INSIDE THEIR MINDS

We're Family

KATE

The rush of air hit me harshly as I stepped into its freezing embrace. The wind tunnels formed by the surrounding buildings amplified its effect and almost instantly I had to wrap my coat around myself. I had tried to zip it up this morning to no avail.

Then I felt hands on me. They curled over my shoulder softly, trying unsuccessfully to be reassuring. I couldn't help but first look at them as they lie over my coat almost entangling in my hair and also noticing his gold band glistening against the back drop of my jet black overcoat.

"Kate." He says once again as he placed himself in front of me.

Is that all he knows how to say?

"Look I..." I try to say, my eyes glued to the wet concrete.

"How could you not have told me about all of this...." He says as his eyes pierce through me.

I shiver at his words then again with the cold.

Without speaking he starts removing a brown scarf from his neck and places it around mine. He shivers in his button up long sleeved shirt but tries to brush it off.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to say or to do." I say finally moving my eyes over to him, or to his feet to be more precise.

"Look we need to get you inside, before you, or rather both of you freeze."

PHIL

As I said those words my mind felt as if it was imploding. There were two of them now. I had caused this to happen. Without me she would have been happy and had her whole life ahead of her. Now here she was braving the coming winter weather with a coat that was much too small and me trying my best to keep her from crying once again.

We crossed the busy street slowly and headed to the restaurant that we had planned to once have a date in. I could tell she felt hesitant about going inside but I think she knew as well as I did that we didn't have very many options at this time of day; many restaurants didn't open til later in the afternoon.

I asked the hostess to seat us near the back and she gladly obliged with two lunch menus in her tight grasp.

I helped Kate into her seat even though I could tell she may not have wanted my help, then I quickly took my seat across from her.

"Would you like anything to start?" The hostess asked a pen in one hand and a pad in the other.

"Just two waters please." I say eyeing Kate with a half smile.

Her eyes stay glued to the table.

After the hostess left I broke the hanging silence.

"Kate, we need to talk about what's going on. We need to talk about the baby."

"She's a girl." She mumbles, her eyes not drifting from the table, seemingly focused on the silverware wrapped in the white cloth napkins.

"You mean I'm having a.."

"Stop there." She says with fierceness in her eyes and a harshness in her voice, "I am having a girl."

I sat there stunned. What was she saying? What did she mean?

"This is my baby. I haven't seen you in five months and frankly I don't need any more of your help. You are obviously still with your wife and since you never made it a point to call me back you obviously chose her over me. Now I am not in any way mad or disappointed in your choice, in fact I am glad you and your family stayed together. That is where you belong, with your FAMILY."

I try to quickly settle my mind and speak in the softest voice I could muster. "I don't want what I say next to hurt you or offend you in anyway so keep that in mind. You are carrying our child." I say gesturing first at her then at myself. "She is my family, you are my family."