The Co-Parent (The Relationship Quo Series Book 3)

by Nicole Strycharz

  “Yeah, like that. Sorry, I had to tell you over the phone.”

  “Don’t be. I wouldn’t have wanted you to hear the fourteen-year-old- girl inside me scream bloody murder.” She sounded star struck.

  We laughed.

  Jenzy sounded curious too, “Where is Mr. Millionaire?” she asked.

  “He’s on a work call,” I told them, “But he’s right behind me. Guys, try not to go totally fangirl. He’s just a guy. Nothing special. If anything he’s pretty annoying.”

  Chloe patted my arm, “Honey, it will be fine. We aren’t going to embarrass you or something-. Oh my, God I see him! I see him! I see him!”

  “Where?!” Jenzy blurted.

  “Guys!” I heard them stampede past to look out the window behind me. I used my stick to make my way over.

  “Oh sweet, Jesus,” said Chloe. “Bri, your baby is going to have king genes. Uh, the fates are so unfair that you can’t see this man.”

  I thought about whenever Gabe was inside me and smirked. I ‘see’ him enough to know he’s as handsome as they come.

  Jenzy was next, “Wow…if I wasn’t married, they would need to surgically remove me from that man’s face.”

  “Girls, you promised.” I reminded.

  They didn’t hear me. Chloe sounded like she might pass out, “He fills out a suit like your husband,” she told Jenzy. “It’s like they belong in a catalog.”

  “I’ve seen Moses in a suit,” Jenzy told her, “He’s like a Woodstock version of one of Roisin Black’s characters.”

  I find it funny they can be so close when Jenzy used to date Chloe’s Moses. I don’t know if I would feel comfortable but they joke about it all the time and they talk like its’ no big deal. Despite the serious drooling they are doing over Gabe as he comes our way, I think their acceptance of one another comes from love. They’re both madly in love with their guys. However, as Gabe walks in I’m reminded they’re still human since I get the feeling they may be licking the window.

  “Sorry about that.” He said as he walked in and kissed my cheek, “It was Vicars.”

  I smiled and introduced him to my girls. Here we go.

  GABRIEL

  Brianna is beautiful. Her friends are a perfect ten as well. Chloe and Jenzy are very beautiful women. Chloe happens to be a pole dancer so to say I’m not intrigued would be a lie. Her body is tall and toned; her appearance is in a word, ‘exotic.’ Jenzy has the same dual ability of looking like a seductress and an innocent like, Bri.

  However, they both gush over me the way Brianna refuses to. Brianna can’t see me, meaning my fame means very little to her and she works more off of my attitude and my moods with her lack of sight, so no matter how attractive she might find me, it’s my personality that has to win out.

  I have to work. I have to try. I have to watch what I say and how. She’s the only woman to have me on my toes and I love it. I might know how to make her come to heel in bed but outside I’m the one on a leash.

  All four of us went back in Jenzy’s office. I’m realizing the more I get to know Brianna that the reason co-parenting is exciting to her is because her picture of family is so far from traditional. Her friends are her siblings, her adoptive dads are as much biological to her as the ones that passed and Jenzy is more than a doula. She too is a friend.

  I passed paintings of mothers with babies and frowned. It’s strange to me. My mother didn’t make memories like the ones on the walls. There are no pictures of her carrying me or even touching me at all afterward.

  Once we were seated I looked to my right and found myself face to face with the replica of a woman’s pelvis. I jerked my head back and grimaced. It was to say the least frightening as hell, since a baby doll was positioned in the opening. I guess it’s some eerie way to present birth. While Jenzy was distracted with charts and Brianna waited I couldn’t resist the urge to poke the pelvis. What’s it made of? It looks so real.

  It also fell off the display table and rolled around the way I figure a real one might, “Bullocks!” I snapped.

  Jenzy laughed as I hurried to put it back and Brianna frowned in the direction of the noise.

  “What happened,” asked Bri.

  I shoved it back in place, baby and all, “Nothing you need to know.” I answered.

  Jenzy shrugged off her laughs, “No worries, my hubby broke my first display with his curiosity too.”

