Travelin' Solider

Chapter 10

(Stanley: 5 months, 22 weeks) 

It's been two weeks since we found out we're expecting a little boy.  We've been trying to keep it a secret from the rest of the group until we found the perfect way to share it with them.  Stanley, being the creative one he is, we decided to get blue balloons, which I would bring in, while Stanley spoke to everyone.  I thought it was a good idea.

"So, Stanley, how's the second trimester been?" Fawn asked, I heard Stanley reply to her with, "The baby's started to move around more, so I really can't complain."  

"Do you know what you're having yet? Did you choose not to find out or?" I heard Marr ask, knowing this was the moment I came out with the balloons.

"Well, we did find out." That got everyone's attention.  "What is Baby Jenkins?" Robert blabbed. I knew he was the one who was excited to find out if he was getting a niece or a nephew.

"Well, Everest and I got balloons of what we are having." Stanley informed, "Everest!" I walked out with the balloons. 

Everest walked out with a bunch of blue balloons. Robert and everyone lost their minds, even Marr screamed, "IT'S A BOY!"  Fawn, Robert, and everyone hugged me and congratulated me and Everest. 

"I'm going to have a nephew!" Robert said, wiping the tears away from his eyes. "Do you guys have a name picked out?" 

"Yes, we do. It's Riley Lee Morrison-Jenkins." Robert couldn't help but hug me gently but tightly.  "I promise I'll be the best uncle I can be to him."

"Does that make me his grandfather?" Marr asked.  "If you want to," Everest called. 

Melody laughed at Marr. "I'll be Grandfather Marr."  I smiled at Marr's humor while watching Melody. Fawn and I had spoken before this; she had told me that Melody had a crush on Marr and was trying to show him that she was interested in him without coming out and saying it until she was ready to tell him the truth.   

I decided to keep what I knew to myself, so Melody could have a chance to tell Marr when she's ready.  I turned to see Robert walking out of the kitchen while Fawn followed him outside.

"When did you start smoking?" I asked, and Robert looked up with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Since I started worrying about Stanley, since he's getting far along in his pregnancy." 

I sat down right behind him. "Can I get one of those?" I asked, Robert handed me the pack, I took one out, and he lit it for me.  Such a gentleman.

"Congratulations on having a nephew on the way." I was trying to lighten the mood a little bit.  "Thanks." Robert replied, "I'm happy I have a nephew, I am, but I'm just worried sick about Stanley since Everest is going back to the army soon." I put an arm around him. 

"Hey, Me, You, Marr, and Melody will be there to visit him while Everest's away." Robert nodded while he took a drag on his cigarette. "Yeah, I know, but it just worries me about what if Everest gets seriously hurt. What will happen to Riley and Stanley?"

"Robert, you can't think like that," I replied. All of Robert's feelings and worries were understandable, but I think sometimes Robert overthinks stuff, and that is a nasty habit to break.

"I know, but I'm worry sick about Stanley."

"Don't you think I'm not?"  I asked, bitterness left my lips. "Stanley's husband is in the service, we all know that, and I worry Everest is not going to be there to see Riley being born-" Little did I know, Robert cut me off by kissing me.  It took me by surprise when he was doing that to me.

He looked at me. "I always wanted to do that." I shoved him off me. "Listen, Fawn, I'm sorry."

"No, just no..forget about it." I stuttered, walking into the house, not looking back at Robert. 

I hope and I freaking pray that he wouldn't tell Stanley about what had just happened since he didn't need the extra stress right now.