Unacquainted

by Leigh Lennon

  “Okay, but you can’t read too much into it,” I stress.

  Starting the funny family story of when I first met my now stepfather, I started to tell them I’d walked in on him at my mom’s dining room table drinking coffee. “For fear this stranger had hurt my mom, my overprotectiveness kicked in. Kai and I were out of control and we had moved out. We had no idea my mom was dating someone. I stopped by the house, not knowing she had started dating the man that would become my stepdad. I walk in and there is a stranger drinking coffee in his boxers. I immediately think he has my mom locked in a closet and is some crazy coffee-drinking serial killer. I grab my mom’s biggest knife from the knife block and demanded to know where she was. I called her and was able to reach her on the first ring and confirmed that it was her boyfriend.” As I finish the story, everyone’s eyes are on me and they are laughing hysterically. Brody’s eyes are glued to mine as if my words transcend time and space in his mind. I have this deep impression that I could have been talking a foreign language and yet, he’d hang on every word of mine.

  “Rose, I can’t see you doing that. You’re way too reserved,” Brody says in between laughs.

  “I’m telling you, I was expecting him to be this coffee killer. I could see the headlines, New Serial Killer Drinks Coffee; Slowly Tortures Lonely Women.”

  “Oh, I bet your stepdad has been ribbed over the years for that one,” Henry, Brody’s dad says.

  “He has, believe me. We are a very entertaining family, to say the least.”

  I then start to share stories of my mom when Brody chuckles, “Wow, your mom sounds like a character.”

  “Oh, she’s a hoot. You will love her.” Then I realize that this gives Ruth some sort of clue that we may be more than friends as she smiles at me.

  We talk into the night until I can barely keep my eyes open. Brody finally taps my leg and says, “You need to get into bed. You look exhausted.”

  Before I can say anything, Ruth says, “Rose, you’re a ray of sunshine in our small little boring house. I don’t know what is going on with you and my son, but sweetheart, you’re always welcomed here.”

  “Thanks so much,” I say, ecstatic that my child’s grandmother likes me.

  Before I fall asleep, I hear a knock. “Come in.”

  “Hey, Toots. I told you my parents were intense,” he says as though he can read the uneasiness on my face. “I’m sorry. My mom was too much for you, right?”

  “No, I love her. I’m just feeling queasy. I’d hoped I had more time before this kicked in.”

  He walks over to his childhood bed and pulls the sheets back. “Just crawl into bed. Get a good night’s sleep. Take care of yourself, if you won’t, let me take care of you.”

  The uneasiness in my stomach is kicking in by the second. I give him a weak little grin. “I lucked out with you.”

  “Why do you say that?” he asks. “I don’t want to read too much into that, Rose, but I’m falling so quickly for you.”

  “Most men would have split the second I told them the news.”

  “Well, look at my parents, they probably deserve some credit for the guy I've

  become. They’re pretty great. They showed me commitment, more than just in their relationship. You can call us the Cleavers; all my friends do.” I can’t help but stifle a laugh at that. Most people my age wouldn’t know that reference, but the fact that Brody does is endearing to me. For myself, I used to watch Leave it to Beaver and wish my family were like Ward and June. Being a child of divorce, that is something I want to avoid for my own children.

  He now places himself at my side as I’m making myself comfortable in his old bed. “You were lucky. I mean, my parents are great, too, really great, but I would have loved to have them under the same roof and happy. But they weren’t happy so I was glad when they divorced. I always wanted what you have, with your family, for my own children.”

  Brody shifts closer to me. “Listen, I can promise you one thing. We may not be more than friends in life, but you will always have me around and if that is all we ever are, I will be a better man for it. And our kid will be a better person for having you as his or her mom.”

  He pulls the covers over me, tucking me in and kisses me on the head. “Get a good night’s sleep, Rose, call me if you need anything.”

  “I would normally say I feel bad over displacing you from your own bed but this bed is so comfy. It feels so good.”

  “Good, don’t worry about me. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Brody.” I feel his gaze on me for a while and it feels good to be wanted in the way he obviously wants me.

