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no one is on drugs here. So what the hell is this?”
    â€œWe’re here to help,” Mrs. Walker said. “We want to help both Ashley and you.”
    â€œWhy don’t you sit down?” my mom said.
    â€œI’d rather stand.”
    There was an awkward silence.
    And then I heard the bathroom door open, and Ashley walked into the room. She looked like she wasn’t feeling too well. “Hi, Zach,” she said in a soft voice.
    â€œDid you know about this?” I asked her.
    She nodded.
    â€œBut I don’t understand what’s going on here,” I said to her.
    She sat down in an empty chair and fidgeted with her hands. “Zach, I’ve been having second thoughts about keeping the baby. Maybe we should give it up for adoption when it’s born.”
    I felt rage rising up inside of me but knew I had to keep it together. I nodded at her parents. “They’ve been brainwashing you, haven’t they?”
    â€œNo,” she said. Her voice was weak, and I could tell this was incredibly hard for her. “I just don’t think I’ll be a very good mother.”
    â€œBut I would be there to help,” I said.
    Ashley just looked away and stared at the wall. I glared at my own parents— the traitors who had allowed this scene. Then I glared at Mr. Walker. At that point I guess he couldn’t contain himself.
    â€œYeah, Zach. And what kind of responsible father do you think you’re going to be?” There was venom in his voice.
    I knew I couldn’t answer him. I was way too angry, and I’d regret whatever I said. I kept telling myself to keep it together. If I lost my cool, I knew that it would be playing right into what Ashley’s father wanted.
    Instead, I went over to Ashley and sat on the arm of the chair. I put my arm around her. Right then I wanted everything and everybody in the world to go away. I just wanted to be alone with Ashley.
    â€œThere are many women out there who can’t have children,” my mom said. “It would be like a dream come true for them to adopt a baby. The child would have a good life.”
    â€œA normal life,” Mrs. Walker echoed.
    My dad stood up. “We’re going to go in the kitchen and leave you two to talk for a bit. Take your time. We’re not trying to pressure you into anything.” Those last words sounded hollow. This was so unlike him.
    As they left the room, I felt trapped. For weeks I’d been pushing all of my own doubts into a closet. I knew a thousand reasons why we should not keep the baby. A million maybe. But I believed we could beat the odds, even get both sets of parents onside. And now this.
    When they were gone, I sat down on the floor in front of Ashley, made her look me in the eye. “You okay?”
    â€œI’m not feeling well,” she said, “but I’m okay. I’m sorry about all this. It’s partly my fault. I wanted all of us to sit down together and talk. I don’t like having my parents hate you.”
    â€œBut I thought we were okay with what we decided.”
    â€œI thought we were too. But it was more like what you had decided.”
    â€œWe’re in this together,” I said.
    â€œI know,” she said. “But it’s been a while since we actually talked about it. Do you still feel the same?”
    The truth was, I had been thinking more and more that there would be so many impossible problems ahead. And I wasn’t sure about how I could handle them. But in the end, I always convinced myself I could handle anything. I could do this. I wanted to be there as a good father. I could see it through.
    â€œYeah,” I said. “More than ever.”
    Ashley nodded. “I guess I was thinking I needed to give you a way out.”
    â€œI don’t want out.”
    â€œOkay,” she said. “Then let’s stick to our plan. I’ll keep the baby. You’ll be there to help,