly. "Okay maybe I have. But I can't tell them…not yet anyway."

"Ruthie I told you this from the beginning that I'd only keep your secret if you would tell Mom and Dad on your own and sooner rather then later. You can't tell them as you're being wheeled in for labor." Lucy said loudly.

"Shh!" Ruthie hissed. "What if Kevin hears you? He doesn't know…right?"

"No. But you have to tell them." Lucy said returning to making Kevin a sandwich.

"Lucy you don't understand! They're going to be so angry! I can't just tell them I need some time." Ruthie said. Lucy stopped and glared at Ruthie.

"You've had three months!" Lucy snapped. "I'm sorry Ruthie but you don't have anymore time!"

"What are you going to do if I don't tell them? Are you going to?" Ruthie said angrily. "You're prepared to tell them. Cause they won't be happy if they hear it from you!"

"You're right, which is why you have to tell them and now!" Lucy yelled.

"Just let me handle it! It's my problem and I'll handle it!" Ruthie screamed.

"Well you're not!" Lucy yelled in frustration.

"JUST BACK OFF!" Ruthie screamed. "Ow." Ruthie grabbed her stomach and leaned against the counter. Lucy looked at Ruthie nervously. She rushed over to her.

"Are you okay?" Lucy asked. Ruthie pushed away the pain subsiding.

"I'm fine! Just leave me alone!" Ruthie stormed out slamming the door behind her. Kevin walked in with Savannah in his arms.

"What was that about?" Kevin asked. Lucy looked at him but didn't answer.

Ruthie rushed up to her room and dropped on to her bed. There was a sharp pain in her side that wouldn't go away. She placed her hand over it and felt movement. Her heart stopped. She looked down at her stomach and put her hand over the small bump that was covered by her sweater. Tears filled her eyes. There really was a baby inside her. For the first time she felt connected to the being inside her, like it was actually really.

The phone rang; Ruthie ignored it relishing the moment with her child. But she heard her dad call up that it was Peter so Ruthie picked up.

"Hi Peter…hang up Dad" Ruthie said. She heard her father hang up. "Peter?" Ruthie said quietly.

"Hey, I was just calling to see how you were doing. So…how are you?" Peter asked.

"I felt the baby move today…it was painful…" Ruthie said.

"Is it supposed to be?" Peter asked sounding worried.

"I don't know." Ruthie said. She stopped and thought about it. "Lucy keeps pushing me to tell my parents. But I'm not ready."

"I know. I'm not either. But we have to and soon." Peter said.

"I know! Why does everyone keep pressuring me?" Ruthie cried angrily. "It's not that easy!"

Eric picked up the phone quietly and listened in on Ruthie and Peter's conversation. What he didn't know was that Annie was doing the same thing.

"I know its not easy but—" Peter began.

"I know I have to tell them. But they're going to be so angry. What if they hate me?" Ruthie cried for real this time.

"Your parents could never hate you. They'd want to help you. And you need their help you're in trouble."

"What do you mean I'm in trouble?" Ruthie snapped.

"I just mean that you need to tell them."

"Why don't you tell them?" Ruthie yelled.

"Well…they're your parents. I mean of course I'll be there with you."

"You know what I don't need your help! And I'll tell them when I want to! If I decide to! Maybe they'll never have to no!" Ruthie screamed.

"What do you mean by that?" Peter asked nervously.

"Why do you care?" Ruthie hung up.

Annie hung up and stared blankly at the phone. She rushed to find Eric. He was sitting in his office staring at the phone he looked up and knew she'd heard the call.

"She's in trouble Eric." Annie sobbed. Eric walked over and took her in his arms. "We don't even know what kind of trouble she's in!"

"Everything will be okay. We'll help her get through whatever it is…" Eric said calmly. I hope.

Feeling badly for how she reacted to Peter, Ruthie called him back to apologize.

"I didn't mean to flip out on you like that…I'm sorry." Ruthie said.

"It's okay. But you weren't thinking about…having a…you know…" Peter trailed off nervously. Ruthie sighed.

"No. I would never. I don't know what I was thinking." Ruthie said quietly.

"It's okay…we're both scared." Peter said honestly. "Do you want me to come over and keep you company?" Peter asked. Ruthie thought about it but thought it would probably not be such a good idea.

"No I think I'll be okay. I'll call you tonight." Ruthie said sweetly.

"Okay…I love you." Peter said. Ruthie took a deep breath.

"I love you too." She answered. Ruthie hung up and placed a hand on her stomach, she knew she had to tell them and she would…next week.