My Best Friend

Tom Hewitt

Tommy growled as he grabbed the back of Tex's shirt. He heard every word he said about the baby. As soon as he said what he was thinking in case it was a girl, he was angry. When Tex mentioned the baby being ugly like him, Thomas thought he was going to lose it. Tex was always his favorite cousin, but now he was seeing Tex was nothing like he remembered. Here he found him trying to steal his wife and insult him and his child.

"Hey, Tommy", Tex with a smile. "Just talking to Mindy, here. She's a really nice girl, you know? You're lucky to have her."

Thomas growled. Tex was not going to fool him with all his nice words. He pulled him away from Mindy and dragged him out into the hall.

"Tommy, come on! There's nothing wrong with me talking to her, is there?"

He pushed Tex toward the stairs before walking back into his and Mindy's room. He glared at Tex once more before slamming the door. Thomas turned to Mindy who looked relieved.

"Thank you for making him leave", she said. "I know it sounds bad, but I don't like Tex."

Thomas tilted his head. Other than what just happened, did Tex do something to her? She sighed as she turned and looked at Thomas' reflection in the mirror.

"Ever since Tex came, he's been flirting with me. He wanted to take me away from you. He said I deserved someone better than you."

Thomas frowned. That hurt, it really hurt. He always looked up to Tex when they were kids. He was his hero, the smartest person in the family other than Mama.

"You heard about what he said about the baby, didn't you?" she asked.

Thomas nodded continuing to frown.

"You heard what Tex said if the baby turns out to be a girl", Mindy continued. "Tommy, will you promise you'll keep Tex away from the baby?"

He nodded.

"I mean it when I said keep him away. I don't want him here when it's born. I don't want him to see the baby at all."

Thomas frowned. It seemed pretty harsh. Sure, he wanted to keep the baby safe, but he wasn't going to cut ties with Tex. He deserved to see the baby and know his niece or nephew.

"Tommy, will you keep Tex away from the baby?" Mindy repeated.

Thomas thought for a moment. Maybe in time Mindy would change her mind and decide to let Tex see the baby as long as either she or him was with them. He nodded. Mindy smiled a bit.

"Good", she said.

She turned back toward the window and looked at her reflection. She pulled her shirt up and ran her hands over her belly.

"What do you think?" Mindy asked. "What do you think the baby will be?" Boy or girl?"

Thomas thought for a moment. Which would he like? A boy like him or a girl like Mindy... okay, that made it easier. He didn't want the baby to look like him with his face and his inability to talk. Thomas pointed at Mindy.

"What?" she asked.

He kept pointing at her.

"Oh, you want a girl! Mm... I don't know. I kinda want a boy."

Thomas shook his head.

"Yes, Mindy giggled. "I want a boy as cute and as sweet as you. And If it's a boy, we'll call him..."

She thought silently for a moment.

"Tom. Tom Hewitt."