The Unexpected

Chapter 24

While I drive towards the restaurant, I try to figure out how to say it. Everything I come up with sounds dumb. I still haven't figured out what to say when I pull into parking lot. Tyler is already here, sitting in a booth beside the window where he stares down into his cup. I sit down across from him and he looks up. "I was gonna order for you but I wasn't sure what you wanted. I'll buy."

I shake my head. "No thank you. I'm not hungry."

"You're the one who asked me out for lunch." He chuckles dryly. "If this is the last time you're gonna have a meal with me, please eat." He says, looking down at the menu.

He knows. My heart clenches and I pick up the menu to take my mind off him for a moment. When I've picked out what I want, I peek up at him to find him staring at me impassively. Quickly closing my menu, I place it down on the table. "I think we should see other people." I say. "And the only time we should see each other is when it comes the baby. For the appointments and birth."

He leans back and takes a deep breath. "You said baby. What about Alex?"

"The only time you do anything with him is when we're at home so I guess it doesn't matter."

"But you said -"

"Steven has been there for Alex all the time. He buys him things, plays with him, takes him out. You haven't done that." I say. "Alex will be fine. You'll have enough on your hands once the baby is born anyways."

"What do you mean?" He asks.

"I mean I'm gonna need your help providing for the baby. He or she will need clothes, diapers, a crib, a car seat - everything. The first couple of months are gonna be the hardest."

"You're serious about all of this?" He asks.

I nod. "Yeah."

"So you're gonna start seeing people?" I nod. "And I can start seeing people?"

"Start?" I chuckle, rolling my eyes. "Look, I'm gonna go. I'll have Steven tell you when the next appointment is. I'll take your stuff to your house later."

His jaw tenses. "Don't worry about it. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"What am I gonna do with it?"

"Throw it away. Burn it. Fuck, I don't care." He snaps. "This is the last time, Mia. The last fucking time." He slams money on the table then throws a few bills at me. "Buy the fucking crib yourself. It's not like I'm ever gonna see the fucking kid anyways."

I am too shocked to move for a long time. When I finally come back down to earth, I pick up the bills, finding five hundred dollar bills. "Thanks." I mumble to myself.

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I sit in the waiting room, staring at the door. Today is when we find out the gender. I told Steven to tell Tyler about the appointment but I'm not sure if he'll show. When my name is called I glance at the door once more before following the lady back. I lay on the table as she prepares for the ultrasound. "Is anyone else coming?" She asks.

I shake my head. "No."

"Okay. Let's get started."

She shuts the lights off then takes her place on her stool. The gel is cold on my stomach as she spreads it with the wand. The first thing to appear on the screen is the baby's head. She points to the screen, labeling the different body parts. At last, she searches for the gender. "Would you like to know the baby's gender?"

I nod. "Yes please."

She stares at the screen for a long moment then points. "It's most definitely a girl."

I grin happily as tears escape my eyes. I'm so excited. "Thank you so much."

"No problem. I'll print out some pictures then you can set up your next appointment at the front desk."

She hands me some paper towels to wipe my stomach then leaves the room.

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I go to the mall in search of a crib for the baby. Thankfully the cribs are near the rocking chairs for mothers so I sit down while I look from crib to crib. "Which one do you want?" I ask my baby bump.

"Can I help you with anything?" A worker asks.

I glance up at him. "If I say I'm considering buying this chair, will you still make me move?"

He chuckles. "I'm not gonna make you move."

"Okay. The baby wants that round wooden crib with the canopy. Do you guys deliver?"

He nods. "Next day delivery. In fact, I may be able to deliver it today. I'll have to check the delivery schedule."

"That sounds great. I'll take it."

"Okay." He smiles. "I'll check the schedule real quick."

He walks away and I stand up, wandering over to the baby clothes. As I look through the girl clothes, I hear my name. "Mia?" I look around, my eyes settling on a blonde girl I went to school with. "It is Mia right?"

"Yeah. Sarah right?"

She smiles. "Yeah. I haven't seen you since we were juniors. We had gym together."

I nod. "It's been a long time. What are you doing here?" I gesture to the baby stuff.

"I was on my way to the bathroom when I seen you. I had to say hi." She walks around the rack and notices my belly. "Oh my gosh! Congratulations!"

"Thanks." I smile.

"I thought you were going to the bathroom?"

The voice makes my body tense up and a lump forms in my throat. "Oh, this is Tyler." She waves him over and I shift uncomfortably. "Tyler, do you remember Mia from school?"

If only she knew. Tyler stays on the other side of the rack, not saying anything. Fortunately I see the worker I was talking to earlier looking for me. "I have to get going. It was nice seeing you."

"You too. Congrats." Sarah says.

I walk over to the worker and he smiles. "There you are. There's an opening for today between five and six. They'll even put it together for you."

"That's perfect. That's the one I want." I point.

He grabs the card with the bar code then leads the way to the cash registers. I pay for it and fill out a paper for the delivery information then head for the doors. I hear quick footsteps behind me before Tyler is walking beside me. "Why did you take that money to my moms? I told you to use it to get the baby a crib."

I shake my head. "I don't need your help Tyler."

I push through the doors and he grabs my arm, stopping me. "Just talk to me for a minute."

"What do you want?" I sigh.

He slips his hands into his pockets. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Are you kidding me?" I snap angrily. "Steven told you about the appointment. I texted you about the appointment. If you wanted to know you should've been there."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too."

Turning, I walk away.

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