Chapter Twenty-Seven

Elowen's jaw dropped when she saw the family standing outside her doorstep. Philip had a smile, Harry was frowning, Veronica held Annabelle on her hip, and Roy spat out some gum right on their grass. Despite being furious with the situation, Elowen's mother allowed them into her home.

"I brought flowers!" Philip whispered with excitement as Elowen accepted them into her hands. "I know I said I was just going to talk to her, but I figured since you told your parents then maybe I should tell mine?"

Her eyes widened at her boyfriend. "Are you trying to start genocide in my home!? I swear, Philip, you lose intelligence everyday!"

"Elowen," her mother called. "You get our guest comfortable while I get some glasses of water."

"Water?" Roy shouted while taking a seat on the couch. "Can they not afford flavored drinks?" Veronica lightly patted his knee while grinning nervously at Elowen's mother.

Luckily, Harry was wise enough to change the topic purposely and because he was anxious to go back home. "Miss Walson? Is there a reason my boy Philip here dragged us to your home today?"

Elowen looked at her mother who was looking upside her head. "I was going to ask Elowen and Philip the same thing."

"We have good news for all of you!" Philip beamed while pulling Elowen down on his lap. She fought the urge to push off him since she was too shaken to control her own body.

Elowen's mother glared at her because she knew exactly what was about to happen. "Let me pass out the waters first," she told Philip in a warning voice. Elowen heard him gulp loudly.

That was her cue to try and talk Philip out of causing a great divide in their already crumbling relationship. She got off his lap and pulled him into the kitchen where her mother waited for them patiently. The two women didn't say anything except look at Philip with fuming eyes.

"I know what you both are thinking, but I thought this through! I swear. My parents love babies. That's why they had Annabelle." Elowen wasn't pleased with this information. "Mrs. Walson, I want to spend my last time as a free human with your daughter. I want to dance with her in front of the school. Show her off to my rents. I don't want to die knowing they never knew they had a grandchild."

"What is this talk about dying?" Elowen's mother looked at the couple in bewilderment. "Why are you dying?" They gave her pitiful looks and she found out exactly what was going on. Elowen's mother let out a sigh and the wrinkles on her forehead softened. "This isn't the way, Philip. The formal is a good topic but the baby... it's a terrible idea. Your parents aren't ready for a conversation like that especially after that stunt you pulled which involved running... away." Mrs. Walson lifted an eyebrow at the boy who's mouth slowly dropped.

Philip hit himself on the head with his palm. "You're so right!" He peeked out the kitchen to see his mother trying to keep Annabelle from running to pick up decorations. "Well, they're already here so what do I say? I need to make up a reason for dragging them all here."

Mrs. Walson left the kitchen with her trays of water and the couple followed behind her. "So this formal thing is really important to Elowen and Philip."

Veronica snatched Annabelle up before she could touch one of the glasses. "It's a horrible idea is what it is." Roy grabbed him a glass and Veronica followed after him. "Is this what this is about?" His father snorted while crossing his arms over his chest. "We already told Philip he could go. As for Evelyn here, that is your choice."

Mrs. Walson glared at his father then fixed her face when Elowen nudged her. "Elowen was grounded from the formal, but then I got word that Philip here was going to Vietnam."

Veronica cleared her throat as she prepared to say something but her husband cut her off. "Yes. We all agreed that he would live a good life before his deportation. I'd hate for him to die thinking his life was strict and lacking just." Harry looked at Elowen sympathetically. This was the first time his face has changed to anything other than rude looking.

Philip's mother almost passed out when those words escaped Harry's mouth. "We didn't agree on anything. We talked about Philip's enlistment last night and you said-"

"I know what I said. Arriving here made me realize why I was sending him off in the first place. Philip needs some order in his life. He's obviously stepping out of our guidelines which means my parenting isn't working. Maybe a Sargent in his face will straighten him out." Harry huffed to end his sentence.

Elowen looked around at all the faces that showed different emotions. No one was saying what she was thinking which made her lean out of her seat just a bit. "So wait. You're telling me you changed your mind about sending Philip away but seeing my face changed your mind again?"

Harry gave her the side-eye. "Harry!" Veronica's voice cracked at this sudden information. "You told me something completely different from our last conversation! how dare you! I already lost my son once!"

"Veronica, settle down and quit making a scene in front of these people."

This only made Veronica more furious than she was just two seconds ago. She then started going off on her husband which made Annabelle scream to the top of her lungs. Philip grabbed Elowen's hand and gave it a firm squeeze as she fell back in her seat in defeat. Mrs. Walson rubbed her temples at all the noise going on in her house. The commotion causes Henry to wake up from his nap and see what was going on.

The second Philip got to his feet, he took in a deep breath and said the words Elowen wanted to kill him for. "We're having a baby!" These words caused the house to drop silent. Even Annebelle went from crying to sniffling.

"Philip. Get in the damn car." His father said through gritted teeth. "Get in the car NOW!"

"No," he replied sternly. "Elowen is pregnant with my kid and before I go off to war, I feel like you two should know that." Philip sat down nonchalantly as all eyes were on him. "So," he shrugged with a smile. "Feels better now that it's out in the open." He then pulled out his wallet to show off the date of the appointment that he had written on a piece of paper. "I think it's a boy," he smiled.

Veronica took a seat while Harry stood strong and tall.

"She should be about six weeks now. I've been keeping tally on the calendar in the kitchen." He looked at his mom who had a tear sliding down her face. "Those little red dots in the corner were from me."

"Philip," his father said in a softer voice. "We should talk about this at home. First addressing the fact that people like her have multiple kids by multiple men. You shouldn't go around saying the kid is yours with no actual proof."

Mrs. Walson got up from her seat and stood toe to toe with the man. "I think it's time you leave my house. You've not only insulted my daughter three times, but you're insulting who we are as human beings and there is only so much I can continue to take in this lifetime." Harry stared down at her and didn't say a word. "Take you and your little uptight, disrespectful kids, and leave my house. Should I remind you that I have a license to carry."

One last look at the woman and Harry turned his head to Veronica. "Pack the kids. Let's book it." He then looked over his shoulder to Philip who was still admiring the photo. "Phil... you find your own way home."

Veronica gave Elowen a hug before she left and rubbed her stomach without warning. This made Elowen jump back. "Sorry. I just don't know if it's the last time I'll see you again." She blinked a few times then left the house right behind Harry. Roy downed the last of his water then forced a fake smile on his face as he walked past Henry.

"He goes to my school." Henry looked at him a bit puzzled.

Elowen closed the door and met eyes with Philip. "I had to." He confessed with a straight face. "That's what I came here for and that's what I'm going to leave with." He gave her a hug which she already knew was coming. "I do everything for us, Elowen. See you tonight at formal."

Elowen turned to her mother with begging eyes. "You might as well go before he brings the pigs to my front door next."