Royce by Kathi S. Barton

immediate area, more if she wanted to travel a bit. While she was doing a rundown, she supposed it would be called, she started writing down questions she’d ask whomever she decided to go with.
    She knew that Royce would help her if she asked—she was reasonably sure he’d insist, but this was her body and, for now, her baby. Giving the baby up for adoption was not completely out of the question, but it was low on the things to consider list. She wrote “adoption” on the top of another sheet with pros and cons after it.
    The doctors she picked out from the list on the website she put on another sheet. There were three of them. She decided to call that doctor from the emergency room and ask his opinion. Also, she knew a couple of women from work who’d given birth recently and she was going to ask them as well.
    By four in the morning, she had filled out three pages of questions and two more of things she needed more information on. Before she went back to bed she started another sheet with two more columns. The pros and cons of having the baby.
    She wasn’t going to abort, there wasn’t even any question of her doing it, but there were other things to consider. Her living arrangements for one.
    She knew she could live with her uncle and aunt. But did she want that? There was a lot to think about, like why she wouldn’t, or what benefits she would gain, if any, if she did move in with them. Suzy would be the biggest issue.
    She was used to being the center of attention. And the baby would be first and foremost in everyone’s mind. Then there were the times that Suzy had temper tantrums, bordering on violent at times. Would she harm the baby, or even Kasey for that matter?
    Kasey knew her current job would be okay with the baby hours. She could pretty much work whenever she needed to. But she was a realist enough to know she wasn’t going to have enough money for the extras when the baby got older. Not that she knew what those would be, but she was sure they were expensive.
    Kasey looked around her little one-bedroom home. Not enough room here either. Maybe at first, but later as the baby needed more equipment, she’d be hard pressed to put anything extra in the room, including a crib.
    And what did she even know about babies? Nothing really. She had no brothers or sisters, not a single cousin, and had never even babysat for anyone’s kids. She knew the basics, but nothing else.
    Depressed, she went to her room. She’d decided that if she got a start on her work now, if she needed a nap later on today, she could be ahead of the game. After taking a good sponge bath, she got dressed in some comfy clothes and went back to the table correcting term papers and making corrections on quizzes she’d been asked to grade. It was almost seven when someone knocked on the door. She frowned when she saw Mrs. Hunter there.
    “Hello, dear. I came to tell you how thrilled I am about the baby. I can’t tell you how happy I was when Royce told me last night.”
    “I see. Well, thanks.” Kasey didn’t know what she should do now. Inviting her in seemed over the top to her, but apparently Mrs. Hunter thought differently.
    “I was wondering if I could come in and speak to you about some things?” Kasey hesitated. “I won’t be long, and I promise I’m not here to try and talk you into anything like marrying Royce. I want to, but I won’t.”
    “All right,” Kasey agreed, and opened the door wider and stepped back. She turned to gather her notes up, but a few of them dropped to the floor.
    Bending was nearly impossible as sore as she was, so she was grateful when Mrs. Hunter helped her until she froze in place. She was staring at one of the lists she’d made. From her stricken expression, Kasey assumed it wasn’t something she liked.
    “I’m just making myself notes. I do better when I have things all lined up in neat little rows. I get more accomplished that way too.”
    Mrs. Hunter looked up from the paper into