The Secrets That Bind Us

Chapter 11

JOEY POV

We’re sitting in the doctors office waiting for Brookes scan. My leg is bouncing in anticipation. I’m going to see my baby today and then when I do it will be real. Like I’m really having a baby. I’ve been trying not to think about it too much because I may hyperventilate or have an aneurysm. Brooke places her hand on my knee that is bouncing and gives me a smile, “you OK?” she asks in a soft voice, I return her smile “yeah, I’m okay, it’s just a lot you know” she let’s out a quiet snort and looks at me “yeah” she takes a deep breath “I know”

Our conversation is interrupted by the receptionist, “Brooke Garcia” Brooke and I stand and follow the reception lady’s directions. The doctor asks Brooke a bunch of questions and they talk about things I don’t really understand, I’m more distracted by the models of vaginas littering the room and resisting the urge to touch them. I’m pulled from my thoughts when I hear the doctor say “so, are you guys ready to see your baby?”

Brooke lifts up her shirt and I notice the slight bump starting to form on her flat belly. The doctor adds some lubey looking stuff and pulls out a scanny thing and starts running Brookes stomach with it. It’s silent for a moment before we hear a soft thudding noise, “that’s your babys heart beat.” I smile at Brooke and then the doctor says “by the looks of things your 11 weeks pregnant, and there is your baby. Congratulations mom and dad” I turn and look at the screen and see.. A blob of grey lines? What the fuck am I supposed to be seeing here? I glance at Brooke and she has tears in her eyes. Well shit I should obviously see something I give them a tight smile as they look at me, “it looks like you, Brooke” is the first thing that comes out of my mouth, she throws her head back and laughs, “I look like an alien?” “what? No um I mean I think it will look like you?”

We finish up at the doctors and I drop Brooke at home, she’s going to tell her mom tonight. I offered to stay for support but she said she had to do this alone. I haven’t told Brooke but ever since I realised I don’t even know what was our soon to be child on the monitor I have been freaking out. I’m on my way to my mom and dad’s house when my phone rings. I check the caller ID and see its Nate.

“hey man”

“alright, mate, how was the scan?”

“it was a fucking disaster. I don’t even know what’s just lines and what is my child. I’m heading to my mom and dad’s now to have a breakdown.”

He let’s out a chuckle “you’ll be fine, i’ll see you when you get home and we can talk about it then okay mate”

“if I don’t have a nervous breakdown first sure, laters dude”

By the time I end my phone call I pull into the driveway of my parents home. No matter where I live this will also be home for me too. I walk through the front door and hear silence. “mom, dad?” I walk into the kitchen and only see Cole. “hey, what you doing here?” he asks. “having an internal panic, struggling to breathe, needed some advice, you?” I ask he shakes his head and mutters something about me being a drama queen. Not the time wise ass. “came to take Grace somewhere but she’s still at the library, mom and dad are out shopping.”

I throw myself down onto the chair next to Cole and place my head on top of my folded arms. “for fuck sake, I can’t catch a break” I whine. Cole looks at me with a raised brow and goes to stand “well i’ll leave you to.. What ever the fuck this is, alone then” I put my hand on his arm to stop him leaving and look at him through teary eyes “Cole, what am I gonna do?” he sighs, rolls his eyes and sits back down.

“jheez can’t you just goggle it?” he rubs a hand over his face “okay talk quick and please don’t cry or I will feel uncomfortable and leave. And please stop touching me.” I let go of him and straighten up “I can’t be a dad. I’m technically not even an adult. I’m a teenager. I live on cereal and cheese sandwiches. Babies can’t live on those thing. They need diapers and formula and I’m sure a lot of other shit too. For fuck sake I’ve just stopped playing pranks on you guys and that’s only cos mom threatened to spank me, which judging by the fact I spent Christmas grounded after sending you the feminine hygiene care package, i don’t doubt she would spank me.” I take a deep breath and then pull out the scan photo from my wallet, “and to top this shit show off, I don’t even know what my baby looks like.”

Cole takes the scan photo from my hands and inspects it, I’m sure I see a small smile on his face. He turns and looks at me “okay listen, and listen well because I’m not repeating myself and there will be no follow up questions. The fact you think you can’t do this? Tough shit. You made this baby now you have to help raise it. It’s gonna be hard, there will be lots of tears, especially from you and the baby but you can do it. Plus you get the easy job, poor Brooke has to push it out of her and she’s a fairly small girl. No one is saying you have to stop being you, you just have to be a more mature, less ass hole version of you. You have a whole family to support you though. Mom and dad can’t wait, Mia and Parker are arguing over who babysits first, Grace thinks it’s hilarious but still, she supports you, and I’m here for you too.” He slaps me on the back and stands up, “and now I’m going to leave because that’s the most I’ve talked about anyone’s feelings in years and it was a bit fucking much to be honest. Also your baby is that shape there” he points at the scan photo.

I turn to him as he’s walking out the door “hey Cole” he turns and looks at me “thanks man, I needed to hear that.” He smiles, flips me the bird and leaves me alone to examine the photo I can now make out as a baby. My baby. I pull out my phone to call Brooke and see how it went on her end.