The Unexpected

Chapter 12

Alex sits in a small booth, closest to the counter with a coloring book and crayons. Watching him scribbling at the pages makes me smile. The cook named Gavin takes him a plate with small pancakes shaped like Mickey heads. "Here ya go, buddy."

Alex claps with a smile on his face. "Yay!"

"Want some orange juice?" Gavin asks.

Alex nods and Gavin smiles as he walks towards me. "He's the cutest. Is it okay if I give him some orange juice?"

I nod. "Go ahead."

I join Alex at the booth and cut up his pancakes. Drizzling syrup over the top, I feed him a piece. Gavin brings us each an orange juice and I thank him with a smile. "Do you wanna go get a new toy today?" I ask Alex.

He smiles, nodding his head. "Yeah."

"Then we can go to the park to play." I suggest.

"Okay, mommy."

Once we've finished, we go upstairs so I can change out of my work clothes. Then I drive us to the store closest to the park. We go into the store and I take Alex to the toy section. He struggles to pick a toy so I begin to point some out. "How about this one?" I ask.

He shakes his head and continues looking around. When he spots a toy on the wall, he runs to it only to run into someone and fall. "Alex!"

I quickly scoop him up and kiss his head as he begins crying. "I'm sorry."

My eyes widen as they meet Steven's. Alex wipes his eyes and looks around him. "Mommy! That one!" He points.

Steven grabs the toy and gives it to him. "Here you go, buddy."

"Thank you." He replies sweetly.

Steven looks at me. "Mommy?"

I shrug. "Mommy."

He nods slowly. "Where are you headed to?"

"We were gonna walk over to the park." I say. There's an awkward silence so I add, "Care to join us?"

"Sure."

Alex holds up two fingers. "Two toys."

I shake my head. "One toy. I told you."

He pouts. "I'll buy you a toy, buddy. It's the least I can do since I made the poor kid cry." Steven chuckles.

Alex fights to get out of my arms so I put him down. "Walk." I say sternly.

He begins looking at toys again and Steven slips his hands in his pockets. "How old is he?"

"Three." I answer.

"It's not Tyler's, is it?" He asks.

I raise my eyebrows, shaking my head. "No. It's mathematically impossible. I got pregnant my freshman year of college."

"Wow." He breathes. "How many people know?"

I shrug. "People I went to college with. My parents. Matt. You."

"Have your parents known all along?" He asks.

"Yeah." I nod. "They flew to California when I went to the hospital to have him."

"They've kept it a secret this whole time?" He asks in disbelief.

"Yeah. I asked them to." I explain. "I wasn't planning on keeping it a secret once I got here but I wasn't gonna run around and tell everyone I had a kid. I figured they'd find out whenever they seen him or someone told them."

"So Tyler doesn't know?" I shake my head. "But I thought you guys were together now."

"You were right about him. He's gone."

"That a-"

"Child!" I interrupt.

"Oh, sorry." He chuckles. "I'm not used to having children around."

"It's fine."

Alex finds another toy and we head to the cash registers. Before I can pull the money out of my wallet, Steven hands the cashier his card. "I got it."

"I was gonna pay for it." I say.

He shakes his head. "It's fine."

Steven carries the bag while I carry Alex as we walk to the park down the street. Steven and I sit on the bench while Alex runs to join the other kids on the play set. "Do you talk to his father still?" Steven asks.

I look down at my laced fingers on my lap. "He's not a part of our life."

He nods. "Is that the way you wanted it?"

I bite my lip as I watch my son go down the slide. "Yeah but there's a long story behind him. A story I'd rather not discuss."

"Okay." He breathes. "So back to Tyler. Are you really done this time?"

I sigh. "I don't know. Ty is different, you know."

He purses his lips, nodding. "He sure is something else."

Alex runs over to us and point to the bag. "I want to play with my toys."

"You can play with them when we get home, baby. Why don't you go play for a while?"

"Toys!" He whines.

"Fine. We can go home." I say.

Steven walk's us back to our car and Alex smiles at him. "Thank you."

"No problem. I'm Steven."

"My name's Alex." He grins.

"It was nice to meet you, Alex. Have fun with your toys."

"Bye." Alex waves.

I put him in his car seat and start the car, standing by the open door. "Thanks for buying him those toys. He seems to like you."

"I'd like to hangout with you two again." Steven says.

I glance through the window at Alex. "I think he'd like that. You could come over for dinner tomorrow."

"That sounds great. Should I bring anything?" He asks.

I shake my head. "Nope. Does chicken sound good?"

"Yes." He smiles. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See ya."

I get into the car and wave to him before driving away. When we get back to the apartment, I let Alex watch cartoons in the living room while I fix dinner. After we've ate, there's a knock on the door and Matt comes in. "It's me." He announces himself.

Alex jumps from his chair, running towards him. "Uncle Matt!"

Matt picks him up and hugs him, kissing the top of his head. "Hey Alex. I got you a present. "

He puts him down and gives him the gift bag he was holding. Alex tears into it as Matt joins me on the couch. "Hey." I smile.

"I thought I'd stop by before I left." He sighs. "I have to be in California by tonight."

I pout. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Momma, look!" Alex shouts.

Matt bought him pajamas, an outfit, and a few toys. "Nice." I say. "What do you say?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." Matt says, standing up. "Call me if you need anything, no matter what time it is."

I smile gratefully. "Thanks Matt. You're the best."

"I know." He smiles. He leans down and hugs me.

"Thanks for everything." I whisper, holding onto him.

"No problem. You know I'll do anything for you."

We pull apart and he picks up Alex for a hug. "Bye Uncle Matt."

"Bye. I love you both."

He's gone before I know it and I'm left feeling empty without my best friend. What am I gonna do without him?

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