Running On Empty

by Emily Camp

  “Hey Declan,” His mom said.

  Bailey was still in her pajama’s with pink puppies all over them, along with a big sticky blob of what he guessed to be syrup. Her hair was a mess, dark fuzz sticking in every direction.

  “What are you doing?” His mother’s smiled up at him, as she tried to console Bailey, who by some miracle quieted down.

  Declan placed a hand on his belly. “Just stopping by to visit my mama.”

  She tilted her head. “Are you hungry?”

  Declan belted out a laugh. “Do you really have to ask that?”

  “Bails ate the last waffle. But if you take her I can make more.”

  Declan had to weigh this out. Exactly how hungry was he for his mom’s homemade breakfast? Fresh waffles definitely sounded better than the box of frozen ones sitting in his fridge at home.

  He looked down Bailey tipping one eyebrow up. “You eat my waffle?”

  She smile and babbled something to him.

  The hunger pangs were worth it. He held his hands out and his mom passed Bailey to him, who reached for him as she was transferred.

  “She takes after her Uncle D.” Robin cooed, and poked her cheek.

  Robin shuffled through the kitchen and Declan leaned on the barstool.

  “How’s Miley, Is she working this morning?”

  He knew it was only a matter of time before she asked. “No.”

  Bailey blinked her big brown eyes up at him, her cheeks streaked from the recently dried up tears.

  “Oh, I forgot to tell you, she’s been kind of pukey this morning.”

  At first he thought she was talking about Miley then he realized she was talking about Bailey. In that case, what did he agree to?

  “What …”

  “Its good practice for when you have kids someday.”

  Declan wondered if his mom’s waffles were really worth it after all.

  “She’s teething.”

  Bailey hiccupped followed by a stream of something oozing from her lips right onto his chest. Her fist went back in her mouth and she cried again.

  “Uh, mom…”

  “See it isn’t that hard.” Robin poured the batter into the waffle iron. Sadly, Declan no longer had an appetite for his favorite breakfast.

  “Mom.”

  Robin gasped when she turned toward him. She let out a laugh and reached for Bailey.

  “Where’s Bree?” he grabbed the towel from the sink and began to scrub the front of his shirt. Bree was Bailey’s mom, who lived in his old room and was finishing high school over the internet.

  “Bree went to the library to finish up a test. Go get one of Zeke’s shirts.”

  Chapter 3

  As he ate his breakfast, his mom bathed Bailey. The house was oddly quiet.

  He rinsed his plate off at the sink and shoved it into the dish washer.

  Now what?

  He checked his phone just in case it was on silent. Nothing. He couldn’t help but wonder why Miley hadn’t called yet.

  It seemed like he always had to be the first to apologize after a fight, and this time he wasn’t doing it.

  He made his way to the living room. He turned on his youngest brother, Isaac’s game system to busy himself.

  Despite his efforts, Commander Carter could not keep his attention. The more he thought about it, he couldn’t help but run through his mind the fact that Miley purposely quit taking her pill to get pregnant.

  Bailey waddled in the room. Her damp hair was pulled back in a tight pony tail and she wore bright pink sweat pants and a tee shirt stating, I’m adorable and I know it. She pointed to the television and grunted. “Show.”

  Declan was sure she was used to having to fight her Uncle Zeke for the television.

  “Declan, what are you still doing here?” His mom placed a hand on her hip when she walked in behind Bailey.

  “You can watch your show.” Declan ignored his mom’s question.

  Bailey smiled and used all her might to climb up on the sofa, flinging one leg up then struggling to get the other on. Declan reached down and helped her gain footing to hoist the rest of the way.

  She wiggled for a minute before she was satisfied sitting straight up beside Declan, her little legs straight out in front of her.

  A theme song started up about using your ears to listen as cartoon corn on the cobs danced around. Declan pretended to be interested as his mom’s eyes burned into the side of his head.

  “Declan Noble.”

