Gabby
by
Stephen R Nayler
"Dad, I'm pregnant!" I can remember that day so clearly when Gabrielle, my
eighteen year old daughter, dropped that bombshell in my lap. We had a family
barbeque planned for the weekend. Gabbys' two brothers and their wives would be
there. Sara, my wife, had gone to get some extra groceries for the weekend.
Gabby had been moping around all morning. I should have seen she had something
on her mind. I just thought it was the pressure of the HSC exams coming up in a
couple of months. I made a cup of coffee for the both of us and we sat down at
the kitchen table. "Dad, I have to talk to you. Please don't get mad at me," she pleaded.
Crying and vulnerable, her emotions came pouring out. I could never be angry
with her, though I did feel a little sad for her, knowing what lay ahead. Living
in a small country town, she would face prejudice and hardship. If she decided
to keep the baby my little girl would be growing up very quick.
The car pulled up in the driveway and my stomach did a backflip. How the hell
was I going to tell her mother. I put the kettle on for another cup of coffee. I
admired the way Sara took it. When I had finished telling her, she stood for a
long time, looking out the window. As I walked over and touched her shoulder she
turned, putting her arms around my neck. I saw the tears on her cheeks as she
gave me a hug. Sighing, she wispered in my ear. "I guess history does repeat
itself." We walked up to Gabbys' room to let her know how much we love her.
On the morning of the barbque I was a bit apprehensive. I wasn't sure how her
brothers would react to the news.
"I'd like to knock his block off." was Brett's reaction
"That won't do any good."
After a short time they calmed down. As the day progressed they started to like
the idea of having a nephew.
"Have you thought of any names for it yet?" asked Shaun, our youngest son.
"Don't be silly",replied Sara. "It's far to early for that."
"Yea, but just think, if it's a boy we can teach him to play footy and take him
rabbit shooting."
Gabby suddenly jumped up and ran inside. I could see she was upset so I went
after her.
"Oh Dad, they've only known about it a couple of hours and they've got my whole
life planned out for me all ready. I haven't even decided if I'm going to keep
the baby yet."
"I know, but don't upset yourself. She gave me a hug and we joined the others.
Gabby arranged to meet her boyfriend the next day at the local pub. She saw he
had already been drinking. When she told him about the baby he just sat there.
"I might keep the baby, I don't know yet."
"Don't expect me to help pay for it, You should get rid of it."
Gabby sat there in stunned disbelief. How could he be so heartless. Tears welled
up in her eyes.
"I'm too young to have a girl with a kid hanging around all the time. I don't
want anything to do with it."
He stood up, knocking Gabbys'drink over, then stormed out.
I came out of the hardware store and crossed to the pub. I saw Gabby sitting at
a table in the corner.
"Want to talk about it?"
"Oh Dad, he was so awfull. He doesn't want anything to do with me or the baby."
"Don't worry, your better off without him if that's his attitude."
"I know, but it still hurts like hell."
"Just remember sweetheart, it'll get better."
As Gabby entered the room Sara looked up from her sewing. She could tell it was
time for a talk.
"Come and sit down."
Gabby sat beside her mother on the settee.
"I guess it's been a long week for you."
"Mum, help me, I don't know what to do."
"Darling, I can't make the decision for you, this is one you must make for
yourself. Just remember, you have a family who love you very much and what ever
you decide, we'll support you all we can."
"I know you will Mum. I guess that's all I wanted to hear.
"Your going to keep the baby."
"How did you know?"
"Mothers intuition." Sara replied as they hugged each other.
About two weeks later we heard that Gabbys' boyfriend had left town to take up a
job on the coast. When Gabby heard the news she was actually relieved that he
would not be around for the birth. She was well on the way to getting over him.
The next few months flew by. As the baby grew so did my resentment. I started to
find fault with little things she would do. Silly little things that normally
wouldn't worry me. Gabby was spending more time with her mother. Sara and Gabby
grew a lot closer, which was great. Yet at the same time I felt a little left
out. The girls were busy buying clothes for the baby and organising the spare
room to be made into a nursery. Stuff that I couldn't help with.
When we were in bed one night, Sara turned to me.
"What's the matter John?"
