Page 112 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

He went to his next patient, and Taylor went into her room.

Fifteen minutes later, he left that room just as Kate was standing outside the door. “Kristine just finished with Taylor’s shots if you want to talk to her quickly before I bring someone else in.”

“Yep, thanks.” He moved to the room and knocked, then opened the door. “How are you feeling?”

“I was better before I came here for that.”

He smiled. “I talked to Dr. Young. I get copies of your records also.”

“Then you know how far along I am,” Taylor said, her eyes filling. “Everyone in school is going to know soon. I mean, it’s not like I’ve got friends or anything, but I feel so stupid.”

“Hey, hey,” he said, his voice low. “Don’t think that way. You’re not the first girl to get pregnant in high school and you’re not going to be the last. But you’re going to need resources and care. I’m sure it’s a lot for you to handle and we want to make sure you have what you need.”

“I’m not keeping the baby,” Taylor said, shaking her head. “I can’t. I don’t know anything about boys. My boyfriend won’t return my calls, he wants nothing to do with me.” Taylor ran her arm under her nose. “If I could have gotten rid of it, I would have, but now I can’t and have to go through with it and I’m scared. I don’t want to do this. I can’t.”

They were in the midst of a breakdown, he could see it.

“Let me get your aunt, or are you here alone?”

“She’s in the waiting room.”

“Don’t leave.” He walked out quickly, told Kate he was getting Cora, and not to let Taylor leave. He opened the waiting room door, saw Cora, and waved her in.

“What’s going on? Is there a problem? She’s been in here a long time for two shots.”

“She got them, but I wanted to talk to her and she’s upset.”

“We’ve had a lot of tears,” Cora said. “Not just on her end. This is just too much. I’m not sure what to do.”

They moved to Taylor’s room, the teen sobbing on the table.

“Oh Lord, not again,” Cora said, moving over to hug Taylor, but the teen wiggled away.

“I’m fine.”

“Her hormones are going to get even worse Dr. Young said. I’m not sure I’m equipped for that let alone the childbirth. The baby.”

“I’m not keeping the baby,” Taylor said firmly. “I told you. I can’t do this. I don’t even want to go to school now. Everyone is going to know soon. Dr. Young said I shouldn’t be playing gym soon either.”

“I’m looking into homeschooling,” Cora said. “Not that I know the first thing about that.”

“I’m sure the school counselor can help with all of that,” he said. “You’ve decided to give the baby up for adoption?”

Cora looked at Taylor. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?” Cora asked. “I think it’s for the best, but it’s not my decision.” Cora turned to him. “Her mother doesn’t want her back in the house, not with a child. It’s too much. So I’m all she has and well...”

He heard the underlying words again. Not something they wanted to do.

“I don’t want a baby,” Taylor said. “I don’t know the first thing about it. I don’t even want to go to school, and you won’t let me drop out.”

“No,” Cora said, shaking her head. “And we shouldn’t be in here taking up Dr. Brewer’s time either with our family drama.”

“I wanted to talk and see how Taylor was doing. She’s still my patient. Or a patient of this practice. Have you contacted any agencies for the adoption? Do you need help with that?”

He should just move to his next patient and refer them to a caseworker, but he couldn’t get his feet to move.

“I don’t know the first thing about it,” Cora said. “And I can’t trust Taylor to do it when she can’t finish her homework half the time.”