My Valentine

Twenty-One

Nightengale Phillips

I took a deep, soothing gulp of my orange juice and chewed on my pancake. Mom watched me with a look of disgusted.

"What? I didn't have an appetite yesterday."

River grunted, walking into the kitchen and threw a carton of milk down his throat.

"What's the matter sweetie?" Mom asked, buttering a piece of toast. River grunted once more.

"I'm sure it has something to do with January calling him last night." My mother looked at me scandalously.

"What about, sweetheart?"

That, I didn't know. River had brushed me off yesterday when I'd asked him and I didn't push. If there's one thing I knew for sure, it was that my brother needed space and time to think before he admitted anything to anyone.

He went into the cupboards, probably looking for something that wasn't there.

"She wants to see me."

He was still going through the cupboards and finally, he settled on a packet of popcorn. After typing the number of minutes he wanted into the microwave, he finally turned to face us, "Said Mirabella has pneumonia and she needs help taking care of her."

Mom sat upright, "Well, River, you'll go back to New York and help her."

My brother stared up at the ceiling and huffed out something, as if cursing God for putting him in this situation.

"She's your wife and whether or not you married her because you'd gotten her pregnant, you still have a responsibility to provide for your daughter. Son, you don't possibly think January can handle taking care of a sick child and having a full time job!"

"Can't you see that I'm trying to figure something out!" I touched my ear, hating the ring I was hearing after River belted out the frustration he had bottled up inside him.

"This isn't easy for me!"

Mom calmly held up her hand.

"I know that you think you're not mature enough to parent this child and maybe you're right-"

"Gee, thanks."

"-but River, this baby is here now and she needs a dad. January needs help. You can't leave her to fend for herself and Mirabella."

"I told you I'm trying to figure something out." He took the popcorn from the microwave and headed for the kitchen's exit.

"Okay, wait. Why don't you let January take Mirabella to Georgia and I'll take care of her until she gets better? I'd love to finally meet her!"

He looked at mom as if she was crazy. All that time, I kept eyeing the bag of popcorn in his hand. Maybe I'd have one to go for school.

"I don't want the kid here."

That was all he said before walking out. Wow. I guess it's true what they said. Creating a child doesn't mean you're a parent.

Mom leaned heavily on the back of the chair. I hated seeing her so sad, but there was nothing any of us could do. It was River's life and it wasn't our place to interfere.

If he wanted to keep his family away from us and from himself, we'd just have to accept it.

"Maybe dad can talk some sense into him."

She shook her head sadly, "Your father told me to tell you guys that he's staying in L.A. for another week and talking to River over the phone does nothing to him. Trust me, I've tried."