  And she used the middle name.

  “Kitchen now.” She said before walking away.

  His mom never had to be loud. If she said anything in a less than sugary sweet tone, you knew she meant business.

  Declan sighed and looked at Bailey. She giggled at him.

  “Sure you can laugh, you’re not the one grandma’s mad at.”

  She scrunched her little nose and giggled again.

  Declan stepped into the kitchen. His mom stood by the bar, hands on hips. What was with women and the hands on the hips?

  “What’s going on?” she said.

  “What do you mean?” he shrugged.

  “You are a married man, why are you sitting here playing your little brother’s video games while he’s at school? I know something’s up. Where’s your wife?”

  “I don’t know.” He mumbled and scuffed the tip of his shoe on the hardwood floor like he was a kid getting scolded for eating too many cookies.

  “Doesn’t seem like you. You two are inseparable when you’re not at school or work.”

  Declan’s shoulders drooped and he looked up at his mom. He was always honest with her, the thing was he knew he was being a butt, and he didn’t want anyone to tell him he was wrong.

  “We had a fight.”

  “So you think it’s okay to run to your mother’s house?”

  “She left first.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what a heel he was. He sounded like he was defending himself for fighting with his brothers when he was younger.

  “Declan, you’re my reasonable one. I expect something like this out of Garrett. Not you.” She shook her head. The disappointment in her eyes was enough to break him.

  “I know, mom. It’s just…” he dropped into the barstool. “She’s pregnant.”

  “She is?” She grabbed her towel and began to scrub the already-clean counter. He wasn’t sure what she thought about it. Not that he was happy about the pregnancy or anything, but at least he was married and out of high school that was more than he could say for his brother.

  “She’s supposed to be on the pill, we agreed to be established in our lives before bringing kids in it.”

  “Things like this happen. Things we don’t plan.” She said, scrubbing harder at the invisible stain.

  “But, aren’t we, my wife and I supposed to make this decision together?”

  “The pill isn’t a hundred percent effective. You know if its Gods plan ….” She still wouldn’t look at him

  “If it’s all God’s plan then why are you killing the kitchen counter?”

  Her little body shook as she scrubbed more. Then she laughed, and tossed the rag down. She sighed. “It’s just …” she shook her head. “I thought you were being responsible.”

  “I was … I am.”

  “Wasn’t she sick not too long ago with a cough?”

  “Uh … yeah.” Declan tilted his head back up toward his mom.

  “Did she happen to take antibiotics to get rid of it?”

  “Yeah…” he didn’t know what this had to do with anything.

  “Honey, sometimes an antibiotic will counter act the birth control pill. If you didn’t use anything else when she was on it …”

  Declan grimaced, even though he was a married man and fairly open with his mom, talking about the details of his sex life was a little much for him. “We didn’t.”

  “Well, mystery solved.” Robin held her hands out.

  Declan groaned and ran his hand over his mes
sy hair. He hadn’t been bothered to style it before leaving his house. “I was a butt to her this morning and I’ve been sitting here stewing on it …”

  “You need to go find her.”

  He pulled his phone out and sent Miley a text. Where are you? His knee bounced as he waited on her reply.

  “D,” his mom said.

  He lifted his face toward her.

  She gave him a small smile and placed her hand on his. “As shocking as this is, it isn’t a bad thing, okay? I know it seems like I’m not happy about it either. I just know how hard it is to be young with a baby, but it’ll be worth it, too.”

  Bailey’s cries belted from the living room.

  His mom hurried to the baby, shouting, “Go find your wife and make up,” over her shoulder.

  ****

  Panic set in when Declan checked Miley’s dad’s house, before heading home and finding his apartment empty as well.

  Where did she go?

  She didn’t answer his calls or texts. He had to fight the anger stirring up again.

  Chances of her being anywhere public were slim the way she’d left the apartment, unless she went home and changed. Then she could be at the mall.