  9

  Brody

  As I walk down the stairs of my family’s farmhouse, my mom is waiting for me, ready to pounce. “Are you going to tell us what is going on with you and that girl?” My mom begins to set up the roll away bed in the living room.

  “Mom, when I know, I will let you know, all right?”

  “She’s great, in a quirky kind of real way. You know I hated Jessica,” my mother adds as if I couldn’t see the hatred in her eyes the second my ex-fiancée would walk in a room.

  “Yes, Mom, I know you did. Heck, everyone knew you did, even Jessica.”

  “Rose is really sweet. She has the all-American girl look about her. Scoop that girl up before she decides to go back to her Good Samaritan boyfriend.”

  “Mom, it is a bit more complicated than that. She knows how I feel but she can’t just throw away a relationship of five years without making sure.”

  “Five years? Shit, that really is stacked against us, isn’t it?” my mother says.

  “Ruth,” my father starts, “Leave the poor boy alone. He’s only twenty-six. He has time to settle down.”

  “But I want a grandkid. I’m ready for the next step, especially now with you living closer.”

  “Mom, all I can do is be her friend for now. She needs me as that more than anything.”

  “All right. I will back off. But don’t be surprised if I friend her on Facebook.”

  “Mom, you do Facebook? Why am I not your friend?”

  “Well, don’t mess things up with Rose and I just may friend you on Facebook.”

  My mom had the unpleasant task of watching me, as I had to pick myself up in more ways than one when Jessica left me broken. She drained me physically, emotionally and financially. It was never enough; I could never give Jess all she wanted and she’d manipulate me at every turn. My road to recovery was met with brutal understanding that financially, she ruined my security, but I vowed not to let her wreck my future.

  I can’t help but laugh at my mom and her perseverance with Rose being the one, in her eyes, for me. I knew without a shadow of doubt that my mom would love Rose. I drift asleep with thoughts of what our future would be like, if only I could convince her to take a gamble on me.

  10

  Rose

  The cramps are so intense that I double over in the bed when I wake but I don’t have the heart or energy to call Brody for help. I’m losing this baby; I just know it. When I don’t stir by 10 am, he searches me out and his look of concern melts my heart. I don’t tell him about the intense cramps but just lead off with, “I’m not feeling well at all. And I can smell breakfast, which is sweet, but I’ll vomit if I go down there. I hate to ignore it. I'm sorry.”

  “No, don’t worry about that. Are you sure it is just normal morning sickness?”

  “It has to be,” I say, trying to convince myself of this.

  “What do you need from me?” His tenderness would be adorable if I wasn’t fucking freaking out.

  “Grab a change of clothes for me, my lounge pants and a t-shirt and some panties and a bra.” I continue to bark out orders to make him feel useful. In his eyes, it is what he needs.

  Three minutes into the shower, I yell for Brody who is instantly in my space and by his face, he’s fraught with worry. “Brody, I feel really dizzy.” I don’t care if he sees me naked. I’m scared. I can’t be losing th
is baby. I knew from the beginning I wanted this but now it’s become real, how much I truly need this baby.

  He helps me get dressed and I’m not worried about my lack of vanity in this second. I just need to get back into bed. He tries to make me better when he teases me. “So, you wear cartoon underwear,” Brody says with a deep laugh that makes me smile for the first time. “Only you, Rose Hernandez, can make Mickey Mouse look sexy.”

  I laugh at him, knowing it is to take my mind off the fear. Squeezing his hand, I say trying not to cry. “Thanks, Brody,”

  “Anything for you, Toots.” Leaning down to kiss my forehead, he grabs my phone next to the bed. “I think we may need to call your doctor, just to be on the safe side. What is the office number?” Brody says and I realize that’s not a bad idea.

  “Oh, okay,” I say without a fight and that is when Brody has to realize this is more than just normal morning sickness. “But call Gladys, I have her number in my phone. One perk of knowing my doctor personally.” He scrolls through my phone until he finds her number. As I hear the phone ringing, I’m hit with something deep in my stomach. Sitting up, I start running toward the bathroom. I barely reach it before I retch up anything left in my empty belly.

