Date: Tue,  6 Jan 2004 21:15:43 -0500 (EST)
From: Brad <brad060103@excite.com>
Subject: College with Mark 11

CHAPTER 18

"Hey," Mrs. Whitfield said.

"I thought you left a few minutes ago," Mr. Whitfield said to Rick without
taking his eyes off of the television.

"I just went out to my truck for a minute."

"Oh, I just heard you go out and assumed you had left."

"I have something to tell you," Mary said.

"What is that, honey?" Mrs. Whitfield asked without looking up from her
needlepoint.

"I am pregnant."

Mrs. Whitfield dropped her needlepoint, and Mr. Whitfield dropped his tea
glass onto the hardwood floor.

"You are WHAT?" Mrs. Whitfield said.

"I am pregnant, mom."

"You can't be. You aren't married.  How could you do this to me?"

Mr. Whitfield just sat there staring blankly at Rick.  Rick was afraid that
Mr. Whitfield was going to jump up any second and beat him to death.


Mrs. Whitfield just started screaming and crying, "I just don't know what I
am going to do.  Why?" Then it became unintelligible garble.  Suddenly she
just looked at Rick, and began to shout, "YOU!" and pointed at him.  "This
is your fault.  You impregnated my daughter.  How could you do this.  How
can you stand in my house after you have done this to me.  Do you know what
they are going to say?" She then turned to her daughter and said, "We can
take care of this honey, and you can forget all about this loser."

"Mom, first of all, I cannot believe your insensitivity to all of this.
Second, I have made my decision, and I am going to have this baby.  You can
either support me or you can not, but you should know that I am just as
much to blame as Rick is.  I am prepared to live with my actions, and you
cannot buy me an abortion the way you did my brother's girlfriend when he
was in college."

"You did WHAT?" Mr. Whitfield spoke for the first time.

"When Roger was in college, he got this girl pregnant, and they didn't want
it, and Mom didn't want the embarrassment, so she paid for the abortion for
the girl."

"And you never told me?"

"I was going to, but I knew you would be upset."

"Why didn't I miss the money.  Wasn't it kind of expensive?"

"Well, it was while we were remodeling the kitchen, and so I just lumped it
in with the loan."

"You mean to tell me I am still paying for an abortion that happened three
years ago for some girl that I never even met?"

"That is about the size of it," Mary said as she looked at her mother with
fire in her eyes.

"If you choose not to support me, don't count on seeing a lot of your first
grandchild either, though right now you want to kill it."

"You wouldn't."

"I would.  Look, I am not against abortion totally.  I really did consider
it, but I don't think it is right for me.  I hope that you and dad can
support Rick and me, but if you can't, it isn't going to stop me," Mary
said, as she hugged Rick close to her.

Rick didn't know exactly what to say.  He had never known about Roger's
indiscretions, and he was quite shocked.  Roger was a couple years older,
and now lived out of town.  Rick had always thought he was the perfect kid.
He had done great in school and was big into church.

"I am leaving.  I will let you think about this, and I will talk about this
with you in the morning."

"Just a minute, young lady, I hope you don't think you are going to go and
spend the night at his house."

"Mom, first of all, it doesn't really matter what you think, and second of
all, I don't think it's any secret that we have already done what you are
afraid we might do if I do, so just stuff it.  I am leaving."  She turned
to Rick, "Come on, I will follow you in my car."

Rick turned around and looked at her dad and mouthed, "I'm sorry," and
looked toward Mary and her mom.

"Let me speak to Rick a minute before you leave."

"Dad, you leave him alone."

"No, Mary, I am prepared to take whatever he wants to give to me," Rick
said, and turned and walked into the other room behind Mr. Whitfield.

Rick stood in front of him and nervously said, "Go ahead, I will take
whatever, just please don't do any permanent damage.  I still want to be
able to be a good father."

