The Baby Interview

by Robbie Terman

  "I'm sorry,” he started.

  His apology caused her head to swing back. Her eyes narrowed into slits. “So you admit—"

  "Let me clarify,” he interrupted. “I'm not sorry we met. I'm not even sorry I mistook you for an applicant. And I'm sure as hell not sorry we made love."

  He gripped her hand. It felt cold and small beneath his, and he massaged warmth into it between his two large hands. “But I am sorry I didn't use a condom. It was a stupid mistake. I'm thirty-two, way too old to get caught up in a moment and forget to protect you. For that, I hope you can forgive me."

  Moisture filled her eyes, and he hated that their night together, which had been so incredible for him, had reduced her to tears.

  "It never entered your mind to get me pregnant?” Her voice broke on a small sob.

  He answered honestly. “The only thing I thought of that night was you."

  Her body, which had remained stiff throughout their conversation, finally slackened, and she fell back against the cushions.

  "And if you're pregnant, I promise we'll work it out together."

  Okay, wrong words. Her body once again assumed a statue-like position—back ram-rod straight, shoulders locked, face a stone mask.

  Then, just as suddenly, it seemed as if all the fight went out of her. Her shoulders slumped and she looked down where her hand was still clasped between his. “I don't know how it could work. Our lives are completely different. What will it be like for our child, being shuttled back and forth between this run-down house and your mansion every other week? He or she will be living in two different worlds."

  "Come on,” Cole said with a laugh. “It's not as dire as all that. Our lives aren't that different. If we took out the money element, I bet we'd find we have more in common than you think."

  "Really?” Lucy pushed Cole away and stood up. “Okay. Let's test that theory. Come on."

  He stood up. “Where are we going?"

  "We're going to a place I've been dozens of times. The kind of place I'd take my child. We can see if we have this in common."

  He wasn't sure if he was ready to test the theory quite yet, but the more time he spent with Lucy, the better chance he had of convincing her of his sincerity. He wasn't about to throw away this opportunity by asking a lot of questions.

  "Grab a jacket,” he told her. “It can get kind of windy on the back of the bike."

  "Bike?"

  * * * *

  Lucy directed him to New Baltimore, a small town about forty-five minutes away. The hot July sun beat down on them, but the real heat was centered south of Cole's waist. With Lucy plastered against his back, her arms wrapped tightly around him, he was harder than a baseball bat. He only hoped the long ride would be time enough to cool him down.

  By the time they reached New Baltimore, he had recited the multiplication table, and all the Detroit Red Wing players and their stats. He was now reasonably sure he could get off the bike without embarrassing himself. “Where to?” he yelled back to Lucy.

  "Go down Main Street. You'll know it when you see it."

  He turned his bike down the main drag of New Baltimore. As soon as he made the turn, he knew where they were headed.

  Directly in front of them, about two hundred feet down the street, was a carnival. Rides, including a Ferris wheel and roller coaster, were set up between rows of colorful tents. The scent of greasy burgers and fries combined with the sweet smell of cotton candy drifted toward them.

  Cole parked his bike and helped Lucy off. When he stood next to her, he pulled off his helmet and stored his and hers on the motorcycle. “I take it we're going to a carnival."

  "Not a carnival,” she corrected. “Fish Fly Festival."

  His face must have betrayed his thoughts, because Lucy immediately started laughing. “What? You've never been?"

  He'd actually never been to a carnival before, unless of course one counted Carnivale in Brazil, which he doubted Lucy did. So he just shook his head.

  "Not a big fan of fish flies,” he said. The annoying flies attacked the lake communities every year for about two weeks in early July. They stuck to everything, from buildings to streets to boats. Cole usually avoided his boat during those two weeks, only coming back when his cleaning crew had the vessel shining like new.

  "Welcome to my world.” Lucy took his hand in hers and walked toward the festival.

  As they stepped onto the grass where the tents started, Lucy turned to him. “Not your usual country club crowd, is it?"

  It was a loaded question. Her eyebrow was raised, her lips in a slight curve. She knew the answer. He did, too. No one from his country club would be caught dead walking into this pack of cut-off jeans, T-shirts and beer bellies.

  "Let's go on the Ferris wheel,” Cole said instead. He heard her laugh as he tugged her to the ticket line, where he bought twenty-five dollars in tickets.

  After waiting in line, they were put into a car and sent soaring into the sky.

  "You come to this every year?” Cole asked.

  "Pretty much,” Lucy answered. “When Ben and I were little, my mom and dad took us every year. After my mom died ... well, my dad didn't do much of anything. So, I started taking Ben. First with our neighbors, and then on our own. It became kind of a tradition. Actually, this is the first year in a long time I'm not here with him."

  She looked a little sad, so Cole put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “I'm glad I'm here with you."

