His Girl

Dinner

"Mom, I have some news." I had to corner her in the kitchen one evening because she'd been elusive lately. It was her new work responsibilities or something.

"What's that? Look at you, you're all smiles." Her heart was noticeably warmed by the sight of my happiness.

"It's about Br...erm...um...Adam."

"Oh really?"

"Yes." I didn't know why I was so nervous.

"What is it? I hope he's okay."

"He is. Um we're back together. Officially. Well, we weren't really apart. Not in our hearts, ya know? Not emotionally, not spiritually."

"Calm down, Chanel bell. So, after how much he hurt you, you're taking him back like that." She snapped her fingers. Wasn't that how fast she moved on from dad? My heart ached.

"I was thinking we could all have dinner."

"That's a good first step, but honey, don't you jump back in his arms too fast."

"Mom, I think Bill should come. Do you?" I stood provocatively. Did she think I wouldn't find out? That I was that naive? I was but she didn't have to assume it.

"Um, sure." She was taken aback.

"I mean to discuss family concerns, he should be involved, right? As your boss." She squirmed under my questioning, even more than I'd expected.

"Yes, if you'd like."

"Well, would you like that? Would you like him included in family dinner?"

"Oh god, Chanel, I'm so sorry. I was trying to find a way to tell you. I just found out too, I needed to process. But honey," she held my shoulders, "we'll get through this together."

I stared at her blankly, my eyes batting rapidly. What was she talking about?

"Get through what?"

"You found the...in the bathroom?"

"Huh?" I ran to the bathroom. She was on my heels.

"Never mind. We'll have dinner, that's a great idea." She realized that she'd given herself away, I hadn't found anything in the bathroom, but I would now.

I rummaged the drawers. I saw her go for the trash can, I launched over her. We struggled in a tug of war, the whole thing turned over. The contents spilled onto the floor in front of us. There it was, a stick with a pink plus sign on it. We looked at each other, still and silent.

"Bill and I got pregnant." Her lip was quivering. She slid down the wall onto the floor. We sat facing each other, the garbage and our dirty laundry airing between us.

"What?" I was stunned, couldn't form a thought let alone a sentence. The puzzle pieces slowly came together for me. She wanted him to like her, they wanted to spend time together outside of work, she was so concerned about her appearance serving food at the mission, she wanted him to meet Breaker. He. Gave. Me. A. Car. Of course!

"Please don't be mad at me, Chanel. I, um, I." Her face broke into a cry I hadn't seen since we lost dad.

"A baby? Mom! We're going to have a baby?" I stood up, a rush of excitement ran through me as I imagined holding him or her in my arms. "I'm going to be a big sister." I ran to my room and pulled a box from my closet.

"Mom, do you think she or he will like these," I was sorting my sentimental stuffed animals out on my bed. "When I get some work, I can buy them new ones but these are nice too."

"They'll love them." She fell all over me with a sloppy, snot-riddled, clumsy hug.

We settled in the front room with tea. A big fuzzy blanket wrapped around both of us. She told me about Bill and how it started. She'd fended him off but he was persistent. They'd been serious for a few months now.

I told her some details about Breaker but I was still guarded. She was concerned about his situation with his mom. I tried to describe what it was like to see his dad with him and we both began to cry.

"Chanel, I had no idea that's what you two went through that day." She cradled me like a big baby.

"I didn't know what to say or do to make it better."

"A professional therapist would struggle with that. That's too much for you two kids to handle on your own." She stroked my hair out of my face.

"So you're back together now?" She asked. I nodded. "How'd you see him? Where'd you see him?" Uh oh, I grew tense. "Hey." Oh phew, she was distracted. "If you didn't find the test, why'd you start grilling me about Bill? How'd you know?"

"Adam told me."

"How'd he know?" She sounded defensive at the exposure.

"I don't know, he acted like it was obvious."

"I knew it the minute I saw him."

"What?" I sat up and faced her. Now I was defensive.

"That boy is too mature for high school."

"He's got street smarts, mom. He has to."

"Indeed. Well, let's get them both over for dinner."