by K L Finalley
Brett leaned forward and tapped his leg, "How you doin? I remember what it was like with Paige when she was pregnant. She was all over the place. Upset about how she looked. Exhausted all the time. It was a rollercoaster."
"I'm good. Every day's something new, you know? I know she's going through a lot. I try to be there for her. I do what I can. We're just gonna ride this thing out," Elet admitted while staring inside the house.
Drew asked, "In the middle of all of this shit, are you excited?"
Pushing back on two legs in his chair, Elet said, "I can't wait to see that little face. I can't wait to hold…I better not tell you. She'd kill me."
"Man, I'm so jealous. I told Paige the other day that we should have more. Things're good for us. We could try, again. I mean, not twins, but we could have another one."
This was news to Jacqueline. This was all news to Jacqueline. She felt like she'd lost sight of her friends. "What'd Paige say?" Jacqueline asked.
"Not a lot. She didn't comment one way or another. I don't know. She kinda shutdown on me."
"I know the feeling," Drew chimed in. "Olive and the kids are at my place most of the time now and I love it. I mean, Jacqueline, you know what it's like when a woman and her kids change your life." Jacqueline nodded her head in agreement with Drew. "So, I told her that I didn't want her to keep going back and forth to her mom's house. I love her and I love the kids. I said let me adopt them. I want to be her…"
"Oh, that's great man!" Brett slapped his leg. It was the newest form of congratulations.
"Let me finish," Drew raised his hand and stalled the celebration. "I sat her down. I told her that I hadn't bought a ring, but I wanted to marry her and be a family with her and the kids. And, she said she didn't believe in marriage."
Elet knew the story. He'd heard part of it at lunch and gotten dismissed because of his attitude, but he was curious how Drew felt about it. Elet had admitted to Alex that if he had been him that he wouldn't stick around waiting on Olive to figure it out. So, he asked, "What are you gonna do?"
"What am I supposed to do? I love her," Drew said as he looked down and peeled the label of his beer. "I can't just let her go. I'm too wrapped up now."
Brett tried to help. "I'd think it'd be hard for Olive to get married." He whirled his arms in the air. "With all her chakras and auras and crystals and shit. I just don't see her as the getting married kind."
Jacqueline rubbed her face. "Drew, she loves you. She's not going anywhere. We're all just a little bit crazy. She's spent her whole life talking about things she'd never do. Normal things most people do. Like get married, get mortgages, work regular jobs. She's been rebelling against regular things for so long I think it's hard for her to imagine how regular her life has become."
"I gave it some thought. I could live my life with her and never marry her, but I do think at the very least, she should be okay with me adopting those kids. Let me give them a family," he said picking away at the glue, removing all that had been there.
"It's all bullshit, man," Elet said. "All of it." He slapped Drew on the back. "You're a great guy and she's always been a hot mess." Drew looked at him. "Hang in there, though. One day, your hot mess will sell her watchtower and buy you a mansion."
"It's not a fucking watchtower," Jacqueline said.
"High atop the city, she gazes down upon us peasants," he teased.
"Any buyers?" Drew asked.
"You know, I don't even know. I feel like nine hundred things are going on at once," she wiped her face with her hands.
"I heard you went commando today. It was Code Rogue or some shit," Elet said.
"Oh, I was pissed," Jacqueline opened another beer and passed one to Drew.
"I love a crazy, work story," Brett cracked another one for himself.
"You remember, Clementine, don't you?" she said.
"Cat suit," Drew said.
"You got..." Jacqueline started to say.
"I knew she was doomed," Brett declared.
"Of course, troublemakers never work out," Drew said.
"This bitch was late to work like thirty times in six months..."
"Don't you only have to get there before nine?" Brett asked.
"Exactly."
"She couldn't get there before nine?"
"That's not the worst of it. In addition to the tardies, you were caught full on sleeping at your desk like twelve times in six weeks. Laid out across your desk snoring."
"Classy," Elet said.
"And, you've been harassing this guy. You've been sending him pics of naked women and men..."
"What!" the men were in an uproar.