"Rick, you are a brave fellow, and I am proud that you are going to marry
my daughter.  I am not going to hit you.  I am not going to even threaten
you to treat my daughter right, because I already know you will.  I already
knew it, but your willingness to come in here with me has cemented it.
Don't worry about what her mom says, she is just concerned about what the
ladies at the church, and more importantly to her, the country club will
say.  I am not going to lie to you.  I am disappointed about the way that
this has happened.  I do want to tell you that if you are just marrying her
because of the baby, don't.  I would rather deal with that than for the two
of you to get married and be unhappy because of it."

"Mr. Whitfield, you are not the first person to tell me that.  My parents
told me the same thing, as did my brother Mark, and I can assure you that
that is not the case.  I think that this only sped up something that would
have happened anyway."

"If that is the case, then you have my blessings."

Just then they heard screaming and wailing in the other room.

Mr. Whitfield said, "No, don't go in there.  I don't want you to have to
deal with that.  I can handle it.  I will send Mary in here."

A minute later, Mary came into the room.  She was followed by
Mrs. Whitfield, who was screaming at the top of her lungs.  Mr. Whitfield
was running along behind her trying to stop her with no success.

"How could you do this to me?" she said to Mary.  "And you," she said
turning to Rick, "how can you show your face here."

This really enraged the normally calm and even tempered Rick.  "I don't
know, Mrs. Whitfield.  Maybe it was because I was taught to face my
problems rather than running from them.  Maybe if you would prefer, I could
just leave and never see you, Mary, or my child again.  Would you prefer
that?  That would be some fun for your country club friends.  Maybe a
better thing would be if Mary and I just left and you never got to see your
grandchild.  Would you like that?  The only way you would even know about
it would be if my parents happened to show you a picture.  Is that the way
you want it?  Do you want her to have an abortion so nobody will know?  Go
ahead, but don't think your friends at the country club won't find out.
They will.  I will see to it if you try to kill my child.  I usually try to
hold my tongue, but I do not appreciate you tearing down Mary about this.
If you want to blame somebody, go ahead and blame me.  You can hate me if
you want, but like it or not, I am here because I want to be.  I will
defend Mary, my child and myself as best I can.  You can count on that.
Don't think you are going to be walking all over her anymore."

"Well, maybe you should just leave, you disrespectful brat."

"No, mom, I don't think he is the one being disrespectful.  He came over
here and made an attempt to do what both of us think is the right thing.
He and I both know that we made a mistake, but I hope you understand we
both intend to make something beautiful out of what is seen as a mistake.
Rick has been nothing but respectful to you and Dad.  It is very hard to
keep from saying something to someone who runs into the room wailing like a
banshee, and then turns to you spouting insults.  If anyone in this room is
a disrespectful brat, it's you.  I am tired of this nonsense.  You only
accepted Todd because he has done just what he was supposed to, and when
you talk to your friends, you pretend like Scott is not even alive because
he is 27 and unmarried.  He doesn't even call you anymore because you are
so awful to him.  If Todd and Janie didn't keep in touch with him, you
wouldn't even know he was alive.  You just can't accept the fact that he is
gay.  Mom, if you would just open your eyes to the fact that life does not
always happen the way you plan it, and just accept things as they come to
you, this whole family would be much happier.  You have run your oldest
off.  Do you really want your youngest gone too?"

"Scott is gay?" Rick looked at Mary in disbelief.

"No he isn't," Mrs. Whitfield said.

"Mom, if you deny it enough, it doesn't make it any less true.  It isn't
like he never came out to us.  He told us in plain English.  Do you think I
will be any less pregnant if you just pretend I am not?  Will you be any
less a grandma?  Oh wait -- you will be less a grandma because I will keep
you away from my child."

"Ok, that is enough everybody," Mr. Whitfield said.  Everyone just stood
and looked at him in silence.  "I think we all need to get away from one
another.  All we are doing now is hurting each other, and there is no sense
in it."

"I am leaving now."

"Where do you think you are going?"

"I am leaving for the night," Mom.

"Not with him you are not."

"First of all, I am 24 years old.  I will come and go as I please.  Second,
I don't think that it is any secret that I have already done what you seem
to be afraid I will do with him, so leave me alone.  I will sleep in my car
before I sit and listen to you bitch at me all night.  Come on, Rick."