  Chloe snorted on a laugh and I realized she was whispering to Brianna what I did. Traitor.

  “So what do you do again?” I asked Jenzy.

  “My job is to be here for Brianna in other ways than medical. I’m there to sooth and talk or relax her in any way possible.” She explained.

  Jenzy screams hippie. From the tie-dye t-shirt to the strappy sandals. Her rich auburn hair is very long, and her big blue eyes are youthful. She’s alluring but energetic.

  Chloe was sitting on Brianna’s other side and she hugged her, “Brianna also has a few anxieties so Doulas help with that too.” Said Chloe.

  I think I remember her saying that but I’ve never witnessed her fears.

  Jenzy took out a spiral notebook, “So any specific things you want to discuss, Brianna?”

  Brianna sat up, “Well, first off, how many people will be in the room?”

  Jenzy shrugged, “It’s a hospital, so the doctor will have nurses or assistants. Then there’s me and whoever else you want. Have you and Gabe discussed if he’ll be in there?”

  I sat straight, “Don’t you have to be- certified to be in the room?”

  Jenzy laughed, “Nope. If mommy wants you in there…”

  Brianna looked torn, “I don’t know, we haven’t talked about it. Would you even want to be in there?” she asked me.

  I feel so itchy thinking about it. “Is it… do I need to be in there?”

  “Only if you’re like Moses,” Chloe said with a laugh, “The day I have his baby we’ll have to keep him from putting his head up there with it.” She saw my face, and I think it’s pale, “But that’s Moses,” she rushed on. “He’s like, ultra-hippie you know? Like Mother Earth, women are vessels of life, sorta thing. That’s not like a rule.”

  Jenzy blushed, “Yeah when Chris and I have kids he’ll be there. He was there for our niece and nephew’s birth. My sister-in-law literally needs him to give birth now. She’s due again in late November and she’s already made it clear Chris must be there.”

  I’m frowning because I never heard of men so invested. It seems to make the women happy, is that what Brianna wants from me?

  “Then…I could be in there…if you want.” I told her.

  Brianna rubbed her knees. “We’ll talk about it later. My next question is um…how bad is the pain?”

  Jenzy pursed her lips, “I’ve never actually done it, but it’s…” She sighed in thought. “Labor is like waves from the ocean. The contractions roll in, they climb, they saturate the shore and then they recede. Your body works up to the intensity, so you adjust as it happens. By the time the pain is it’s worst the baby comes.”

  I felt my phone buzz but ignored it, “How long is labor?” I asked.

  Jenzy shook her head, “No telling. Depends on Brianna’s body.”

  “They have drugs for the pain, though…” I checked.

  “Yeah but,” Brianna spoke up, “I don’t want that. I want to do it without them.”

  I looked at her like she lost her wit. “Why would you do that? Haven’t you seen movies? It’s going to hurt. Even I know that.”

  “If it’s too much I’ll consider it but I don’t plan on it.” She explained.

  That’s brave. She really is a wonder.

  Jenzy made a note then, “So Brianna, do you have any fears or apprehensions?” She asked.

  Brianna’s voice went low, “I have a…um…well, ironically I have a fear of the dark. Sometimes I have scary thoughts and I uh…I can’t just turn on the light and comfort myself you know? If there’s a frightening image in my mind I’m stuc
k with it.”

  I’ve never heard her voice her fears. Nor have I seen her take down the sarcasm to explain herself. I made the bold move to take her hand and she held it for a second then let go.

  Jenzy nodded. “So what we’ll do then, Bri, is stimulate your other senses during birth. We can use aromatherapy and if you don’t mind touch that day, we’ll use some light message. Soft music will help too. So start looking for songs that sooth you. That way we can anchor all your positive thoughts and feelings to certain smells, sounds, and feelings so when labor starts there’s no room for the scary stuff.”

  Brianna nodded and offered a weak smile.

  Chloe held her other hand, “Think you can come up with something aside from rap?” She teased.

  God, please. For a blind little Angel, the mother of my child listens to nothing but vile American street music.