  He turned the car around, heading toward the mall that was when he spotted it sitting on the side of the road, by the quaint little park overlooking the lake, her black Mini Cooper.

  He whipped his truck in behind it and hopped out.

  The trees were just beginning to bud and there was a bite in the air. He couldn’t imagine how cold Miley would be in her tank top.

  He scanned the park. An old man walked a little white dog that looked more like the bottom of a mop than an animal.

  A woman jogged pushing a stroller down the path, the small child was bundled in a fuzzy hooded sweat shirt. He imagined Miley doing the same with their little one.

  Where was she? Did she decide to go for a run and if she did, was that good for the baby considering she hadn’t even eaten?

  His feet couldn’t carry him fast enough as he took long strides along the little paved path. The park was not crowded. It was cool and a weekday morning at that. It shouldn’t be too hard to spot her.

  Finally when he’d almost given up, he spotted the back of her. She had his black hoodie on, he’d given her on that exact same bench, way before they were even a couple. It was threadbare, faded to a dull gray with a few holes forming. But it was her favorite and she refused to throw it out.

  Her small frame drown in it. She stared out at the water.

  Either she didn’t notice him when he sat down beside her, or she pretended not to notice.

  Her cheeks were flush and the wind blew the stray pieces of her hair in her face. Her lip plump bottom lip stuck out further than normal and she held the hoodie tight around her body.

  He waited a minute for her to talk, but she didn’t. She didn’t pull away when he placed his hand on her knee, so he took that as a good sign.

  “I’m sorry.” His voice rasped as he spoke.

  Miley didn’t respond, but she leaned into him. Her head fell on his shoulder. He reached his arm around her and hugged him tight against his side.

  “Do you forgive me?”

  “Yeah, I’m sorry, too, I shouldn’t have walked away from a fight.” Her hands were buried in the sleeves of the hoodie, but she placed them on his leg.

  Declan kissed her temple. “It’s okay. C’mon, let’s go home.”

  Chapter 4

  The collection of pregnancy magazines and books multiplied as the days turned into weeks. Declan was sure Miley picked up an arm load every time she left the house.

  At the first doctor’s appointment they heard the quick heart beat. It made it real for Declan. Watching Miley’s eyes tear up as she heard the little life inside her, she was already a wonderful mom and their baby was negative seven months old.

  A new app popped up on his phone when he went to text a picture of the first ultra sound to his mom. It was just a blob, but it was a baby. It had a heart beat.

  When he opened the app it read.

  You’re now eight weeks along. This week your baby is the size of a kidney bean and you may notice your bra getting snug.

  Clearly this was written for the mother. But he couldn’t help but glance over at his wife’s chest. She was lying on her back across the sofa. Her feet propped in his lap as she devoured the pages of a Beautiful Baby magazine.

  How did he not notice this sooner? Her boobs were growing. As soon as they were home she threw off the button up shirt she had over her tank. The tank top was snug and a little bit of cleavage peeked out the top.

  Declan might get used to this pregnancy thing after all.

  Suddenly he couldn’t take his eyes off her chest.

  Abandoning his text, he sat his phone done on the solid oak coffee table. He lifted her feet off his lap and crawled over her.

  Removing the magazine from her hands with a slow fluid motion.

  Miley giggled, and that only made him want her more. “D, again?”

  He smirked down at her chest and wiggled his eyebrows.

  Her arms reached around his neck and pulled his face to hers.

  This time they didn’t make it off the couch.

  Declan loved being married.

  ****

  “You ever think of knocking?” Declan grumbled when Garrett helped himself into the apartment. Bailey perched on his hip, her hair in a fountain ponytail at the top of her head. A bright pink diaper bag was draped over his shoulder. Declan didn’t care if they had a girl or not, there was no way he was going to carry a pink bag around.

  “Why? We’re family.” Garrett kicked the door shut behind him.

  “What if Miley and I were …” Declan looked at Bailey. Her bright eyes blinked at him, hanging onto his every word.