As they were leaving, Mr. Whitfield whispered into his only daughter's ear,
"Please call me tomorrow.  It is ok."

Rick and Mary got outside and Mary broke the silence, "Well, that went
better than I expected."

"I would have hated to see worse than you expected."

"That would only have been accomplished with a ride in an ambulance."

"Let's be glad it wasn't, then."

"How did your parents take it?"

"Not like that," Rick said flatly.

"That's good to know, but seriously, what did they say?"

"Not much really.  They were really happy and wanted to help all they
could.  Of course after finding out your middle son is gay one week,
finding out your eldest is about to become a father the next week isn't
quite as big a shock."

"I see your point.  Mom still pretends that Scott is going to come home
with a wife any day now.  He has told us that he is gay.  He has even
introduced me and Todd to some of his boyfriends, though none of them seem
to have worked out.  She just cannot handle things.  I think she will be ok
after she calms down though.  She can't really pretend this isn't
happening."

"I am just glad that we got everything out in the open."

"Me too."

"You know what else I am glad about?"

"What's that?"

"That you said yes!"  With that, Rick kissed her before she had a chance to
respond.

When they finally broke their embrace, "I am glad I said yes too."

After a few minutes of silence, Rick said, "I am exhausted from all of
this, how do you want to do this?"

"I would love to spend the night with you, but I don't think it is a good
idea.  I think that as much as she has processed today, my mom's head might
explode if I really do spend the night over there with you.  I probably
better stay here."

"You do not need to stay here with all of this.  You just stay at my house,
and I will go to my parents' house."

"I can't kick you out."

"You need your rest.  Tomorrow is the last day of school for you, isn't
it?"

"It is, thank goodness."

"You have a key to my place, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Just use it.  I am going to go on to my family's house.  You can come over
there first if you want to.  I know they will all be really excited to see
you."

"I don't know.  I am kind of tired."

"Come on. I am tired too, but it's only 8:15."

"Ok, but just for a minute.  I will follow you so that I have my car in the
morning."

"Ok. See you there."

CHAPTER 19

Mary decided to go back in after storming out and tell her dad where she
would be.  Her mom, fortunately was in the bathroom bawling at the moment.
Mr. Whitfield offered reassurances that everything would be okay.  Mary
drove over to the Lee house.  She was really nervous about going over
there.  After the way her mom reacted to the news, she was terrified to
walk in.  She knew Rick told her that they handled it well, but she was
nervous nonetheless.  She was relieved to see Rick still in the driveway
when she drove up.

"I knew you were nervous, so I waited out here on you."

"Thanks."

"You know there is no need to be nervous.  My parents are really ok with
it.  My mom even helped me pick out the ring, and wouldn't let me pay for
it.  I know it's their store and all, but it was still not free to them."

"Wow, they really must have taken it a lot better than my parents."

"They did, but the person who I owe the most to is Mark.  They were all
supportive about it, but Mark is the one who kept me from really falling
apart."

"I just can't believe that Mark is gay."

"He is.  I hope that doesn't bother you."

"I have to say I don't really like it, but I can't really hold it against
you."

Rick stopped dead still.  "Mary, Mark is my brother, and he is very
important to me.  I love him because he is Mark.  The fact that he is gay
is not something that makes me love him any less.  I hope you can see past
that and accept Mark for the wonderful kid that he is."

Mary just stared at Rick not quite sure what to say.

Rick moved first and said, "Let's go on in."

As they walked into the Lee kitchen they were greeted with huge grins by
Mrs. Lee, John and Brad who were sitting at the kitchen table drinking a
cup of hot chocolate.

John looked over to them and didn't say hey.  He just said, "Well?"

Rick took one look at him and started laughing.

Brad just said to Rick with a straight face and said, "Well?"

Finally Rick stopped laughing and turned to Mary and said, "I guess its up
to you to tell them how it went."

"I'm here, aren't I?  That should tell you something," Mary asked.

"I am guessing that means you said yes?" John said.

