Home for the Holidays

2: Dumped for Christmas

The ride from the Uzzell family home to the McNair was quiet and awkward. Tahj was still in shock about the news and Nevaeh sat in the passenger seat sobbing uncontrollably. Tahj couldn’t believe the Uzzells and the only thing he knew to do was take her to his house.

“I- I just don’t understand.” Nevaeh cried. “Daddy and Mama got married when Mama was only eighteen. I’m two years away. So what if I’m sixteen and pregnant? We’re getting married too. It’ll all work out.”

Tahj didn’t respond to Nevaeh verbally. He couldn’t because he didn’t know what to say or how to ease her pain. He only placed his hand on her knee to give her comfort. The McNair’s lived on the outskirts of Aurora Creek on Camden Drive in an open modern four-bedroom home surrounded by two pools and a lazy river. Josephine McNair was a fifth-generation rumored only child and a cutthroat businesswoman. The Uzzells may have built Aurora Creek, but the McNairs financed the city. Both families had residential housing and city streets dedicated to them. Aurora Creek wouldn’t exist without the two families. The only difference between the two; the Uzzells were traditionalist, and the McNairs were not. Josephine loved flaunting her wealth and showboating lavishly. Although Maximilian made it clear his family was wealthy, he never publicly or arrogantly displayed his wealth.

Josephine was also a very proud person, even more than Maximilian. Her shallow and judgmental nature was her biggest strength and weakness. She’d spent thousands on altering her appearance to avoid the inevitable; aging. Oddly enough, the town referred to the business tycoon as a botched Bratz doll, Surgery Sasha, though no one would dare say it to her face. Frank was the complete opposite of his wife. He was introverted, shy, and quiet. He worked a desk job for the state and wasn’t one for the lavish lifestyle. Josephine controlled him and his peers viewed him as weak. Yet, Frank was madly in love with Josephine.

Tahj pulled into the driveway and his bright lights beamed through the living room window. Neither Frank nor Josephine paid attention to him when he exited his car. The couple sat in silence in the living room when Tahj walked through the door with a shuddering Nevaeh. Frank was solving a crossword puzzle and Josephine was focused on her tablet, reading financial reports. Their Egyptian Mau, Anubis, greeted the couple with a meow, but it was Nevaeh’s teeth chattering that caught their attention.

Josephine looked up from her tablet and pushed her honey blonde hair away from her face. “What are you two doing here? Tahj, I thought you were staying at the Uzzells tonight.” Her tone went snooty and judgemental. “Nevaeh, why do you have on a onesie and bunny slippers? Where’s your clothes?”

“Mom, Dad, we need to talk upstairs,” Tahj voiced.

Distracted by Nevaeh’s state, Frank remarked, “Nevaeh, you poor child. You must be freezing! Tahj, put her by the fireplace so she can get warm,” he frantically urged.

Tahj led Nevaeh to the sitting chair by the fireplace and Frank wrapped a blanket around her. The parents then followed Tahj upstairs to his room.

“Okay, Tahj, what the hell is going on? Why is Nevaeh here like that,” Josephine immediately grilled.

“Vaeh got disowned and kicked out the house,” Tahj responded and paused before opening his mouth to continue.

“Why,” Josephine rudely asked before letting Tahj finish explaining.

“Because she’s pregnant,” Tahj revealed.

“He could’ve at least let her put on some actual clothes before kicking her out for Pete’s sake. If she’s with child, that’s inhumanely cruel,” Frank muttered with annoyance.

Josephine went pale and her sunken jawline clenched. “PREGNANT! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUC-.” She paused and took a deep breath. She lowered her voice so Nevaeh wouldn’t hear. “Are you out of your frickin’ mind? What do you mean she’s pregnant?!”

Tahj stood there dumbfounded by his mother’s scolding. He shrugged and answered, “I thought this was what you wante-”

Josephine’s gray eyes raged with fury and she immediately cut Tahj off. “You getting her pregnant this soon was not part of the plan! You were supposed to get married first! Hell, graduate high school at least! Tahj, how could you be so damn reckless not to use protection??”

“I have needs,” Tahj muttered. “And she gave it willingly.”

Even Frank’s brown skin flushed red. He scoffed at Tahj, saying, “My God Tahj! You could’ve wrapped it up and still satisfied your needs.” He turned to his wife. “What are we going to do?”

“She has to get rid of it,” Josephine replied firmly, taking a break from angrily gnawing on her manicured nails. “It’s the only way to fix this. This is so bad for us.”

“She’s pretty adamant about keeping it. The reason she got kicked out the house was because she insisted on keeping it and I don’t think she’ll change her mind for you,” Tahj explained.

Josephine shook her head so violently in protest, her French braid loosened and her hair fell to her shoulders. She shrieked, “Surely she can’t keep it and give birth! That is NOT an option!”

Frank played with his goatee and leaned against the wall. He broke his silence, countering Josephine. “Now Jo, let’s think about this. If she doesn’t want an abortion, maybe she can give it up for adoption.”

“Did you not hear what I just said, Frank? She’s not giving birth!” She turned back to Tahj. “How mad was Max?”

