Post by melindajo2000 on May 15, 2010 1:19:42 GMT -6
Afton couldn’t believe it. She was six weeks pregnant. This was the last thing she was expecting to find out. She had gone to the doctor’s because she had a cold only to find out she was going to be a mother. The timing couldn’t have been any worse. She wasn’t happy with Cliff; she hadn’t been for some time. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t trying. In his own way, he was doing the best he could. He was giving as much as he was capable of giving. The problem was she just didn’t know if that was good enough anymore.
What would this baby mean to this relationship? She didn’t know if it would bring them closer together or if it would just magnify their problems. Afton knew that a baby was never the answer to a couple’s problems. But Cliff wasn’t exactly the type to talk through his problems. He might be happy about the baby, but he might not want to listen to her point of view. Would that be enough for her for their relationship?
She knew she couldn’t handle this decision by herself. She had to talk to someone who might be objective. So she called Pam and asked her to come over on her lunch break and talk with her. Curious, Pam agreed to keep it secret from her brother.
“Afton, is everything okay? It’s been a while since we’ve talked. Maybe too long. I’ve been busy at work and with the family. I really haven’t made much of an effort to get to know you better. We talk from time to time but we really don’t go out and do things, go shopping or get our nails done. I think it’s time to change that. You’ve been good to my brother and I think it’s high time you get the notice you deserve,” Pam smiled at Afton.
“I’m glad someone notices,” Afton grumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“No, I heard everything you said. Are you telling me that Cliff doesn’t appreciate you?” Pam asked.
“Pam,” Afton stood up from the table, “I think I’ve made a mistake. He’s your brother and you’re not the right person to be talking to about our problems. I think I’ve wasted your time….”
“Sit down, Afton,” Pam ordered. “I am his sister and I know him better than anyone else. I know how stubborn and hard headed and cheap he can be. He’s not the easiest person in the world to live with. He expects the woman to do all of the work. I can understand your frustrations if that is what you are here to talk about.. Try me- I just might understand more than you think I do,” Pam smiled compassionately.
Afton sat down. “He’s all of those things. When I want to eat out it’s always Chinese food, never Italian. I know him so well but does he really know me? Does he know that I have wants and dreams too? Does he care that I still plan on singing? Everything I bring it up he tells me that’s nice… he doesn’t offer to help me find something…. Everything is nice for him as long as it doesn’t affect him in any way.”
‘Afton, all of these things can be worked out. He does these things out of ignorance, not out of cruelty. Would you like me to have a talk with him?”
“Pam, ordinarily, I would say no, but in this case…I think you would be perfect.” And in Afton’s mind, she would be long gone, not even knowing what the results of the talk would be. Afton could take this baby far away and leave town, away from the Barnes and the Ewings feud that dominated Cliff’s life, away from Cliff and his drive and his ignoring her, away from the problems that led her to his sister for relationship advice. It may be the cowardly way out, but this way she could be sure Cliff knew why she had left and she would have the baby. He would no nothing about it. There would be nothing messy. This would be a chance for a clean break….before she changed her mind. If she wanted to leave this would be her chance.
Once Cliff found out about the baby there would be no leaving him. And he would never change. She would never have her dreams of a life of her own. She would be his kept woman for the rest of her life, and she wasn’t sure that that was the life she wanted for herself. She loved him, but at that moment she decided that she would pack her belongings and move back with her mamma. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was what she needed, if she ever was to make something of a life for her and her baby. She sure was going to miss Cliff Barnes though.
What would this baby mean to this relationship? She didn’t know if it would bring them closer together or if it would just magnify their problems. Afton knew that a baby was never the answer to a couple’s problems. But Cliff wasn’t exactly the type to talk through his problems. He might be happy about the baby, but he might not want to listen to her point of view. Would that be enough for her for their relationship?
She knew she couldn’t handle this decision by herself. She had to talk to someone who might be objective. So she called Pam and asked her to come over on her lunch break and talk with her. Curious, Pam agreed to keep it secret from her brother.
“Afton, is everything okay? It’s been a while since we’ve talked. Maybe too long. I’ve been busy at work and with the family. I really haven’t made much of an effort to get to know you better. We talk from time to time but we really don’t go out and do things, go shopping or get our nails done. I think it’s time to change that. You’ve been good to my brother and I think it’s high time you get the notice you deserve,” Pam smiled at Afton.
“I’m glad someone notices,” Afton grumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“No, I heard everything you said. Are you telling me that Cliff doesn’t appreciate you?” Pam asked.
“Pam,” Afton stood up from the table, “I think I’ve made a mistake. He’s your brother and you’re not the right person to be talking to about our problems. I think I’ve wasted your time….”
“Sit down, Afton,” Pam ordered. “I am his sister and I know him better than anyone else. I know how stubborn and hard headed and cheap he can be. He’s not the easiest person in the world to live with. He expects the woman to do all of the work. I can understand your frustrations if that is what you are here to talk about.. Try me- I just might understand more than you think I do,” Pam smiled compassionately.
Afton sat down. “He’s all of those things. When I want to eat out it’s always Chinese food, never Italian. I know him so well but does he really know me? Does he know that I have wants and dreams too? Does he care that I still plan on singing? Everything I bring it up he tells me that’s nice… he doesn’t offer to help me find something…. Everything is nice for him as long as it doesn’t affect him in any way.”
‘Afton, all of these things can be worked out. He does these things out of ignorance, not out of cruelty. Would you like me to have a talk with him?”
“Pam, ordinarily, I would say no, but in this case…I think you would be perfect.” And in Afton’s mind, she would be long gone, not even knowing what the results of the talk would be. Afton could take this baby far away and leave town, away from the Barnes and the Ewings feud that dominated Cliff’s life, away from Cliff and his drive and his ignoring her, away from the problems that led her to his sister for relationship advice. It may be the cowardly way out, but this way she could be sure Cliff knew why she had left and she would have the baby. He would no nothing about it. There would be nothing messy. This would be a chance for a clean break….before she changed her mind. If she wanted to leave this would be her chance.
Once Cliff found out about the baby there would be no leaving him. And he would never change. She would never have her dreams of a life of her own. She would be his kept woman for the rest of her life, and she wasn’t sure that that was the life she wanted for herself. She loved him, but at that moment she decided that she would pack her belongings and move back with her mamma. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it was what she needed, if she ever was to make something of a life for her and her baby. She sure was going to miss Cliff Barnes though.