  Brody has hung up the phone, attending to my needs. As my nausea passes and Brody has me back in bed, I finally hear Gladys’s loud voice ring through the phone, “Rosie, hon? You all right?”

  “Actually, this is Brody Buchannan, I’m Rose’s…well...I’m the baby’s father. Rose is with me in Pendleton, Oregon. She’s very sick, could barely stand to take a shower.”

  Again, Gladys’s voice is not low when I hear her ask, “What the hell is she doing in Pendleton?”

  “We were spending some time together, I want to be a part of the baby’s life. We were taking time to get to know one another.” I scoff at Gladys’s questions. Does it matter what we are doing? I’m fucking scared. I feel like grabbing the phone and telling Gladys to get to the point.

  Brody listens intently as Gladys gives him instructions while he jots them down on paper, looking very serious. I watch the worry etch into his face but he’s also the calm in the storm, taking control, taking care of me. Jones is a worrier. He’s steady with others. As a nurse, he could be the calmest individual but when it came to anything of a personal matter, his calm disposition faded and he would completely flip out. This is a strange new feeling which fills me with reassurance that Brody is being what I need right now. I continue to sit in awe of him as I hear him conclude the call with, “I will take her to the urgent care on Arcadia Drive.”

  I’m studying him as his eyes are locked on me. “Are you having any spotting?”

  “No, I was careful to look.” Though I still don’t want to share with anyone that the cramps are intense. If I did, I would have to admit it to myself.

  “Good news is that Gladys is calling the urgent care facility to get vitals expedited. She felt you were not in need of an ER this early on.” Those words hit me with finality, as I understand right away because if I’m miscarrying this soon, there is nothing that can be done for our baby.

  We try to make it to the front door before Ruth is on us. “You and Rose want to eat before you head out?” I contemplate telling Ruth what is going on, yet I would hate for her to mourn for this baby if she didn’t need to.

  “Mom, Rose is sick. I’m taking her to urgent care.” Without any more words, Brody turns to me. I’m in awe of the calmness he displays right now.

  In the car, I’m close to tears. “Something's not right, Brody, I’m scared.”

  “I know you are, me too, but I’m here. I’m not going anywhere, Toots,” he says, this time uncharacteristically kissing my cheek.

  Walking into the urgent care facility, Brody continues to show the force of support. “I have Rose Hernandez with me. Her doctor called about tests.”

  “Yes, for a Rose Hernandez. Are you Mr. Hernandez?”

  “I'm not but I’m the baby’s father,” he says proudly.

  “All right, fill this out for your girlfriend.” Somehow, I like the sound of this new title that people assume. One name stops the happiness that fills me: Jones.

  In the room, the doctor says, “I just got off the phone with your OB doctor. We’re in agreement, you’re severely dehydrated. She wants you back in for an ultrasound tomorrow. I’m going to get you hydrated, and I will give you some Phenergan for the nausea. If you can, try to get some rest tonight, I would stay put if you can. Go home tomorrow. The HCG level looks good, so I have no fears that anything is wrong with the baby.”

  In the car, I grab his hand. “I just realized how badly I want this. I mean, the baby.”

  “I know what you mean, Toots. I’ve never been so scared before,” Brody says to me, squeezing my hand.

  “Really? You were in control and you seemed so put together,” I say.

  “I needed to put you first. My feelings were the least of my concern.” His smile in and of itself is enough to ease my aching heart. “We will leave for Spokane in the morning.”

  I start to tear up as I say, “Brody, I’m glad you were with me.”

  “Me, too, Toots.”

  Waking up early in order to make it to Gladys’s office by noon, Brody is all busy packing up my suitcases and loading them into his car, to avoid any extra stress on me. His mom appears out of nowhere with eyes filled with tears. I’m not sure how to approach her as she fills the space between us in Brody’s childhood room. “Rose, it was so nice to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.” She’s standing in front of the doorway, blocking my way out and only smiles at me.

