'Money'

chapter five - we're having a baby

3 years later.

As I hear them all leave, I get up, out of bed and get in to the bathroom where I keep a pregnancy test I bought without letting 'Money' know I have it.

I shower and do my business, when I'm done I take the test, it takes ages for it to show anything...but when it does, I can hardly believe it...there's another baby on the way...

As I get out of the shower I hear 'Money' come home, loudly singing, completely out of tune.

- Alright, here goes... I think to myself as I finish getting dressed and go to 'Money' who's in the kitchen, eating leftover bacon from breakfast.

- 'Money', I say.

- Yeah, babe, he says.

- I have something to tell you...I say.

- What's that, my love? 'Money' asks curiously.

- I'm...we're...I'm pregnant, I say.

- Wow, I was just telling Paul this morning how we've been trying for another baby and how difficult it's been for us to get pregnant, 'Money' says. And you're telling me we're having another?

- Yeah, we've having another, in 8 1/2 months, I say.

- Wow...'Money' says.

- I've checked what we're having, I say.

- And what are we having? 'Money' asks.

-A...daughter, I think, I say.

- A daughter?! No, no, no, I can't have a daughter, not me, not the guy that parents always warned their own daughters about and still do, even though I'm married now, 'Money' says.

- Fine! Then I'll have an abortion and you're never touching me EVER again! I scream at him and storm off.

- Baby! 'Money' calls after me.

- Don't even think of coming near me, Jacob! I say, slamming the door to my music room in his face.

'Money' bangs on the door of my music room but I act like I don't hear him over the sound of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the dark", at full blast in the huge speaker system.

It takes a whole half hour of "the Boss" before 'Money' basically breaks down the door to come in.

When he sees me, he knows he's really fucked up this time, he takes the remote for the stereo system and turns down the sound only slightly.

- Baby, I'm sorry... 'Money' says. I'm sorry I reacted like that...I should be happy we're having another baby, no matter if its a boy or a girl.

- It's already booked.. I say and he knows it's true, that I've booked time for an abortion, because he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

- No, he pleads. Please no, please don't do it.

- If you fear having a daughter, perhaps we shouldn't have anymore kids at all, I say, sternly.

He pleads some more, but speaks to deaf ears, if he fears having another child cause it may or may not be a daughter, then we shouldn't have any more kids at all.

After three hours of arguing, 'Money's in our home gym, working out while I'm still in my music room, now with another record and the sound on lower...10 minutes in to the second record I play, 'Money' comes in, silently.

- Are you still mad at me? he asks.

- What do you think, I answer.

- I think you're mad as hell at me still, 'Money' says.

- You're smarter than you look, I say sarcastically.

- I want you to keep the baby, 'Money' says. As long as it's mine, I don't care if it's a boy or a girl.

- As long as it's yours? I say slowly, dangerously slowly and then turn silent as the grave as I get up and leave the music room without even looking at him. You sleep in the guest room tonight, I snap over my shoulder as I slam the bathroom door shut so the whole house rattles.

- *fuck*, 'Money' thinks to himself as he walks by the guest room, he sees I was serious about not wanting him in bed with me, his pillows and cover are thrown on the floor outside the door of the guest room.

He walks in to bedroom, where I lay in bed.

- What do you want, Jacob? I ask.

- To talk, just talk, I won't touch you again, in any way, unless you say I can, 'Money says.

- Then talk, butI say.

- I don't want you to go through with this abortion, I really don't, cause I want this baby, I really do, and I don't give two shit about if it's a son or a daughter, all that I care about is that it's a happy, healthy baby and that you're it's mum and I'm it's dad, 'Money' says.

- Well, it ain't moonlight and roses, but what the hell, I say, kissing him.

- Does that mean you're keeping it? 'Money' asks.

- Yes, it means I'm keeping it, I say and get my fingers tangled in his hair.

- Are you still angry with me? 'Money' asks.

- *smirks* I'm SO angry with you, I say, jump up, wrap my arms around his neck and legs around his waist. Take me to bed...and bring my stuff, will you?

- *gets in to the bedroom* Hold on, I'm just gonna put these things down, 'Money' says. Tonight I'm gonna go slow, he continues.

- But I want you to be rough, I say.

- No, not tonight, tonight we both need slow and gentle, 'Money' says.

'Money' takes me in his arms and hugs me tightly to him as he gently pushes me on to the bed.

- Don't fight me, he whispers as I try to fight him off, still a bit angry with him.

He gently holds me down with his own body when I try to fight him. As he feels me finally relax in his arms, he enters me, slowly. He gives me a boyish grin of triumph, he tamed the lioness.

As I'm about to come and scream his name, he laughs in delight, now he's sure I love him still.