  She looked up at him and smiled. “So am I,” she whispered.

  He held her for the rest of the ride and when they exited, the air between them felt different. The hostility slipped away and now they were just enjoying each other's company.

  "What do you want to do?” he asked. “More rides or play games?"

  Her gaze moved between the roller coaster and the game where one threw darts at water balloons. “Both!"

  He grinned at her enthusiasm. “Both it is."

  For the next few hours they alternated between the rides and the games. Because he had never been to a fair before, Cole found he was woefully inept at the games. Lucy, to his surprise, was an expert, winning him a goldfish.

  "Sorry I couldn't keep the fish,” he told her now as he wrapped his arms around her. “I don't think it would have enjoyed the ride back on my Harley."

  She snuggled against him, the late afternoon's descending sun having chilled the air by about ten degrees. “That's okay. The little girl you gave it to looked ecstatic."

  "She was sweet.” The child's lit-up face when he'd offered her his prize had tugged at Cole's heartstrings. The moment had been, at least in Cole's mind, a picture of what his future might look like. He suspected Lucy felt the same, from the way she had gazed at the child.

  "Are you hungry? We could go somewhere to eat.” He wouldn't mind another long drive with her wrapped around him like a glove.

  "Let's eat here."

  "Here?"

  "Yes, here.” Her jaw was set with determination, apparently waiting for him to argue.

  But she was in for a surprise if she thought he couldn't handle it. “Fine by me. What do you feel like?"

  She glanced around the food trailers. “Corn dogs and candy apples."

  He knew she expected him to complain and beg to go to a nice, air-conditioned restaurant, where the waiter would fawn over them in hopes of a big tip. “Corn dogs and candy apples it is. Lead the way."

  Cole ordered their dinner off the back of a truck. Beside him, Lucy barely stifled her laughs. He ignored her taunts as he accepted the food with as much dignity as he could muster. If his mother could see him now, she'd probably need a week in a psychiatric clinic to get over the shock.

  "Madame,” Cole said with his most nasal French accent. “Your corn dog and candy apple await."

  "Merci."

  Just as he was about to lead her to some nearby picnic tables, Cole noticed a dead fish fly stuck to the bottom of his candy apple. He turned back toward the food
truck. “Miss, there's a fly in my candy apple."

  The teenaged girl with blue hair and a nose piercing stared at him without concern. “Well, it is the fish fly festival."

  Cole's jaw dropped so hard it nearly brushed the grass. Lucy burst out with laughter. The blue-haired girl didn't so much as smile, and he wasn't sure if she was joking. Her expression remained stoic.

  "I'd like a different one,” Cole demanded.

  The girl rolled her eyes at him and gave an enormous, over-exaggerated sigh. “Fine.” She reached behind her, grabbed another apple and slammed it on the counter in front of him. “Here."

  Cole grabbed the new apple. “Can you believe that?” he asked Lucy as they walked toward the tables. But she was still laughing too hard to answer. When they sat down, Cole stared at his corn dog and wondered if he was going to find any surprises when he bit in.

  "Oh, come on,” Lucy cajoled after she was able to stop laughing. “There's nothing in it that will kill you. Just some extra protein."

  Cole groaned. “Lucy."

  "We'll do it together. One. Two. Three.” At the same time, they bit into their dogs. “What do you think?” Lucy wondered, her mouth full.

  Strangely, he found it charming. “Delicious."

  When they'd finished eating, Cole asked if she was ready to head home.

  "Actually,” she answered, “we usually don't leave until Ben wins me a stuffed animal.” Her smile was both mischievous and challenging.

  He glanced at the games he'd been so unsuccessful at earlier. Lucy didn't think he could do it, but he would prove her wrong. Hell, if he could get through business school with a 4.0 grade point average, he could certainly win a silly carnival game. “Consider it done."

  One hour, and nearly fifty dollars later, he handed Lucy a stuffed pink gorilla the size of a can of pop.

  "Thank you.” Lucy hugged the stuffed animal against her. “I love him.” She slipped her hand in his and laid her head against his shoulder. “I'm ready to go home now."

  It seemed to Cole that Lucy held on to him even tighter on the ride home. A few times her hand even dipped unnecessarily low. Or was it on purpose? Perhaps a preview of the night to come?

  When they pulled into her driveway, he was nearly sweating with anticipation of another hot, steamy night. And this time he would make sure they used a condom. Several condoms, most likely.

  They reached the door, but instead of unlocking it, Lucy turned to look at him. “I had fun today."

  "So did I."

  "But I'm not sure my theory was wrong. You weren't exactly in your element."

  Were they back to this? He'd thought he'd squelched some of her ridiculous fears. He'd eaten a corn dog, for heaven's sake! “Lucy, I would be proud to take my child to the Fish Fly Festival. I think it's a great tradition."