  In this awkward moment, I say, “Me, too, thanks for making me feel so welcome. I’m sorry I got so sick yesterday.”

  Ruth starts to turn, walking through the door and I’m still left wondering why she’s crying. Then, she stops. Turning around this time to face me, she says, “I know it’s none of my business but,” she pauses for a moment, “is it his?”

  “Pardon me?” I ask, trying to act confused but I know what she wants to know.

  “The baby, is it Brody’s?” She’s sweet with her tone, almost excited; too excited.

  “You know?” I don’t need an answer to this question but it is all I think to ask.

  “Yes, I suspected but yesterday, I pretty much had my suspicion confirmed with how he was doting on you.”

  I won’t lie to her, not in her house and not about her own grandchild. “This is not how I wanted you to find out.”

  “So, it is Brody’s?” Ruth asks again.

  I nod my head. “Yes, it is and I wish I could say I will end up with him, but the truth is I just don’t know him all that well, but he’s committed to being in this baby’s life. I feel I owe it to him to get to know him better. The best thing my parents did was, for the most part; show a united front when it came to raising us. That was so comforting and they really are good friends, my mom and dad. I know it’s not what he wants or what you want to hear, but there are worse things in the world than raising this baby if we aren’t together. Brody is great and I know Henry and yourself deserve most of that credit.”

  Ruth stands in front of me, grabbing me in a deep embrace. “I’m going to be a grandma?”

  “Yes, and part of my crazy family, like it or not,” I say.

  Leaning back to look me in the eyes, Ruth says, “Rose, give my boy a chance, though, he’s crazy about you. Now, you and the baby and yesterday? You both okay?”

  “Yes, I’m on my way to see my OB but they think so,” I answer.

  Ruth gives me another hug and heads downstairs to embrace her son before giving us sandwiches she packed for the road. With tears in her eyes, she only says, “You keep an eye on that girl and make sure she’s safe, you hear? I mean it. I’m so excited. Don’t you forget it.”

  As we get in the car, I smile at Brody. Giving him a mile to drive down the road, he says it before I can, “My mom knows?”

  Looking at him, I say, “She guessed
it. I wasn’t about to lie to her in her house but I was honest with where we stood.”

  “And she’s beside herself with excitement?”

  “I would say so. I’m sorry, I knew you wanted to tell her,” I say with an apologetic smile.

  “No, it’s fine, really. Just to let you know, she’s going to be very involved, borderline invasive.” I remember him saying this to me yesterday and after meeting Ruth Buchannan, I don’t care. She will be my baby’s abuela and that means something to me.

  “Your mom reminds me of Lorelei so of course I will love her.” The thought of Lorelei makes me sad, as she will never know my child.

  “Tell me a little about this woman we are naming our daughter after,” Brody says, grabbing my hand, understanding the pain that still grips me at this loss.

  “Lore, as everyone called her, was wonderful. You don’t know my mom yet but she was completely different than my mom yet they were the best of friends. My grandparents raised her for the last two years in high school. Her own father was abusive.”

  “What happened to her?” Brody asked and as I tell him about this woman I loved like my own mom, the pain is there as if it was five years ago and Dad and Nick had just sat Kai and me down to share the horrible news. As I finish, he leans over to catch one lone tear as it’s about to fall down my cheek. “Oh, Rose, I can’t imagine that. A loss like that with those little kids. Wow! How’s Ryan now?”

  “He’s a great dad. You know, he and my mom are close but before Lore died, they hated each other. He started dating again, about a year ago but nothing too serious. His kids come first, but that doesn’t stop my mom from fixing him up.”

  “I couldn’t imagine losing the girl I loved like that,” he says with more meaning and I hear the intent in his voice. Could this be love?

  “I’m sorry I can’t give you more now, Brody.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that statement quite like that. But you’re dear to my heart already and to lose you like that, forever, with that history, I'm not sure I could ever get past that.” He smiles, “But my mom loves you. She told me not to screw this up, if given the chance with you.”