  “Uh, don’t you go to the bedroom for that?” Garrett flopped down. Bailey giggled when he bounced her on his lap.

  “Not always,” Declan said.

  Declan was reclined in his chair catching up on episodes of his favorite show while Miley took a trip to the mall with her step-mom. It was like visits to the mall were needed in order for them to survive.

  “Kid Zone.” Bailey pointed at the television.

  Declan glared at Garrett then sat up. Kicking the footrest down. If he didn’t put on her shows, then she’d be into everything. They didn’t have any toys yet. “What channel?”

  Declan turned the channel while Garrett settled in. Bailey climbed off his lap and stood at the coffee table.

  The cartoon blared from the television a squeaky voice and annoying tune.

  Bailey bounced and tapped the table to the beat.

  “So what’s up?” Declan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. It wasn’t like his brother to just randomly show up.

  “Bree’s trying to study and Bailey wouldn’t let her leave her sight.” Garrett shook his head. “Mom says she’s clingy because she’s teething.”

  Bailey turned around and shoved her hand in her mouth, fussing over her loud show.

  Declan headed for the kitchen, the noise level could have stood to be a little quieter.

  He grabbed a bowl out of the cupboard.

  Garrett’s voice could be heard over the television now, trying to coddle his screaming child.

  Declan tossed some grapes from the fridge in his bowl and reluctantly headed back to his recliner. He didn’t want to be rude, but his brother and baby were ruining his peaceful afternoon.

  When he sat back down, Garrett was bouncing Bailey on his lap. “I think she’s hungry.” He held Bailey out toward Declan, her legs dangling, Garrett’s hands under her arm pits.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Hold her so I can get her snacks out of the diaper bag.”

  Declan took her slowly and sat her on his lap.

  Garrett rummaged through the pink bag at his feet.

  “Hungry huh? I don’t like being hungry either.” Declan lift
ed a purple grape toward her.

  “Dude you trying to choke my daughter? What kind of dad are you?”

  “Well, technically I’m not one yet.” Declan grumbled as Garrett took his baby back.

  “Daddy has yum yums.” Garrett’s voice was squeaky, he shook a plastic container in his hand.

  “Yum … yum.” Bailey reached for the food.

  Declan nodded, taking his bowl of grapes he leaned back in his recliner.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for this.” Garrett eased down with Bailey on his hip. She was happy now, pinching the little snacks between her finger and thumb as Garrett fed her one by one.

  “I know I’m not, but were you?” He popped a grape in his mouth.

  “Oh yeah, sixteen and a junior in high school. I was totally ready for this.”

  “I know this sounds sexist, but I was hoping we would be in a place financially that Miley could stay home with our baby.”

  “I wouldn’t let her hear you say that. Miley needs to be around people.”

  Bailey made fists and hit them together. “Mo.”

  “More?” Garrett gave her another. Then looked up, “Bree’s teaching her sign language. That’s the sign for more.”

  Declan nodded. “Call me old fashioned, but I think a kid needs their mom. Like ours was.”

  “Well it’s not like you have to send the baby to daycare, you know mom will watch it.”

  “That’s not fair to mom.”

  “She enjoys having Bailey.” Garrett smiled down at his baby, whose lips smacked as she chewed with her gums.

  Declan sighed and sat up, getting rid of the empty bowl and placed his head in his hands before he and Garrett got into it. “This whole baby thing has me freaked out. I didn’t know Bailey couldn’t have a grape.”

  “Now you do.”

  “I can’t talk to Miley. She’s so excited and I’m just …” when he looked up Garrett was staring over his head, his face in tight smile. Bailey giggled and reached above Declan’s head. “Miley’s standing right behind me isn’t she?”

  “You can’t talk to me?” Miley’s voice quivered.

  “Mi.”

  “ Hi Bails.” Miley turned her face toward Bailey, her jaw tight.