There was a light tapping at my study door. I looked up from my work, annoyed at the interruption. "What is it?" I half yelled at the door.
"Daddy, can I come in?" It was my daughter, Linda.
"Okay, but this better be good."
She timidly crept into the room and stood by my desk. I could see she had been crying.
"What's the problem baby?"
"Oh daddy, I'm pregnant!"
"What? Who did it? " I shouted.
"I know, but I'm not telling. He doesn't want the baby and his family moved out of the country. He's going with them. What should I do?"
Tears were streaming down her face. "Tell me who it is and I'll have my people take care of the little rat."
"Too late daddy. They left yesterday," she sobbed.
"Come here baby. Sit on daddy's lap."
She walked sheepishly around the desk and sat in my lap.
"Okay honey, what's done is done. What do you want to do about the baby?"
"I want to keep it daddy. I don't want an abortion."
"You are nineteen years old. You have no job. How do you plan on supporting the child?"
"I don't know daddy. I need help. What can I do?"
"Your only options are, adopt it out or keep it."
"Oh, daddy, I have to keep it. I wouldn't abandon my child."
"If your mother were still alive, I'm sure she would know what to do. Do you plan on staying home?"
She was crying out loud and in earnest now. "Daddy, please don't throw me out. I'll be good to you. I'll handle the baby. I won't go out any more. I'll cook and clean and do anything else you want but please don't kick me out!"
"Baby girl, it never crossed my mind to abandon you. Of course you can stay here. But you have to change your life style. All that party stuff has got to go. You must learn to be responsible if you're going to be a mother."
She threw her arms around my neck. "Oh daddy, daddy! Thank you. You're the best daddy in the world. I'll change. No more parties. No more wild friends. Just you and me and my baby." She sniffled.
It was no wonder to me that Linda was pregnant. She was a beautiful young lady. She was about five foot two, a hundred and five pounds, nice hour glass figure, blond hair and a pleasant personality. The only thing that really surprised me was that this hadn't happened three or four years ago.
"Let me finish what I'm doing here. Wait for me in the living room. I'll be in as soon as I can."
She hugged me again and gave me a kiss on the lips. "See you later daddy," she chirped as she departed my study.
I am an outdoor writer for a national magazine. My job keeps me on the go a lot. After I finished this piece, I didn't have to produce another for three months. Because of my job, I have to stay in top physical shape, so I have a home gym. I'm not a muscle builder, but I am fit. I put the finishing touches on the article I was writing and sent it off to my editor.
I walked into the living room. She was curled up on the sectional, still sobbing softly. "Crying time is over," I announced, "it's time for action."
I produced a hanky and she wiped her eyes and then blew her nose into it. "What's your plan?" I asked.
"I don't have one daddy. That's why I'm counting on you to help me with this. I don't know what to do."
"Have you been to see and OB/GYN?"
"No daddy. I just missed a period and flunked the blue stick test."
"The first thing to do is to get you medical assistance. I'll take you to see the doctor your mother used when she was pregnant with you. If he confirms that you really are pregnant, we'll have to make some plans for the child. The baby should be our first concern. I want you to get on the phone to those loser friends of yours and fire the lot of them. Do it today. You need to start running with a new crowd."
She was starting to feel a little better. At least she had stopped sniffling. "Okay daddy. What do you want me to do around the house? I know how to cook a little and I can clean just about everything. If you need anything, just ask and I'll do my best for you. I love you daddy."
She sat next to me on the sectional and cuddled into my arms. My perfect, pregnant baby girl.
A visit to the doctor the next week confirmed that she was, indeed, pregnant. As soon as we got home, we went into the living room. I sat her down and looked carefully at her. I wished she wasn't so damned beautiful.
"Here's the deal, you must never miss an appointment at the doctor's office, no exceptions. If he prescribes drugs, you must take them religiously. We must convert one of the bedrooms into a nursery. You decide which one and we'll get a contractor to do the conversion. From now on, your job is to keep our house clean and to keep us fed. Did you call all your losers?"
"Yes daddy and you know what? They weren't really friends after all. They were pretty snotty about it and didn't seem to give a damn about losing me as a friend. I guess they were just using me all along. I have ruined my life for a bunch of assholes!"
"Baby girl, your life isn't ruined. Babies are something to love and enjoy. Just because the father ran out on you doesn't mean your life is over. It's just beginning. Time will stop the pain. Just be patient."
She went into labor eight months later. We already knew it would be a boy and all signs leaned toward him being healthy and normal.
"I want you in the delivery room daddy."