The Favor

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn wiped the tears from her eyes. She couldn't believe she was pregnant. It had to be after Carter, the father of the baby, died that she found out she was pregnant. The baby needed a father and she had to be married soon, or else she'd be cast out of her family and disowned. She couldn't have that happen. She couldn't be on her own when this baby was born. The baby would have a ruined future all because of his or her parents stupidity. She wanted this baby to have a good future, she wanted this baby to have a chance in his or her life. Not cast out because he or she was illegitimate. She decided to go to Adam, the best friend of Carter. Perhaps he would have an idea on what should be done in this situation. She hoped he did. She couldn't bear to go to her family and tell her that she would be an unwed mother, and the father of the baby was dead.

 

[Bluee]

Adam was sitting in the living room of his house, staring at the TV but not really watching it. His head was a whirlwind of thoughts. Thoughts about his best friend that he saw dying infront of him. He still couldn't believe it, it still felt like a nightmare that will eventually end and he'll see Carter again and do all the fun stuff they usually do. He lived alone in this house that his parents left for him. There was no one else he could talk to, no one to take his mind off the tragedy that turned his life upside down. He also often thought of Kathryn, his best friend's fiance. She must be as devastated as him. He stood up and went to the bathroom. He washed his face as he looked into the mirror, the bastard that was driving drunk and crashed into them was in jail now. But was that any consolation? Taking a deep breath he went to the fireplace in the living room, adding wood to it.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn made it to Adam's house. She fixed up her hair a little from the mess it was since she had spent most of her day in tears over the fact that the love of her life was now dead and the fact that she was pregnant with his child. That and the fact that she would most likely become known as a cheap whore, who would be seen as scum in the upscale society she lived in. She wiped the last of her tears away and pounded on the door. She hoped Adam would have some idea on what she should do. She couldn't face telling her family that she was pregnant, unmarried and the father of the child was dead making it unable for them to marry and stop a scandal from erupting. And even if Kathryn was disowned and cast out for becoming an unwed mother, her family would still be stuck with the scandal of having a family member disowned. Either way, everyone lost. More tears pricked at the corners of her eyes and a few fell down her face. She quickly wiped them away, yet there were still stains on her cheeks due to her tears. She had found she was more emotional than before Carter had died. In fact, she was the complete opposite of the woman she was before. She was no longer a carefree, happy-go-lucky girl she had been. She was now a shell of her former self. She didn't even fight back when people disagreed with her. She just agreed blindly with whatever people said, something she never did before.

 

[Bluee]

Adam didn't know for how long he had been standing there, poking the fire of the fireplace. When he suddenly heard banging on his door. That was strange, nobody was coming to visit him, not that he know of at least. He adjusted his clothes as he slowly went to the door. Taking a deep breath he gave himself a moment to collect himself. He had no doubt that he looked a miss but he couldn't really care less. Opening the door slowly he was shocked, it was Kathryn. It looked like she was just crying, remnants of tears were left on her face. "Kathryn? Jesus are you okay?" He opened the door wide. "Please come in." He said while ushering for her to enter with his hand. He then went in after her and put a chair in front of the fireplace for her, it was chilly outside. "Please take a seat." He never expected that she would come to visit him. Thought he didn't blame her for looking so emotional, she had just lost the love of her life. He knew exactly how much Carter loved her and he was determined to listen to whatever she says.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn slowly walked in the appartment and took the seat by the fire.


"Adam," said Kathryn, before bursting into tears. She wiped her tears and collected herself before speaking again. "What I'm about to tell you, you must not tell anyone. I'll be ruined if you do." She took a deep breath before saying, "I'm pregnant with Carter's child."


Kathryn started sobbing again.


"What am I going to do?" she asked tearfully. "I can't tell my family. They'll disown me. Every chance this child has will be gone."

 

[Bluee]

Adam was shocked to his core when he heard what she had to say, he couldn't believe the words that came from her mouth. He remembered Carter and his love for children, of how much he wanted to be a father. He walked up to Kathryn and gave her a hug as he tried to calm her down. "Shhh, dear god.. Are you sure? Don't worry I would never tell anyone." If this is true then she really is in a lot of trouble. He pulled himself away from her and looked into her tearful eyes. "Don't worry, I'm gonna go get you something hot to drink and calm your nerves then we'll search for a solution. I would never abandon you in a situation like this."


With that he went to the kitchen, his mind starting to ache from the amount of thoughts swimming in it. This was a real problem, but he will help her figure things out. The child is his best friend's child after all.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn nodded. She began wiping her tears. What made her most sad, was the fact that Carter wanted so much to be a father, and that would never happen. He would have married her in a heartbeat once he found out she was pregnant. He would have been so happy and so excited to see his child. The thought made Kathryn sob harder. She would make sure this baby was well cared for even if her family did disown her and that this child, she would make sure he or she was raised with as much love and care any child could recieve.

 

[Bluee]

A few minutes later Adam came back to the living room holding two cup of coffee. He gave her one and sipped from the second one as he sat beside her. Taking a deep breath he said. "You know very well how much I loved Carter. He was my best friend and the future of his child is as important to me as it is important to you. Don't worry, there must be a solution." after Having another sip of his coffee he continued. "When did you find out? And for how long have you been pregnant."

