"Don't touch me!" Erin slapped Jay's hand away, "I'm not having sex with you..."
Jay couldn't help but stifle a giggle, "Babe..."
"Take a shower Jay..a cold one" she scolded him. She was over being pregnant, she knew she could go into labor at any point, Jay had been reminding her all day that having sex could expedite the process.
She wasn't having it, she was bloated, her back ached and she felt disgusting.
He laughed as he climbed off the bed, "Just so you know, you're the hottest pregnant woman I know" he smirked.
Erin tossed the magazine she was holding at him, "Shower!" She laughed.
Jay was just reaching for the body wash when he felt the cool breeze of the shower curtain being pulled back.
"You couldn't resist...could you?" He smirked.
"I can...and I am." She responded, a look of confusion on his face, "My water broke.."
"You get it now?" Alex asked as he finished the word problem with Nicky.
Nicky nodded, "yep! Now can we play catch?"
Alex checked his phone, "I wish I could man..but I gotta go"
"Seriously?"
"I'm sorry...I gotta meet my mom for dinner." He glanced over his shoulder at Kim, "you know how moms are..right?"
Nicky giggled, "Got it!"
"Hey! I heard that Alex" Kim teased from the living room, "thanks a lot you two"
Alex left the kitchen and joined Kim in the living room, Nick at his side, "Is it alright if I bring Nicky to practice tomorrow, Mrs.Ruzek, I promise to have him before dark"
Kim nodded, "Yes, and you need to stop calling Mrs.Ruzek...it's Kim"
He smiled, "Kim...got it"
Hank placed the two plates in front of his grandchildren.
"How's the baby get out?" Jake asked.
"The doctor" Emme replied, slightly annoyed that her little brother didn't know.
Jake thought for a few moments, "How'd the baby get in?" He arched his eyebrow exactly like his father.
Hank groaned, this wasn't a conversation he wanted to have...at any point in time but especially not now.
"It just did Jakey..now eat up" he pushed the plate in front of him, "before it gets cold"
Emme pushed the chicken cutler around before picking it up with her fingers and popping it in her mouth.
"That's easy" Emme told them.
Hank laughed, "is it?"
"Yes, Grandpa. Mommy ate a bean...and it turned into a baby" she was obviously exacerbated with her grandfather.
"That so? Who told you that?" He cut up some more chicken for Jake.
"Summer P, she told me. That's how her mommy got a baby in her belly." She said matter of factly.
Hank was willing to roll with it, "Sounds about right. So are we hoping for a brother or a sister?"
"Brudder!" Jake yelled.
Emme rolled her eyes, "I want a sister.."
Erin let her head fall back against the pillows, she was exhausted. It has been the hardest labor of any of her children, fear still burned in her belly.
The moment the baby was delivered a panic filled the room, the tiny infant was rushed from the room.
Jay rushing after them, now she was left to worry about her newborn.
She didn't even know if it was a boy or a girl.
Alex groaned, he was late and he knew she'd never let him live it down.
Her back was to him as he rushed into the restaurant, "Mom..I'm sorry" he gave her his best smile, "I got caught up in some things"
Sylvia just nodded, she hadn't seen much of her son lately. He'd moved into the dorms and she felt like an afterthought.
"You're mad?" Alex asked her body language providing him with an answer.
"I'm not"
"Yes you are...I'm sorry. I've just been busy with school, baseball, and working with Nick" he explained.
"Excuse me?" She asked, she had thought he was done with the little boy.
"I'm his math tutor..and I help him with baseball." He offered though it was more than that, he really liked Nick. He had become part of their family, staying for dinner and he'd even talked about doing a ride along with Adam.
"Do you think that's wise?"
"Whaddya mean?" He quickly typed their orders in the tablet at their table, the restaurant was trying a new 'waiter-less' experience.
"Isn't that a bit much..you need to keep your grades up!" She scolded him, he'd always been a straight A student and it was silly of her to even mention it.
"Really? My grades are fine mom. I like Nicky he's a great kid, and I like his parents too"
"I think it's a mistake" she knew she was treading on thin ice, she needed to be careful.
"It's not" he commanded, he was beginning to get angry.
Sylvia couldn't have him so close with Adam, nothing good would come from it.
"Alexander, I think you should concentrate on school and baseball, let that kid's parents find someone else...I never see you anymore, you're spreading yourself to thin" she was starting to get worked up.
The last few months had been trying for her, she thought about Nicholas and Adam all the time, she was always looking at the photographs. She found herself longing for Adam, so many memories had crept up in her mind.
She missed him, but she knew she couldn't see him. She couldn't handle his rejection and he'd be well within his rights to reject her. It was more than that though, she knew Alex would be furious with her, and she couldn't risk losing him too.
"Mom..with all due respect, I'm going to continue working with Nick, the Ruzek's are friends"
"You can't!" Her hand coming down hard on the table, those around them turned to look at her, Sylvia leaned in closer to him, "You need to stop seeing them...now!" She was whispering.
"Why?"
"Just trust me..okay?"
Alex rose from the table, he tossed his napkin on the table, "Give me one good reason.." he demanded.
She knew she put her foot in it now, there was no going back and Alex wouldn't leave it alone. She had no choice but to tell him the truth.
She took a deep breath and tears filled her eyes, Alex was frightened by the change in her demeanor, his hand on her shoulder, "Mom, you can tell me..what's wrong? Why're you so upset?"
"You'll hate me..and I don't blame you, I hate myself too.." She said through a wave of tears.
"Never, mom never"
She chuckled softly, "Alex...Adam is your brother" she blurted out.
Her admission was met with silence.
An eerie overwhelming and terrifying silence.
She waited with bated breath for the fall out of her admission...
--Note--
Not my most favorite chapter...the reveal to Alex didn't flow as well as I would've liked..
I'm thinking its time to head back to bed...