"You can't send me dick pics and think nothing's gonna happen," Brett said.
"He texted her and told her to stop," Jacqueline said.
"That's it?" Drew asked.
"He's kinda a nerdy, quiet guy," she said.
"Me, too, but I'm gonna be pissed if that happens," Drew said.
"Wait, there's more. She also had sex on his desk..." Jacqueline started to say.
"Wait what?!?" More uproar. Elet was clapping. "That's the best office hijinks ever."
"She took pics and sent them to him," Jacqueline said.
"So, I came into work on Monday and all my shit was sticky from your hot sex, but I'm supposed to be cool with it," Brett said.
"She thought it'd turn him on," Jacqueline admitted as she drank her beer.
"She's the dumbest," Elet said.
"So, I fired her and she got pissed. She insisted it was all a misunderstanding and she and the guy were buddies."
"Oh yeah, we're tight. I loved the dick pics," Drew said.
"She hauled ass out of the conference room to his desk to confront him. I guess she wanted him to agree, like it might save her ass. I went after her. The HR girl called a Code E…"
"Code Crazy Girl," Brett said.
"And, there was a collection of people down there. They were standing around like kids just watching her scream at him," she said.
"Alex called me and I could hear it. Clementine's screaming - tell Jacqueline you liked it. The poor bastard never said a word. Then, Jacqueline showed up like someone's mom and said - I've had enough and shit got quiet. It was hilarious," Elet held his belly and laughed.
"Who knew the paper could be so…" Drew scoffed.
"It never is. I sent the guy home. Security escorted her out. It was a helluva day."
Brett stood up. "That deserves a mixed drink. I'll be right back."
When Brett entered the house, his presence brought an immediate end to the talking, laughing, that had filled the house. "It's just me. I'm gonna make Jacqueline a drink and get outta your way," he said.
"What's wrong with her?" Mallory asked from the couch.
"The Clementine thing," he yelled from the kitchen.
"Oh, it was quite the scene. Jacqueline was ready to fight," Alex said. "The sea parted and she came down that aisle with her fists clenched by her side. I don't even remember what she said, but everyone just stopped," and she froze in her reenactment.
"When they announced the Code, I shutdown the machines. Then, I headed upstairs to see what was happening. I thought it was going to be just another drill, but I got up there and everyone was on the floor. I had to elbow my way through to find out what was going on. All I heard was Clementine yelling at Nelson. Poor man looked frightened as a polar cat."
"That's because we'd just been sitting out there working. We had no idea anything was going on, then outta nowhere, she appeared. She turned his chair around and was screaming at him. She was yelling What'd you tell them? I got fired trying to help your dumbass. Why didn't you tell them I was trying to help you? Answer me. I won't go down for you. This isn't my fault. I was being your friend. I just wanted to be your friend. Why won't you answer me? Tell Jacqueline we're friends. Tell her."
"It was insane. He never said a word," Paige said.
"Told you ole girl was crazy," Olive said.
"I do
n't know if I wish I was there or if I'm glad I missed it. I think it would've made me nervous," Mallory admitted. "Everyone says Jacqueline looked like she was ready to fight."
"She definitely was. She was ready to handle whatever happened, but nothing did. I told you Clementine isn't the kinda girl who fights. She's all talk and bullshit. When shit got real, she saw it in Jacqueline's eyes and backed down. Security told her to leave and she did. They didn't even have to tase her. She turned around and walked out, because they told her to. It was funny as fuck," Alex said.
"Then, the crowd disappeared like a sink full of water," Paige said. Leaning backwards to look into the kitchen, she asked, "Did he leave?"
"Yeah, he went to the restroom, made Jax's drink, and left," Mallory confirmed. "I don't think he knew we were talking about him."
"So, what are you gonna do?" returning to their conversation, Alex asked.