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"Thank you," said Kathryn, taking the coffee. "I just found out. I was suspecting it all weak ad I went to the doctor today. I'm about a month along. What am I going to do? I'm going to be disowned!"


Kathryn broke down into tears again. She had never been so scared in her life. She was scared she was going to be all on her own. She couldn't handle that. Sure she could be cold and short-tempered and she acted like she couldn't stand the company of people, and that could drive people away, but she'd never be able raise a child without help.

 

[Bluee]

Adam sat silently, pretending to be calm while his mind was overflowing. trying to find an answer to this problem but he couldn't find anything. "Kathryn look at me, you are not going to be disowned. I will not allow that to happen, there must be a solution. Lets just think together calmly." He then gave her a small sad smile. " I can almost picture how happy he would've been if he had heard that you were pregnant. It was one of his dreams to be a father. But now you carry a part of him."

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn smiled sadly.


"I suppose you're right," Kathryn said. "I want this baby to have all the chances he or she would have the same chances he or she would have if I were married. And I'll never let this child forget his or her daddy loved them. There must be something we can do to ensure that this child ha a bright future despite the stupidity of his or her parent. There must be something."


Kathryn broke down in tears again. She had rarely cried before Carter's death and know she seemed to cry everyday.

 

[Bluee]

Adam stroked his head with his hand as he tried to think of a solution. The situation was starting to become desperate. "Don't worry there is always a solution all we have to do is think about all the poss..." Adam stopped suddenly, his eyes wide with shock and realization. After a few moments of thinking about this solution he decided that it would work. But how could he tell her such suggestion... She will probably think that he is using the situation to his advantage. "There is a solution but... I don't think you will like it very much."

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"Tell me!" Kathryn said, anxiously. "There's no bad idea at this point. I'll take any idea there is. As long as it will lead to this baby having a better life than it would now.


Kathryn was desperate. She need some solution to this. Her eyes were begging him to tell her what his solution was. She was so anxious to know. If he had a solution she needed to hear it.

 

[Bluee]

Adam took a deep breath. "Marriage is the solution. I... I will be willing to marry you as a public showoff in front of your family. And I will raise Carter's child as if he or she was my own. Carter meant the world to me and I'd be willing to do that much for him." Adam couldn't believe he was suggesting such a thing to her. "I promise that I will not force you into anything."

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn's eyes widened.


"Marriage?" Kathryn asked. "I, I couldn't ask you to do that. What happens when you fall in love and we're married. I couldn't ask you to give up your happiness. I'm so grateful you offered, but I can't."

 

[Bluee]

Adam edged on his seat and looked her in the eyes. "You don't need to ask me to do this, I want to do it. For Carter, for you and for the child you carry. I want your child to have the best life possible and ensuring that would make me happy. It's the least I can do for him... and you. All you need to do is agree to this plan and we'll go through with it."

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn nodded slowly.


"All right," said Kathryn. "I'll marry you. Thank you. I don't know what else there is to do."


Kathryn had never pictured her engagement going like this. But at the moment, it was the perfect engagement.

 

[Bluee]

"Everything is going to be alright." He then gave her a soft smile then took a sip from his coffee. "What do you think it will be? A boy or a girl?" He knew that he had just added a ton or responsibility on his shoulders. He now has to care for his best friend's wife and child. And what about her family. They were a high-class family. Will they even accept him?

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"I don't know," said Kathryn thoughtfully. "I've always wanted a little girl, but I'd also like a boy, to name him after Carter. But I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. I just want a healthy baby. What saddens me most is that I hope he or she doesn't look like Carter, as much as I'd like him or her like him."

 

[Bluee]

"I'm sure that it will be an amazing and healthy baby. And... I think I do understand where you are coming from." Adam was silent for a few moments before asking her. "Kathryn, what would your parents think about me. Would they accept me as your husband?"

 

[Binnie Ryman]

"We'll have to be married as soon as possible," said Kathryn. "They're biggest problem will be me rushing into the marriage. But they probably will be against it. But give it some time and I think they will tolerate you."

 

[Bluee]

"I expected as much but have no worries. I'm gonna fight the good fight and will not give up on the two of you." Adam was sure that he would somehow find a way to prove that he is worthy. "Would like to eat anything? Want me to make you a sandwich? you seem like you could use a snack. And now you'll need to eat well, the baby's health will depend on it."

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn nodded.


"I think a sandwich would be good. I haven't eaten much the past few days. And don't worry. Mum will warm up to you. It's Daddy I'm worried about. He didn't like Carter either. He thought he was taking his little girl away."

 

[Bluee]

He stood up and put a hand on Kathryn's shoulder as he was passing her. "We'll work things out, someway somehow." With that he headed to the kitchen and started preparing a mean for Kathryn. Adam was actually a pretty good cook, since he lives alone he learned how to cook a long time ago and enjoys doing it. All the while he was taking in the whole situation. committing his life to raise a child that was not his is not a decision some easily makes. But he was very determent.

 

[Binnie Ryman]

Kathryn couldn't believe she was going to be getting married. We'll, she couldn't believe she was getting married to someone other than Carter. She always thought he was going to be the one she was going to marry. She had always thought so, from the moment she had met him.