Pregnancy Plan by Tina Gayle

reason for her friend’s smile. She appeared
excited about the evening. “Just don’t get involved with him. You
know his problems.”
    “ Is he dating anyone?”
    “ No.”
    Karen Ann backtracked out the door. “Well,
it’s just a friendly date, nothing more. Anyway, I need to get to
the beauty shop. We’re opening in a few minutes.”
    “ Yeah. Can you get me in for a haircut
sometime next week?”
    “ Sure, just let me know when.” Karen
Ann shut the door and strolled down the sidewalk to the shop where
she worked, her long blonde hair blowing in the wind.
    Beautiful with a shapely figure and sexy
blue eyes, she could have any man she wanted. Yet, the men she
picked never seemed to take her seriously, or were afraid of making
a commitment. They considered her a fun girl to date, but not one
to marry. Michael liked those kinds of girls. Karen Ann had a soft
spot for him and still carried the crush she'd had back in high
school. Hopefully, she wouldn’t let that blind her to his faults.
Jillian didn’t want to see either one of them hurt. But maybe they
were right for each other. Her friend could certainly handle him.
Look at the way she’d gotten a date.
    Michael, on the other hand, didn’t cheat on
the girls he dated. Once committed, he only dated one lady at a
time. Jillian shook her head. “Who knows? It could work.”
    ****
    The silent hands of the wall clock
drew Jillian’s attention. Almost closing
time.
    She recalled that she needed to give John
Paul his paycheck and glanced at the sign over aisle four. He
should almost be finished with restocking the drill bits she’d
given him an hour ago.
    The bell over the door tingled with the
entrance of a customer and she turned to a balding middle-aged man.
Martin York, John Paul’s father walked in the door.
    “ Afternoon, Martin.”
    The thunderstorm in his eyes stopped Jillian
dead in her tracks.
    “ Where’s my son?” What little hair
Martin had stood straight up on his head as if he’d just run his
hands through it. His mouth formed a straight, grim line. Anger
radiated from his body making his small stature look
formidable—like a heavy-weight boxer ready to enter the
ring.
    “ Is there a problem?” Not knowing the
source of his anger, she tried to calm him.
    Standing with his feet wide apart, ready to
do battle, he barked, “My son?”
    Not know what else to do, she pointed.
“Aisle four.”
    “ Thank you.” He stalked off. His
attitude scared her because she’d never seen anyone look so
furious. What had John Paul done?
    Listening carefully to the conversation, she
only heard muffled voices. The slapping sound of a palm meeting
skin sent her dashing down the aisle. Why would Martin hit his
son?
    Jillian rounded the corner.
    John Paul stood, holding his face. Unable to
stand any form of violence, she rushed to the young man. “What’s
the meaning of this?”
    Not bothering to answer, Martin turned and
stalked to the exit. “I’ll see you at home in ten minutes.”
    With John Paul’s arm firmly in her grip, she
struggled to understand what had happened. “Are you all right?”
    “ Yes, he’s just a little upset.” The
boy, shaken, refused to show his pain.
    “ That’s the understatement of the
year. My God, what did you do to make him so mad?” She ushered him
down the aisle toward the back of the store.
    “ Nothing.” John Paul appeared
unaffected by his father’s anger.
    Knowing there had to be more to the story,
she pressed again. “Is he angry like this often?” She hustled him
into her office, and pointed at a chair. "Sit down. You look a
little pale." She opened the refrigerator, and pulled out an ice
pack.
    “ Dad has a lot of responsibilities.”
Not taking the seat she'd offered, John Paul edged toward the door.
“I really should be going. Can you close up by
yourself?”
    Sensing she wouldn’t get any more
information, and not wanting him to be late, she nodded. “Don’t
worry about me. I can close up by