Rebuilding Appaloosa Plains

Content warning: Options for dealing with an unplanned pregnancy are discussed in this chapter. Opinions expressed by the characters may be difficult for some readers. ---------- "I don't know how I could have been more clear that moving to the middle of nowhere and having a baby was not a lifestyle I want," Shaun said angrily. "If you decide to keep the baby, that's not going to change my mind. I'm sorry, Rukiya, but I don't know what you were expecting." "Some support would have been nice," Rukiya snapped back, wiping tears from her eyes. "It took both of us to make this mistake." Both of them were quiet for a moment. Shaun eventually broke the silence. "I can come pick you up and take you to a clinic whenever you need me to," he said softly. "Thanks," Rukiya sniffed. "I'd appreciate that." "And I can stay with you while you recover," he added. "I'll ask when...

The snow had melted, but the wind still carried a harsh chill and the trees had barely begun to bud. Despite the cold, Bridget and Emery were walking down from their house to see what progress the work crew was making on Rukiya’s new place. Bridget explained that they had to build a foundation first, since Rukiya wanted a “proper” front porch and back deck. As Emery soon discovered, that apparently meant that her house was (so far) little more than a hole in the ground with some random giant blocks of concrete. “Um…” Emery hesitated before asking her mother, “Why didn’t she just start with a cabin like you did? She can’t live in this… for a while…” Bridget looked unsure about the project as well, but she didn’t reply. The pair walked by the house, surveying the scene, looking for their friend. Suddenly, she was rushing up to them. “Hey!” Rukiya greeted them cheerfully. “Isn’t this great? It’s finally going up!” Bridget smiled, but her doubt was clear on her face. Emery didn...

Emery looked out over the water and listened to the waterfall crash into the surface. The view would usually calm her down, but today she fidgeted nervously. It was chilly outside and she regretted not wearing a sweater or jeans. She’d fussed over her outfit, struggling with whether or not she should try to look more grown up. But she didn’t want to look like she was trying too hard and wasn’t sure what exactly she was trying to achieve in the first place, so she went with her lilac blouse and jean shorts. It was her usual go-to, practical and pretty. It was as good as any choice for today’s trip to the Falls. ‘ What is taking her so long? ’ she wondered impatiently. ‘ Probably his fault... ’ Her fingers tugged a loose thread on the hem of her shirt and she felt the seam contract. ‘ Calm down, ’ she urged herself as she tried to stretch the hem back to its regular length. “You alright?” she heard a familiar voice ask from behind her. Rukiya had finally arrived. “Y-yeah,” Emery ...