"Of course, but only on the condition that my youngest brother is sent off
to military school," Rick said and then turned to his mom.  "Can you handle
that for me?"

"I think that is a grand idea.  I see Mary is already making a contribution
to the family with such good ideas."

"I guess maybe that is a good idea, since the first two of you turned out
so bad.  A different idea might help me," John said in a tone that was just
a little more sarcastic than he meant it to be.

"I'll check with your father about that, but I am sure he will think it's a
good idea too.  I wonder if we can get him in one far away so that it is
too hard for him to find his way back."

"Ok guys, enough of this joking.  I am starting to get nervous," John said.

"Who is joking?" Mrs. Lee said.  Then she burst out laughing.

"So what is all the fun going on in here about?" Mark said walking into the
kitchen.  Then he saw Rick and Mary and said, "So can I safely assume that
we are looking at the future Mrs. Rick Lee?"

"You can," Mary said to the room.

Mark cheered loudly and ran over and hugged them both.  He could tell that
Mary was a little hesitant to hug him.  John did likewise followed by Brad,
who shook Mary's hand and then Rick's.  Rick grabbed him and hugged him.

"Congratulations, kids," Mr. Lee said.

"Yes, congratulations," Mrs. Lee said.  "I am sure you haven't, but have
you thought about a date yet."

"We really haven't, we have been dealing with other crisis," Mary replied.

"I take it that your parents did not take the news with open arms?" Mark
said.

"They were excited about the engagement, until my mom found out about the
rest."

"Well, I can say that it isn't the way I wanted it to work out for Rick,
but you are both good kids, and it is really a wonderful thing.  Just look
at Rick."

"Hmm, mom, when you put it that way, maybe it wasn't such a great thing
after all," Mark said looking over to Rick.

"I can still kick your little college butt."

"In your dreams."

"Maybe we can have a tag team match," John said, never to be left out of
the fight.  "Mark and I can take on Rick."

"Mary, walk in here with me for a minute," Mrs. Lee said.

"Ok," Mary said nervously.

As they left the room, Mark said to Rick, "I am glad it worked out.  How
bad did they take it?"

"He was fine, but she completely flipped out when we told her that Mary was
pregnant."

"I expected she would.  You know she is friends with my mom," Brad said.
"They are both socialites, and that upsets the image they want."

"She is going to just have to understand that while things don't always
work out they way you plan, they always work out," Rick said.

"And they will, Rick.  They will," Mark said.

In the other room, Mrs. Lee said to Mary, "You don't have to be so nervous.
I don't bite you know."

"I just don't know.  My mom sure did try."

"Well, don't worry about her now.  She will eventually accept this and be
happy about it.  Her love for her grandchildren will overwhelm the problems
she has with it.  Believe me, I know.  I was in your shoes once.  That is
where Rick came from."

"He mentioned something about that."

"Well, every mother has a plan for her children and my kids have not
followed that plan exactly, but I think they are all good honest boys.
That is all I can ask of them.  I learned a long time ago that you have to
accept when things do not go according to plan and love your kids anyway."

"I was just afraid you were going to hate me the way my mom does now."

"I sincerely doubt that your mom hates you, but she is upset right now.  It
will get better, but you watch out for Rick.  She is going to probably
blame him and have it in for him for a while.  That is what happened with
my mother.  Of course after a while she finally accepted him and then I was
the one who didn't ever do anything right."

"So does that mean that you blame me?"

"Mary, first of all, unless there is something I haven't heard about, the
both of you were involved in creating this situation, so if I were going to
blame anyone it would have to be both of you equally.  I personally don't
have any room to blame anyone because I have been there myself.  I really
think that if I had to blame anyone it would have to be myself and Mr. Lee.
History has a tendency to repeat itself in future generations, so that is
where you two come in."

"I can't believe you are so understanding."

"Well, I just know that you have to do what you can to support the people
your children turn into.  I will say that while I love both Mark and Brad,
the news of their relationship was much harder for me to accept than this
is, if that makes you feel better."

"I hadn't really thought of that."