"What do you mean?".
"You know what I mean, You've been like a bear with a sore head lately."
"There's nothing wrong, go to sleep."
I turned over on my side and faced the wall. I felt bad about being so abrupt
with Sara. There Éwasé something wrong but I couldn't figure it out. I closed my
eyes and tried to sleep.
A couple of days later I was sitting on the garden bench in our back yard.
Taking a break after pulling out some weeds. Gabby came out with a couple of
cool drinks and sat down beside me. She looked so beautiful in a pretty floral
dress. She was starting to show now but the dress hid it well.
"Dad, can we talk?"
"What would you like to talk about."
"You. I think I know what's been bothering you lately."
"Oh I've just been worring about you and how much this baby is going to affect
your life."
"And all the plans I had for a career. Going on to university to study to be a
doctor."
"You could have done it Sweetheart, You're bright enough."
"I still can Dad, it will just take a bit longer."
"You mean you still want to go to Uni."
"Yes, you see Dad, I'm an adult now, I'm not your little girl any more, and I
have to be responsible for my own actions".
Suddenly, as we hugged, the resentment was gone.
"You know we will always be here for you sweetheart."
I knew in my heart she would always be my little girl, yet when I looked at her
now I realised she was a beautiful, young woman.
The last few months of the pregnancy flew by. I was constantly amazed how she
had grown up in the last nine months. The time came on a bleak winters' evening.
As we drove Gabby to hospital through the pouring rain, Sara comforted her in
the back seat. I remember thinking to myself, isn't life ironic, Gabby couldn't
have gone into labor a couple of days earlier when it was nice and sunny.
When we arrived at the hospital they put Gabby straight into the labor ward. She
was having contractions every four minutes. The Sister asked Sara and I if we
would like to stay with Gabby during the birth. Gabby squeesed my hand so hard
it felt like she would break my fingers. I looked at her and I could see in
those big brown eyes that she was a scared little girl again. I quickly said,
"of course we would." With that she relaxed her grip on my hand and took hold of
her mothers. The next few hours dragged by. I think I felt every contraction
that Gabby had. It was so hard to see her in pain and not being able to do
anything except offer a few platitudes. Sara was a tower of strength for both of
us. Saying all the right things and reassuring Gabby that everything was all
right. Eventualy the baby slipped out with a rush. She was a lovely baby girl, a
quick check reassured everyone that she was perfect in every way. I have never
been as proud of Gabby as I was at that moment. After we brought them home Gabby
finally decided on a name for her, Eloise, Alanna. I rolled the name off my
tongue. Eloise, Alanna, I liked it.
Eight months later, Gabby, Sara and I were sitting on the back verandah. Eloise
was crawling around trying to catch our cat.
"Well, how does it feel being a mother now that you've had time to adjust?."
"Good."
Suddenly the cat gave a squeal as Eloise grabbed it by the tail. Family life had
certainly changed.
"Mum, Dad, I've been looking into resuming my studies. I sent away for some
information on going to university and I recieved a reply yesterday."
"What did they say."
"They've accepted my application, and if it's all right with both of you I can
start at the begining of the first semester next year."
"That's great news sweetheart."
"I know it's asking a lot, to look after Eloise for me."
"It's no trouble, is it John?."
"Sweetheart, you know we would do anything to help you get your career back on
track. Besides, your mother would love looking after Eloise".
It didn't seem like seven years since that little talk on the verandah, but as
we walked up the path to Gabbys house that Sunday I had a feeling it wasn't just
another Sunday dinner. Garth, greeted us at the door. He had been with Gabby for
three years now and he had become part of the family. We hoped there'd be
wedding bells soon but they had plenty of time.
After we had eaten Eloise came and sat down beside me. I could see she was dying
to tell me something.
"Grandpa, mummys' got a job for you to do."
"What sort of a job, darling."
"I have to let mummy tell you."
As Gabby came into the room, I could see she had something behind her back.
"I thought Garth was doing all your handyman jobs now."
"I thought you might like to fix this next to the front door."
She handed me a brass plate. I looked at Sara, she was crying. I looked back to
the plate. In big bold letters it read.... DR. GABRIELLE MATHERSON F.R.C.P.
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