The lost son ~John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer

74. There might not be anything there

I gave Johnny a bath and put him to bed around 8 PM. I read him a story, and as he still couldn't fall asleep, I sang him a lullaby. Luckily, my boy soon drifted off to sleep. I kissed his forehead and left the room, leaving the door slightly open. He looked so cute and peaceful when he was sleeping. I could stand there and watch him for hours.
I texted Maggie to let her know that Johnny was asleep and ask whether she could come to my place. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Christine let Maggie sleep at my house. What is more, she invited us for brunch the following morning.

I went to the bathroom to fix my hair and spray some perfume on myself. I put on a fresh t-shirt and I heard a knock on the front door. I opened the door and saw my beautiful girlfriend standing there. Mag was wearing a black tracksuit and a red beanie.
"Hey, babe." I said to Maggie and I pulled her in for a hug.
She wrapped her arms around me and started to sob.
"What's wrong, Mag?" I asked, taking her face in between my hands and making her look at me.
"My period is late." She said, sobbing hysterically.
I froze.
"Holy crap." Was all I could say.
We sat down at the couch and Maggie put her head on my lap.
"I'm so sorry..." She said and began to cry.
"Don't be. It's not your fault." I said and kissed her temple.
"I don't know how this happened... I haven't skipped any pill." Maggie explained.
"I know, babe. When you were supposed to get your period?"
"5 days ago."
"5 days? Fuck, fuck, fucking fuck." I cursed under my breath.
"Do you think I'm... I'm..." Mag started to say but she couldn't finish the sentence.
"I hope not." I replied.
I felt defeated. I didn't know what to do. I was sure Christine would lose all of the trust and respect she had for me.
"You've gotta take a test." I told Maggie.
"Um, okay..." She said and started sobbing.
"It's gonna be fine, I'm sure you're not pregnant." I tried to comfort Maggie.
I hugged her a gave her a peck on the lips.
"My mom will kill me." She said and started to cry.
"You didn't tell her, did you?"
"No, I only told you. I thought my period's gonna be late by a day or two... But it's been five days and I don't feel like it's gonna come..."
"It's good that you told me. Mag, can you please stay here and comfort Johnny if he wakes up and I'll go to the pharmacy?" I asked her.
"Yes, Josh, I'll look after him." Maggie replied and squeezed my hand.
"I'll be back as soon as possible." I told her and ran out of the house.
I was on the verge of crying. Maggie was too young to have a baby, she was just starting her career.
I decided to call my dad.
"Josh, hey. What's up?" He asked me.
"Dad... I have to talk to you." I said in a shaky voice.
"Oh God, what happened?"
"Maggie might be pregnant. I'm buying a test." I said and had a meltdown.
I started crying. I heard John sigh on the other side of the phone.
"Fucking hell. Did you use protection?" He asked.
"Yeah, she's on birth control pills."
"And did she take one every day?"
"Yes, dad, I made sure she took them every morning."
"Okay. If that's the case, I think she's not pregnant. But go and get that test."
"Thank you, that's what I needed to hear."
"Call me once you take the test." John told me.
I hung up on him and entered the pharmacy. There were so fucking many types of pregnancy tests that I had no idea which one to choose. I picked up 3 random ones and walked up to the register.

*

When I came back home, Mag was nowhere to be found. After checking all of the other rooms in my house, I finally entered Johnny's bedroom and found Maggie sitting on the floor, watching Johnny.
"Hey, I'm back. Has he woken up?" I whispered to my girlfriend.
"No, but I think he had a nightmare. Do you have the test?" She asked and followed me out of the room.
"Yeah, I bought 3." I said and handed Maggie the plastic bag with the tests in it.
She took a look at them and then she looked at me.
"Josh, I don't know what to do with them."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know how to take this test."
"Oh, I think you're supposed to pee on them."
"I'm sorry, I'm stupid." Maggie said and made a sad face.
"No, you're not. Let me call Emily, I'm sure she'll help us." I said.
Maggie nodded so I dialed Emily's number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Em. Maggie and me, we need your help."
"I know, I talked to John. Do you want me to come?"
"That'd be great. We don't know how to take the test..."
"Sure, I'll be right there."
"Thank you, I love you." I told Emily.
I saw Maggie smile at me.
"Aww, I love you too." Emily replied.