"I don't know. We've got the perfect set. One girl. One boy. They're old enough to finally sleep apart. When one gets sick, the other doesn't. Finally," she sighed. "They're both in school. No more daycare." The women high-fived. "The twins are manageable. They can have sleepovers with friends or stay with family. And, he wants to have more!" Paige reclined on the couch. She rubbed her cheeks and lowered her tone. "Do you remember how hard it was to have them? I'm older and fatter. His sperm is still slow. It'll be that much more expensive and that much more exhausting. We have two happy, healthy kids. I don't want to do it, again. It's my body who goes through the injections and rejects the attempts. It's me who fears losing them. I just can't do it. I don't mean to sound mean and selfish. I just can't," she said.
"Did you tell him?" Alex asked.
"How can I? He's a good father. He doesn't see the rest of it," Paige admitted.
"Ain't it the truth," Olive agreed. She got off the loveseat and joined them near the couch. "Drew's a wonderful guy. He's been great to me and the kids. His family has welcomed my caravan of trash. He wants to adopt the kids and marry me..."
"What?" Paige said. Olive's news had awakened her from her own thoughts.
"Yup. He mentioned it last weekend."
"Proposed," Mallory corrected her. "Don't say he mentioned it," she made air quotes. "The man proposed."
"Whatevs. But, I don't know. It's monogamy. And, I don't even believe we need state-sponsored validations of relationships."
"Has another man caught your eye?" Mallory asked.
"Well, no, not today, but that's not how it works," Olive replied. "See, you never know..."
"I can't do this again. This is the Alex Stevens argument all over again. Alex, can you help out?" Mallory pleaded.
"Nope, can't. Tried. Failed," Alex said resting her bottle of water on her belly. "She's as full of shit as I was. She's scared that all the shit she's been saying for years will really be shit if she gets married. I get it."
"It's already shit," Mallory said. "It's been shit since Seaborn Island when she was eating brunch with him."
"Seaborn Island. That feels so long ago," Olive said as she lied down on Paige's floor.
"So, much has happened. That was a lifetime ago," Alex rubbed her belly and the bottle moved.
"Did the baby just kick?" Mallory asked.
"Still is. Come feel." The women stood up and placed their hands on her stomach. They felt the tiny thumps against their hands. "There's a baby in there."
"Are you excited yet?" Olive asked.
"Terrified."
"Why, now?" Paige asked.
"Let's see. Are we ready? Can we afford it? What's my body gonna look like? Am I going to be a good mother? Can we protect the baby? Can I have a baby? I mean, physically, can I get it out of my body?"
"Slow down, tiger. You're overthinking this," Olive said.
"I can't stop. I try. I can't." Alex lowered her head and tears started to flow. As Paige leaned in to hug her, she was kicked. "Oh, and if I get too upset, the baby kicks."
"Like a warning?" Olive teased.
"I think it may be more threatening like Mom, enough!" Mallory said.
"It's gonna be okay. There's a lot changing all at once for all of us and we'll get through it," Paige said with Alex in her arms.
"You know, what's funny?" Olive commented.
Sniffling, Alex asked, "What?"
"Nothing's wrong with Mallory. Something's always wrong with Mallory," Olive said.
Mallory stood up. She straightened out her shorts and poured a glass of wine. "Oh, there's plenty wrong. Plenty. Let's see. Where should I start? I'm in love with a woman who's giving up everything she owns to make a life with me and it scares me to death. I worry if it's too good to be true. I worry if she does all of this and hates me for it later…"
Interrupting, Alex said, "Remind me to tell you about Jo."
"You can't say that. Now, I want to know," Mallory said.
"It can wait," Alex said.
"Nope. Now, I'm curious and you've messed up my flow."
"Fine. Jo kicked Dom out. She's decided she doesn't love him and hasn't in a while. She just stayed with him all these years, because that's what people expected. But, she really wants to go live and try to find true love. My parents want me to get them back together, but I don't want to. I want her to run away to Brazil and find herself. Now, carry on." Silence. "See, I tried to tell you to remind me."
"Wait, she put him out? Did she meet someone else?" Mallory asked.
"Nope."
"Way to go, Jo. You don't have to be the all-American family. That's what I'm sayin'," Olive applauded.
"How are the boys?" Paige asked.
"Heartbroken. Confused. A mess. Carry on, Mallory," Alex said.