“He insulted both of us and kicked her out,” Tahj said. “It was pretty ugly. He wouldn’t even let her pack any of her belongings or change clothes. I was hoping she can stay here and I’ll try to get through to her. Maybe in a few days this’ll all blow over and she can go back home.”

“I know that old fool and I know how his type works. If she doesn’t give in and get rid of the baby, this won’t blow over. I’m not keeping her here,” Josephine objected, twisting her face into a disgusted frown.

“Where can she go? We can’t just abandon her like her parents. It’s our grandchild,” Frank reasoned.

Josephine put her hand on her hip and glared at her husband. After a few moments, she calmly voiced, “Frank, let’s go discuss this in our room. Tahj, tend to your girlfriend and child.”

Tahj returned to Nevaeh downstairs. Anubis was in her lap and she was still shivering. The fireplace helped warm her and melt her frozen tears, but it didn’t help ease the cold fury in her heart and her feet were still like icicles. How could her parents do this to her? And on Christmas! She wiped her wet eyes and grabbed a few tissues from the coffee table to blow her nose. A massive migraine was brewing from the built-up sinus pressure caused by her sobs.

“Hey, Nevaeh. Come with me. Let’s get you in some actual clothes.” Tahj extended his hand and smiled.

She looked up at him wide-eyed. “What did your parents say about the baby?”

“Right now, I don’t want you to worry about that. If you don’t get changed, you might get hypothermia. If that happens, there won’t be a baby or you to worry about,” he joked, trying to cheer her up.

Tahj took her hand and led her upstairs to his room. He removed her onesie, which revealed her bloated midsection. He wrapped her in several blankets before going downstairs to fetch her some hot chocolate and returning. Nevaeh sipped her drink slowly, enjoying the heat slowly coursing through her body. He grabbed some of her clothes he kept in his dresser.

“How far along are you? How long have you been hiding this?” he asked after handing her fresh clothes.

“I’m six weeks… I think. I found out before Halloween. I was waiting until today to tell everyone. And look how that turned out for me,” she held her head low and sobbed again.

“I wish you would’ve told me, Vaeh. Finish that and I’ll go run some water for you.” Tahj spoke, trying to maintain a calm voice.

Internally, he was freaking out. Having a kid at seventeen was never in the cards for him. From his conception, Josephine mapped out Tahj’s entire life. She planned out his love life too from the moment she set Tahj up with Nevaeh. He was supposed to graduate early, and after Nevaeh graduated, they’d get married. They’d spend the first two years of their marriage in school and while Tahj was going for his doctorate, he and Nevaeh would have their first child. After receiving his doctorate, he’d take over the family company. This pregnancy was a serious monkey wrench in Josephine’s plan and Tahj knew he f****d up big time.

Nevaeh finished her hot chocolate while Tahj ran a warm bath for her in his bathtub. While she was in the bath, he collected her empty mug and took it downstairs to the dishwasher. On his way back to his room, he stopped at his parent’s room door after hearing part of their discussion.

“It’s a shame they did her like that. Maximilian probably can’t even afford a grandchild and that’s why he kicked her out,” Josephine snickered. “Max moonlighting as an art critic and Gwen’s interior decorating gigs barely keeps food on the table.”

“You don’t know that, Jo. If they were that broke, it would be all in the papers. It’s not good to assume. It makes an ass out of you and m-”

“Shut it, Frank! They fired their butler and live-in nanny! They’re broke!”

“That doesn’t mean a thing. We let go of our help years ago, too.”

“That’s different and you know it,” Josephine hissed. “They were thieves and I don’t trust strangers coming in my house anymore.”

“That could be the case with them. You don’t know Jo. Anyway, what are we going to do about Tahj? This is a serious slip-up. It’s not fair Nevaeh is getting punished and Tahj is just as equally guilty.”

“My parents disowned Jeremiah ‘cause he dropped out of college to tell jokes. Surely this is worth disowning.” Tahj’s heart sank and he hurried off to his room in a panic. Although he didn’t hear it, Josephine continued, “However, I’m not disowning my child. He’s my only one and although I’m very disappointed in him, I’m not throwing him away. He will get a harsh lesson. I just don’t know what to do about Nevaeh. If she doesn’t get rid of that baby, this will truly ruin us, Frank.”

Tahj returned to his room where Nevaeh was out the tub and weeping in his bed. The same bed they conceived their child on. He laid beside her and held her close. She turned to face him, caressed his face, and weakly smiled. “I love you,” she murmured and curled extra close to him.

He asked her one more time if she would get rid of the baby and she refused. She wanted to have Tahj’s baby and she was so happy to be with him while his child grew in her belly. Nothing no one could say would convince her to get rid of it. She rested her head on his chest and fell fast asleep while he played with her hair. For the first time since her dad kicked her out, she looked… peaceful. A single tear fell from his eye. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, “Nevaeh, I can’t do this. I can’t lose everything. If you’re keeping this child, it’s over. I’m breaking up with you.”

Nevaeh slightly shifted and frowned her face, but didn’t wake. A few moments later, her body went still and she looked peaceful again. So peaceful, Tahj felt even worse about his decision.