While Hamilton was at work, Aviva was running errands, and I was doing chores at the mansion, Kiera walked across the street to the pharmacy.

When she returned with the pregnancy test in hand, I waited outside the bathroom door while she took it.

Those few minutes seemed to crawl by like ants in a line. The result? Positive. I was going to be a father.

"Please don't make me tell them by myself", Kiera sniffled.

"You're not ever going to be alone, okay?", I told her.

"What do you want me to do about the baby?", Kiera asked. "I mean,...do you want him or her?"

"Yes, but this is your decision too", I replied. "What would you like to do?"

"I want to keep the baby", she replied. I kissed her forehead.

"So do I", I said.

"I'm home!", Aviva called from downstairs. "Kiera? Emile? Where are you both?"

"Just a second, Mom!", Kiera called back.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?", Aviva asked Kiera once we'd come into the living room.

"Actually, Mom, we have something we need to discuss with you", said Kiera as we sat down on the couch.

"Mrs. Dogwood, I want to start by telling you how much I appreciate all that's been done for me. I really mean that...but...I...", I began.

"Go on...", Aviva urged.

"Mom, remember all those times I told you and Dad that the wind keeps blowing the gate open at night?", Kiera asked. Aviva nodded.

"Well, that's not true", Kiera continued. "You see, I wanted to teach Emile to read and write. So, I let him into my room every night to help him study...but I knew Dad didn't want him here other than to work."

"You see, the more time I spent with Kiera", I added, "the more I realized how wonderful she is. We eventually fell in love and now..."

"I'm pregnant, Mom", Kiera finished. Aviva's eyes widened in disbelief.

"My goodness...", she gasped.

"Kiera and I plan to keep the baby", I replied. "Whatever we have to do."

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"GOOD TO KNOW”, boomed Hamilton's angry voice as he slammed the front door. "BECAUSE YOU'RE FIRED!"

"Stop yelling at Emile, Dad", said Kiera. "He's the father of my baby and you've always been cruel to him! We're both tired of it!"

"The only thing that needs to stop is your involvement with this...this ignorant beggar! His child has no place here and never will!"

"Hamilton, this baby is our grandchild!", Aviva interjected.

"I'LL HAVE NO PART OF SUCH A SHAMEFUL SITUATION!", Hamilton shouted. THESE TWO CHOSE TO SHARE A BED, NOW THEY'RE HAVING AN ILLEGITIMATE CHILD! THAT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM OR MINE! IF KIERA WANTS THIS BABY SO MUCH, SO BE IT...BUT SHE WILL LEAVE THIS HOUSE TONIGHT!”

Kiera's POV

Before Emile returned to the encampment, my father took away the nice outfit he and my mother had given him, leaving him only with his final earnings and his tattered clothes. It broke my heart to see him go.

As I packed a suitcase and silent tears streamed down my face, all I could think of was him and our baby. It was then that I remembered Emile's words from earlier in the day :

"You're not ever going to be alone."

Perhaps, as hard as our lives would turn out to be, being with him at the encampment was best. Whether we were poor or not, being surrounded by love was better for this child than being surrounded by hate and anger.

If I had nothing, no one, not even anywhere to go, there was no way I'd be able to raise the baby myself. I needed Emile's help!

No longer caring about any of my possessions beyond what was in my suitcase and the clothes on my back, I chose to travel to the encampment on foot. So, climbing out of my bedroom window, I left my parents' home that night without much more than one final look.

Emile's POV

My parents felt a number of emotions when they found out about Kiera's pregnancy. They were very disappointed and angry that we had lied and been so careless.

“What are you both wanting to do?”, they asked.

“We want to raise our baby”, I said. “I’ll find work again and then…”

“Emile, it isn't that simple!”, Papa exclaimed. “What happens when work is hard to find and you're bouncing from one job to another like me? What are you and Kiera going to do when your child is hungry? Or when they need diapers and clothes? What about when they're sick and you have to rely on natural remedies because you can't afford to take them to the doctor or to buy medicine? Are you prepared to scavenge too? Steal? Beg? That's what people like us end up facing!”

“You and Mamma raised me and you were teenagers when I came along”, I reminded them both. “You were poor too…and unmarried!”

“Honey, Papa and I just want you and Kiera to understand that raising your baby won't be easy”, said Mamma.

“That being said, if you both truly want to keep your child, we're all going to need to work together”, Papa added.

“Neither of us want to give the baby up”, I told them.

“Kiera’s father didn't really throw her out, did he?”, asked Mamma.

“He insisted she leave the mansion tonight and…”, I began. Then suddenly, there was a loud knocking at the front of the hovel.

“Emile…”, came Kiera's voice from outside, startling us all. I helped her to come in out of the rain…and she collapsed exhausted into my arms.