"How are you, Alex," Mallory asked. "Dom has been around most of your life."
"I love Dom. I love my sister, but I don't know the last time either of them was happy. Everyone has just been surviving. Just living. Just one holiday or birthday or basketball road trip or this function or that function. But, there wasn't any marriage. It's a shame that it had to come to this, but Jo should be happy."
"Is that why she isn't here tonight?" Paige asked.
"No, we're keeping family separate. We don't know when we're tellin' them," she said. "They're so much. They are too involved. They act like they get a vote. The doctor suggested we tell people who would be a source of love and support. You know, to help with my emotional instability, so here we are," Alex said as she placed the bottle back on her stomach.
"That's just the sweetest..." Paige said as she dabbed her eye.
"Hell yeah, we're great," Olive agreed.
"Now, tell your story, Mallory," Alex said.
Shaking her head, she had a smile on her face. "After what you just said, I can't."
"About Jo?" she asked.
Dabbing her eyes, she said, "No, about love and support."
"Why are you crying?" Jacqueline asked as she entered the living room. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"She's fine, roughneck. Don't beat us," Alex said and hid behind Paige.
"We're hungry. Let's eat," Brett said.
Tiny drumsticks, sandwiches, chips, meatballs, and wings were unpacked. Children were called from play to be forced to eat. Couples assisted one another and one another's children. There was talk and laughter throughout the house. Then, as the revelry died down , Brett scooped up the smallest ones and returned the older ones in Kelsey's room to watch a movie.
When he returned, Alex was spread out on the couch with Elet. Jacqueline was sitting on the floor between Mallory's legs. Olive was sitting in Drew's lap on the loveseat and Paige was seated in Brett's recliner.
"What happened to the party?" Brett asked.
"We're old, now," Olive explained.
"It's been a helluva day," Jacqueline said.
"Well, don't we have to have a cake or something? You know, something we all bite into and then, BOOM, it's a boy or a girl," Brett sounded disappointed.
"We're a different kinda group.
We brought the video," Elet said. "We're all cued up. We were waiting on you, buddy."
"Well, all right. Let's get the lights," Brett turned off the lights in the living room and sat on the loveseat next to Drew.
As the room went dark, the video began and Elet's voice filled the room. "Hello, friends. Here, we are at the office with Dena, our tech. Wave, Dena, for all of our friends to see." The shaky video panned up into the face of a twenty-something year old brown haired, brown-eyed sonogram technician whose hair was pulled into a loose bun. She was half-smiling, half-grimacing. Clearly, she didn't anticipate being filmed by her noon appointment, but she had obliged the soon-to-be father with a half-wave. Panning from Dena to Alex, the crowd groaned.
"Was that Alex's…" Olive asked.
"Almost. I asked him to crop it out, but he insisted you couldn't see anything," Alex said.
"She's wearing pants, you know. The sonogram is through her skin, weirdos, not up her vagina. Just watch the damn video." On the video, Elet's voice returned. "Here's my beautiful wife, Alex. Say, hi to our friends Alex." Alex didn't say hello. She waved a half-hearted Dena wave and he panned back to her stomach. "In here, in his brown mound."
In the background of the video, they heard Alex say slowly through her presumed gritted teeth, "Stop saying 'brown mound.' Stop it."
Elet continued, "Sorry, baby. In here is Walden One. In a moment, Dena is gonna give all of us a bird's eye view of Walden One and after tonight Walden One will have a name. Are we ready, Dena?"
Dena said in what sounded like a hungover voice, "We're all set, sir."
Then, Elet panned to a black screen that, suddenly, filled with black and gray globs. And, Dena became the narrator. Without any flare of the joy of this moment, she pointed out the obvious facts of the journey, "So, here's your baby's head and spine. You can see the features very clearly now, because of the baby's age and size." Dena made a circle then said, "There's a hand. Let's see if we can shift around a bit. There, we go. Let's zoom in here." And, the definition intensified. The screen showed a high definition black silhouette of a child. Dena's voice returned, "That's better. Sometimes, babies cooperate. Let's see. This is the buttocks. Wait. Do you see?"
