Read Mother's Day for Free Online Page B

her.
    “The main thing is,” Jenny continued, her voice quavering slightly, “how come you didn’t want me?”
    The painful question made Karen want to reach out for her child, but Jenny was looking expectantly, almost defiantly, at Linda.
    “Oh, Jenny,” said Linda sadly. She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “I know it seems that way to you…”
    “That’s how it is. You gave me away,” said Jenny.
    Linda nodded. “There’s so much about that time…if I could tell you…”
    “I want to know why,” said Jenny stubbornly.
    Linda paused, a pained and distant expression in her eyes. “I started to tell your parents, when you went out with the flowers. I’m a local girl. I grew up here in Bayland. I was only seventeen when I got pregnant—just a few years older than you are now. And marriage wasn’t…it wasn’t an option.”
    “My father didn’t want me either,” said Jenny flatly. “I was a mistake.”
    “Oh, don’t say that,” Linda interrupted her. “Look at you. You’ve turned out so beautifully. Sometimes I wonder why I was ever born. But sitting here, looking at you, I see that I did one good thing in my life. Two good things. I gave birth to you, and I entrusted you to these good people…”
    Karen could not help being touched by the woman’s answer. For a moment she felt that old kinship with Jenny’s unknown birth mother, this stranger sitting on her couch.
    “But you could have kept me,” Jenny persisted. “There are lots of single mothers…”
    Linda shook her head. “Things were a little different thirteen years ago, Jenny. People didn’t accept that quite the way they do now. Besides, I was a high school girl. And my parents would never…never have been able to live with it. They were strict Catholics. I was afraid to even face them.”
    “So, what did you do?” Jenny asked curiously.
    “Well,” said Linda briskly, “I made arrangements with a lawyer for you to be adopted, and then I went to a home for unwed mothers out in Chicago. The lawyer came and got you there when you were born. And I stayed in Chicago. I’ve been there ever since. I finished school at night, and got a job.”
    “What did you tell your parents?”
    “I didn’t tell them anything. I just left,” said Linda.
    Jenny mulled this over. “Did you end up getting married and stuff?” she asked.
    “Nope,” said Linda, an edge in her voice. “It’s just me and my cat.”
    “I love cats,” Jenny said cautiously.
    “Do you have one?” Linda asked, looking around.
    “No. Mom’s allergic.”
    Karen bristled at the implied rebuke but bit back a protest.
    “That’s enough about me,” said Linda. “I want to hear about you.”
    “I have a lot more questions,” said Jenny. “Can you stay to dinner?”
    Linda looked up at the startled expression on the faces of Karen and Greg and said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
    Jenny turned to Karen and instantly perceived the reason for Linda’s reluctance. “Mom,” she challenged Karen, “she’s invited, isn’t she?”
    “I hadn’t planned much. Just a cold supper,” said Karen, flustered, “but I guess…”
    M Jenny,” said Greg, “don’t put your mother on the spot.”
    “No,” said Linda. “I’ve intruded enough.”
    “I want you to stay,” Jenny cried.
    “Actually, I’m going to see my own mother. It is Mother’s Day.”
    This mollified Jenny somewhat. “How long since you’ve seen her?”
    Linda looked at her gravely. “Not since I left home, I’m afraid.”
    “Wow,” said Jenny.
    “So, you see, I couldn’t really stay anyway.”
    Jenny looked at Karen and saw the relief in her face. Jenny’s expression hardened. “Well, I wish you could,” she said stubbornly.
    “I do, too. But, I’ll tell you what. Let’s…if it’s okay with your parents, of course. Let’s you and I get together tomorrow. Maybe we could have some lunch together. And get acquainted.”
    “It’s a school day,”