Chrissy’s sobs make Billy’s heart twist and it feels like a knife seeing her so upset and afraid. “Then we keep it, Chris.” It was her choice and he could deal with his own feelings of fear and anxiety in the coming months. They’d deal with it together, that’s what you’re supposed to do right? That’s what parents do.

When she climbs over the middle console and tries to get into his lap, Billy pushes his chair back as far as he can to make room and he holds her tightly to her chest. The pregnancy test has clattered to the floor at his feet and he makes a note to get it later.

“Yeah? You wanna marry me, Chrissy? Make an honest man out of me?” His heart seizes at the idea but he realizes there’s no negative feelings there. He hadn’t really given it much though but he knows they could make it work and it would probably not be a bad thing; he dreads to think of what this town would think of her being an unwed teen mother instead of just a teen mother. “At least the three of us would have the same name.”