Chris Evans: The Collection (Imagines and Short Stories)

Breathe 4

Part 4: And Her Name Is....

5 AM December 14th

The lobby of the maternity ward at five in the morning is surprisingly bleak and desolate. There are a few corners occupied by waiting friends and families, but most of the space is taken up by one family: the Evans-Pattersons. Carly is snoozing taking up three chairs under a blanket from home. Her parents sit across from her, using each other to get some shut-eye by leaning on comfortable shoulders. Shanna would join them once again whenever the news that a new Evans had come into the world came her way. Miles and Stella had school in the morning and she was on drop-off duty. If the baby came before school, she would bring them to meet their cousin after class ended. The kids had been at the hospital for hours before Shanna made the conscious decision that it would be best to bring them back in the afternoon the next day rather than be trying to wrangle them at five in the morning. Scott is in LA, but is waiting with heavy anticipation for his phone to ring.

Sitting in the row of chairs against the wall, on Chris Watch-- the stakeout for the messenger who would notify the family that the baby had been born and how Guinevere was recuperating-- Farrah and Jay are drinking coffees in silence. On Jay's left, Stavvy sleeps vertically with his arms folded, while Artie is against his shoulder quietly snoring. Baby mamma Talia had been planning to attend, but she isn't feeling well and thought it may be best if she takes over business, so Artie could savor being an uncle for the first time without the pressure of returning to work with a limited amount of rest.

To break the silence, in a muted voice, Farrah says, "I still don't get it."

"What, Fay?" Jay asks.

She sighs in between sipping her coffee, "I don't understand why Guin didn't want me in the room. She always told me that she wanted Chris and me if she ever became pregnant. She reiterated this when she announced this one."

"It's been a week and you're still harboring resentment?" Jay raises an eyebrow at his wife as he inquired, "Why does it matter, Fay?"

Farrah scoffs, "My mom was right by my side when I had Artie."

Slyly, Jay interjects, "Was she with you when Guin was born?"

"Smart ass," she rolls her eyes. "She would've, but you two couldn't even be in the same room together because of the bickering. Did I need that during my thirty-six-hour labor? Hell to the no!"

He laughs slightly, "I'm sure she and I would have found a compromise...But she didn't need to be there."

"Don't speak ill of the dead, Jacob."

"I'm not. You were seventeen when you had, Artie," Jay defends his previous statement. "You had nobody else and I can't imagine being a young woman going through that much pain alone."

Farrah sits back and states, "That is true but...that's not why it bothers me so much.."

"Why?" Jay implores further-- either due to the morning or the enigma that is his wife.

She exhales again, taking another couple sips of coffee to find composure, "Jay...I wanted to be there for her when I wasn't. Maybe that's why she decided against having me in the room."

He still couldn't understand her, "When weren't you there for Guin, Hon? I'm sure her decision was not based upon vendettas, but the fact that she and Christopher have gone through a lot to get here. They wish to spend such a crucial moment together alone."

"That's what I keep telling myself, but I really wasn't as present as I could've been. I wasn't being her mom when she needed me. With the first miscarriage, it was opening night of my tour and I couldn't cancel it. When the second happened, I had no idea she was pregnant and I had to take care of Artie since he hurt his knee skiing...and you both were in a quarrel as stepson and stepfather. Then the last one ...I just had no idea what to say. I've never miscarried. I know plenty women who have, but ehat wisdom could I have imparted in her? Why did Guinny have to go through all that without me there? Why did she have to go through it at all? " tears pricks her eyes and daughter like mother, Farrah is spiraling-- seeing every reason other than the clear one related to why her daughter desired to only have Chris comfort her through labor.