  Jenzy smiled, “I had one mom listen to Lil’ Jon the whole time. Whatever works.”

  “Will you stay with me the whole time?” Brianna asked after the teasing.

  Jenzy perked up, “Absolutely. Have you thought about breastfeeding? Or are you thinking the bottle?”

  Chloe closed her eyes and chanted, “Please don’t say bottle, please don’t say bottle…”

  Brianna smacked her lips, “Let me guess, Uncle Moses will never let me live it down right?”

  Chloe patted her knee, “Let’s put it this way. Unless you want a lecture on how much of a wonder it is that the woman’s body provides and that a child needs the special ingredients of its mother’s teat- you’ll just give it a go.”

  Jenzy snickered.

  I raised my hand like I was in school, “I’m sorry, what now?”

  Jenzy looked to me, “Breastmilk is far better for baby than formula but if that’s the road we want to take we’ll start looking for organic mixtures.”

  I let that sink in. Milky boobs, pains that come and go like the ocean, what the hell is happening?

  We talked a long time and my head got so full of information it felt like exploding. When we left the room there was a pregnant couple in the waiting room. The woman looked like she swallowed a spaceship and the man looked high. This is crazy. How did my life go from clubbing in Ibiza to this?

  The midwife waved them in behind us and the couple waddled their way in. There were two men hanging out in the room also.

  Jenzy waved at one of them, “Hey,” she whispered. “Gabriel, this is my husband, Chris, and this is Chloe’s boyfriend Moses.”

  They both stood and I shook their hands. Chris is tall with muscle pulling everywhere under his suit. Moses is built too but slender and he’s dark haired with a shortly kept beard. Ah yes, prayer beads and a scorpion tattoo, he’s quite the hippie as they said.

  “Wow,” said Chris. “I can actually smell the fear on you.” He told me.

  Jenzy squeezed his arm, “Chris.”

  I laughed, “I’ll admit I’m out of my element.” I confessed.

  Moses leveled critical eyes on me, “So you’re staying for all this? The baby and Brianna?”

  I nodded but there’s a brick in my throat, “Yeah. That’s the plan.”

  He doesn’t look sure about me. Moses acts the part of a brother.

  Chris crossed his arms, “So wait. You look so familiar.”

  Chloe bounced on the balls of her feet, “He’s the Gabe Gilmore. The one that own the electronics company!”

  I think Moses saw through her excitement to the obvious crush because he gave her a look and she cooled it before wrapping herself under his arm.

  Chris cocked his head. “Gilmore? You guys have a digital marketing company based in Sweden, right?”

  I raised my brows, “Yeah mate. A whole sector. It’s known for its internships. We have our guys travel all over doing the work.”

  He sparked with memory, “I was offered an internship there when I was in college. I took a semester in Sweden.” He told me.

  “Wait.” I stepped back, “Chris Clark, yeah? I actually remember you; you had a very impressive background for the work. My father offered you the position himself. You were supposed to call in for the slot. We never heard back but I contacted you a couple years ago for another position. What happened?”

  I took note that Jenzy stiffened at his side a bit.

  “I decided to stay in the states with my tree hugging wife and annoying baby brother.” He said.

  I lowered one eye, “You could have moved the both of you out there, you would’ve made more than enough.”

  He glanced down at Jenzy under his arm, “I’m where I belong.”

  Jenzy visibly calmed and held him closer. He gave all that up for one girl? Did he understand what the job offered? He looks like he did but then, he still chose to stay?

  As I drove Brianna back to her apartment I noticed her silence. She was holding herself and thinking deep. “What’s on your mind?” I asked her.

  She pulled at a nail, “Just the baby and stuff.”

  “What specifically?”

  She shrugged. “I still worry a lot. I can’t see. Sometimes I still don’t’ understand how I’ll be any good at this. What if the baby crawls toward an outlet?”

  “Then we put all outlets behind furniture.” Wow, did I really improvise that well? “They can’t move furniture can they?”

  “What if I can’t see him going to the stairs?” She went on.

  I got this, “Your apartment doesn’t have stairs, but we can pad them with bubble wrap. Don’t babies crawl first? Can’t be too dangerous to crawl down steps.”

