Stay with me, use me, and even drive
me out
The day I landed my first job, my cousin–in–law,
Jessica, announced she was pregnant. We were
all thrilled, but then she dropped a bombshell.
“Now that Sarah’s got a job, and I’m expecting,
it’s going to be crowded,” she said, her eyes
fixed on me. “Maybe Sarah should move out.”
The room went silent.
When it was clear no one agreed with her, she
backpedaled. “Fine, if you have to stay, you’ll
need to pay $1,500 a month for living
expenses.”
Except, the house was mine. The food, the
utilities
–
everything was paid for with my
money. Who should be paying whom?
My uncle, John, had cooked up a feast to
celebrate my job offer. He even brought out his
fancy whiskey. My cousin, Mark, Jessica’s
husband, rushed home from work. After a few
drinks, Jessica made her announcement.
“I’m pregnant.”
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For a few seconds, everyone froze. Then the
room erupted in cheers. Mark’s face was
flushed with excitement. “Really? Jess, why
didn’t you tell me?”
She gave him a coy smile. “Wanted to surprise you.”
John and my aunt, Mary, were ecstatic. Mark and Jessica had been married for three years, and they’d been desperate for a baby. This was huge news. I was happy for them, too. I started planning the massive gift I’d get for my new niece or nephew.
But the celebratory mood didn’t last. Jessica
put down her fork. “There’s something else,” she said.
Mary, beaming, asked, “What is it, dear?” “Sarah should move out,” Jessica stated flatly. “She’s got a job now, and with the baby coming, it’s just not going to be practical.” The room went quiet again. John and Mary looked uncomfortable. Jessica was usually
quiet, but she’d never been openly hostile
towards me. I’d always gotten along with her,
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so I tried to be reasonable.
“It won’t be a problem. I’m not a guy, you
know? I can help with the baby once he or she
arrives.”
“There won’t be room once the baby’s here,”
she insisted.
“Sure, there will,” I said. “We can clear out the
third floor. Plenty of space up there for you guys.” The house was huge; each floor had multiple bedrooms. We were currently living on
the second floor.
Jessica shot me a strange look. Mary chimed in, “Don’t you worry, Jess. We wouldn’t let you
and the baby be inconvenienced.”
“When the baby comes, I’ll be recovering, not
exactly dressed or behaving like I normally
would. It’s weird having someone else around all
the time.” Then her tone shifted. “Look, Sarah,
it’s not that I want to kick you out, but you’ve
lived with us for years. It’s time you were on
your own.”
Seeing my face fall, she added, “Your parents
died young, and John and Mary paid for
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everything – college, grad school, everything. Girls your age want to be independent. You should have some self–respect and stand on
your own two feet.”
I looked at John and Mary, speechless. John
slammed his hand on the table. “Enough,
Jessica! That’s enough! Mark, take your wife
upstairs.”
Mark protectively put his arm around Jessica.
“Dad, Jess is pregnant! Why are you yelling at
her? Besides, what she said is true.”
John, now furious, threw his drink on the floor.
“Get out! Both of you!”
–
Jessica was right about one thing my parents
had died in a car accident seven years earlier,
leaving me an orphan just before my senior year
of high school. They were both in a coma, and I
spent months shuttling between the hospital
and school. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t
manage alone and started looking into hiring
nurses.
That’s when John stepped in. “Sarah, you don’t
need nurses. Mary and I can take care of them.”