"Well, don't get me wrong, I really am glad that if Mark was going to be
gay that he and Brad found one another.  I am also really glad that they
were able to come out to us rather than to hide their lives from us.  I
respect the both of them and have accepted Brad into our family much the
same way that I intend to accept you if you will accept us.  It was just
much harder to take the fact that your son is in love with another man than
to find that you are pregnant.  It was very easy for me to relate to you
because I have been in your shoes before.  I hope that this helps you to
feel better.  I know your mom will come around."

"I don't know.  She still pretends my brother isn't gay."

"I had no idea that he was.  Has he told her he is?"

"Yes.  Todd and I have even met some of his boyfriends, of course none of
them were as cute as Mark and Brad."

"It is a lot easier for her to do that because he lives in Atlanta.  It
will be much harder with you living here for her to act like that."

"I just don't know.  I have never seen her like that."

"Would you like me to talk to her tomorrow?"

"I would love that, but that is a lot to ask of you."

"Don't worry about it.  I will do it tomorrow while you are at school."

"Thanks."

After a long day and evening, the whole family went to bed.  Rick's mom
rearranged their plans.  She told Mary that she could take Rick's old room,
and told Rick to go on to his house.  She cornered Brad and Mark in the den
and said, "Brad, I hope it is okay, but I gave Mary your room.  I know Rick
had planned to stay over and he could have just shared Mark's room but I
thought it would be better for Mary not to have to go to Rick's little
house by herself this time of night."

"That is ok, Mrs. Lee.  It is ok.  I can just sleep on the couch."

"Well, I have been thinking about it, and while I am not crazy about it, I
know you two sleep in the same bed in Athens, don't you?"

"Yes, Mom," Mark said, blushing.

"Well, I think that it is okay if you two sleep in Mark's room."

"Are you sure that is okay, Mrs. Lee?  I don't mind sleeping in the den if
it isn't."

"I know you don't, Brad.  I appreciate your consideration, and that is one
reason that I think it is okay for you to sleep there.  I wasn't born
yesterday and I know certain things might happen in there.  I don't really
want them to, but just make sure that Mary and John don't hear it."

"Mom?" Mark said, really blushing.

Brad tried to hide it, but Mrs. Lee could tell that he was excited as he
spoke.  "Thanks, but I really don't mind if it isn't okay.  I appreciate
all you and Mr. Lee have done, and I don't want to do anything that makes
you uncomfortable."

"Brad, it does make me uncomfortable, but at some point I am going to have
to get comfortable, and now is just as good a time as any for that to
happen."

Brad hugged Mrs. Lee, and whispered in her ear, "Thanks.  I love this whole
family."

"Thank you, Brad," she whispered back into his ear.

As they broke their embrace, Mrs. Lee said, "Brad, you better run on
upstairs and move your things into Mark's room, so you don't disturb Mary
later."

"I just need to get a couple of things."

"No Brad, take everything.  This is a permanent move."

"Really?"  Brad and Mark said in unison.

"Yes, now go!"

"Mom," Mark said, hanging back after Brad went upstairs.

"Thanks."

"You are welcome.  I should have let you do that from the start."

"It was okay, and we understood you not, but that isn't what I mean," Brad
said.

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Lee asked.

"I mean thank you for loving me in spite of what I am.  So many parents
don't.  I am really lucky, and so is Rick.  John too, but he just hasn't
had time to make you prove it."

"Lets hope he doesn't make us prove it for a while," she said smiling.  "We
are lucky to have kids like you.  Many parents don't realize how lucky they
are."

"Thanks anyway."

"Thank you for being honest with us about yourself.  Now get on upstairs
and get to bed."


Well guys, I hope you enjoyed this part.  I hope that you have had a great
holiday.  I have really enjoyed writing, and as always, I enjoy hearing
from readers.  Mark and Brad have plenty more adventures in front of them,
but I am not sure if there is a lot of interest still out there for them.
Email me and let me know if I should continue the story.  Thanks again for
your reading, and I hope to post the parts a little more frequently in the
new year.  Have a Happy 2004!!