  “What about falling? What if the baby falls off stuff?” She panicked.

  I thought a moment. “Troublesome little buggers aren’t they? I suggest you eat as much as possible to make the baby nice and fat, so it will bounce right back up again.”

  “What about-.”

  I took her hand across the seat, “This is going to happen. I’m just as scared, believe me but it’s happening and neither of us decided to stop it, so we’ll do it.”

  Her entire body screamed defeat. “I can’t see,” her voice was so broken. “I’ll never see our baby. Even ultrasounds, I don’t get to see anything. I’ll never actually know what Blueberry looks like.”

  I feel a fierce need to fix this but I can’t.

  “I’m not even ready,” she went on, “No nursery, no clothes, I don’t know what to get. What do babies need?”

  I can’t help with that at all. I’ve never even been around babies.

  When I got her to her apartment she felt around in her kitchen for a glass and water. I’m slowly learning that Brianna breathes independence. If you ask to help too often she gets angry. While she did that I explored her apartment, walking in a slow circle. I found out that on her shelf, where all the audiobooks are, is the sea shells and the starfish we’d found together on the beach our first date.

  “You kept these?” I asked her.

  She made her way into the living room and stared my way unknowingly. “Kept what?”

  “The shells?” I traced the shape of the starfish.

  “I kept the rose too. I had it pressed. I wanted to remember our week but then when I found out about Blueberry I wanted it for the baby too.”

  “The baby?” I put my hands in my pockets.

  She nodded. “I didn’t think I’d see you again, so I figured I’d collect all the things that reminded me of you so I could show them to the baby and at least talk about you.”

  She’s a wonder. I looked her over and smiled, “Thank you.”

  She yawned, “You’re welcome.”

  “You’re tired.”

  “Nope.” She felt for her couch and sat down then pulled her feet up under her. “We can have sex,” she set her face in her hand, “I’m ready.”

  I laughed and went to where she was. I felt her forehead with the back of my hand, “You feel warm, Love.”

  “I’m okay.”

  I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

&n
bsp; She curled close, “I like it when you do this. I get a little scared because I can’t see but, I trust you.”

  “You need sleep. Remember what Jenzy said today? Being pregnant uses about as much energy as mountain climbing. I think that warrants a nap.” I suggested.

  After I laid her down and pulled a blanket over her she curled on her side, cradling the bump that was shaking our world upside down. “Hey,” she reached out and I knelt before placing her hand on my cheek. I’m addicted to how it feels when she touches my face.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  She skimmed over my stubble and smoothed over my lips, “Don’t go, just stay.”

  “You’re an overachiever,” I laughed and she traced my smile lines then smiled too.

  “Not for sex. Sleep with us.”

  Anxiety hit my stomach like a fist. There’s that word again. Us. “Can’t. I have to work.”

  “You said today was free.”

  “Vicars called at the appointment today…”

  She moved up to my ear and I relished the comfort in her fingertips. “I only work one day a week. It’s getting crazy. I don’t get why he won’t just lay me off.” She told me.

  I can see it’s hurting to even talk about it, “Just make sure you tell me when you need something.”

  “Sure.”

  I rolled my eyes. That’s a bona fide lie. She won’t tell me. “When is your rent due?”

  “I have money so I’m not telling you, and don’t go buying my building or something.”

  I smiled. “I wouldn’t even consider this crappy building on this ghetto street. You didn’t tell me you had no hot water by the way. I have a guy coming tomorrow to look at it.”

  She groaned, “You have to stop. I’m fine! I told you co-parenting means you only spend on the baby.”

  “Well, my baby is in your body so until it’s here I spend on you. Besides, I don’t want a blue baby because its mother didn’t have hot water.”

  She moaned at me.

  I went on, “I want you to consider moving.”

  “What? No way! This was my first place and I love it.”

  “But you shouldn’t be living alone in such a grungy neighborhood. It’s the slums, Brianna. You won’t let me assign you a security team and you’re alone. Pregnant. Blind. With a rich man’s baby. Prime kidnapping target.”