  "Really?” Her face, tense only moments before, softened.

  "Really."

  "Thank you for a wonderful evening,” she said just as he was about to suggest they take the conversation inside. Goodnight, Cole.” She opened the door, walked inside, and shut the door behind her. Leaving him out on the porch alone.

  He stared at the door for a couple minutes, both his mind and libido unable to believe she'd shut him out. His confirmation came when the porch light turned off.

  A cold shower wasn't going to work. He needed to jump in the lake.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Seven

  Four days after the Fish Fly Festival, Cole still hadn't heard from Lucy. A dozen times he had picked up the phone to call her, but each time he'd changed his mind. He'd made several overtures already and this time, it had to be Lucy's turn. If they had any chance of working things out, she had to come to him. It was a waiting game he was afraid he was going to lose.

  Until mid afternoon, while he was in a meeting with a potential investor, his assistant, Darcy, waved him outside.

  "Lucy's on line two,” she told him. He'd left specific instructions to be informed of her calls no matter what.

  Just when Cole was about to dance a very unprofessional jig, Darcy added, “She sounds upset."

  Upset? Could she be pregnant? It was the first thought that popped into his head, but he hoped it wasn't the reason for her call. He didn't want her to be upset if she was pregnant. He wanted her to be as ecstatic as he felt at even the prospect.

  When he reached the phone, he was almost afraid to pick it up. If she was in pain because she was pregnant with his child, he didn't know how he would deal with it. The last thing he wanted was to cause her harm, and if it meant they shouldn't have a child...

  Stop. He wasn't going to jump to conclusions until he heard what Lucy had to say.

  Ignoring his shaking hands, he picked up his phone. “Lucy, is everything okay?"

  He could hear her sobs before the words. “Ben—"

  His gut clenched at the certainty of tragedy. “Lucy, what happened?"

  "The hospital called. Ben"—her voice cracked—"Ben was hit by a car.” The sobbing became louder and harder.

  Oh, no. Ben was her life. If something happened to him, Cole didn't know how she would keep going. He wished he was with her, wished he could wrap his arms around her and keep all the hurts in the world away. But he couldn't do that. “Where is Ben now?"

  "At the University of Michigan hospital. I need to go there. I called Sarah to take me, but I got her voicemail so I'm just going to go."

  "Stay put,” Cole commanded. “I'm coming to get you. I don't want you to drive while you're upset. I'll be there in ten minutes."

  Cole hung up the phone and hurried out of his office. “Cancel the rest of my meetings today.” He paused and considered. “Better cancel for tomorrow as well. I'll check in with you later."

  "Is everything okay?” Darcy called as Cole raced toward the door.

  "I don't know.” But he silently prayed it would be.

  * * * *

  When Cole drove into Lucy's driveway, she was already waiting outside. She tugged the passenger door open before he could even get out of the car. Her face was pale, her eyes brimmed red and still overflowing with tears.

  He reached over to embrace her, but she backed away.

  "Can we go now? I just want to get to Ben."

  His pride smarted a bit from her behavior; she acted as if she couldn't stand his touch. But it was okay. She was scared to death right now. He made a conscious effort not to take her attitude personally. “Sure."

  He backed out of her driveway, and headed toward the expressway. If traffic was minimal, they could make it to Ann Arbor in about an hour.

  After they'd been driving for a while in silence, Cole asked, “Do you know what happened?"

  Lucy shook her head and then nodded. Finally, she shook her head again. “All I know is that he was riding his bike when a car hit him.” Her tears, which had ceased except for an occasional escape, came forth in full force again. “I don't know how hurt he is. I don't even know if he's alive. They don't tell you, you know. The nurses, when they call, they don't tell you even if they know. I guess they want to tell you in person. That's they way it was with my father. The nurse called and said he had a ‘change in his condition’ and to come right away. And when I got there, he was already gone.” She turned to him, her face filled with stark fear. And her eyes, so filled with sadness, looked at him imploringly. “What will I do if he's gone?"

  Cole let go of the steering wheel with one hand and reached for hers. He drew her shaking hand to his lips and kissed the palm, offering the only comfort he could while they were driving. “Don't think like that. Until we know what's going on, don't even think about it.” He kept his fingers entwined with hers. “But Lucy, no matter what happens, I'll be there for you. You won't have to go through it alone. We're in this together."

  Her mouth fell open and he mentally slapped himself. He knew he should qualify his statement, let her know he would be there as a friend. But telling her that he had no intention of having
a long-term romantic relationship while her heart was already ripped halfway out of her chest seemed cruel. After this crisis was over, he would find a way to explain.

  Her hand remained in his for the rest of the ride and he felt like a colossal jerk. If his words had made her feel better, though, then he supposed it was all right for now. Besides, perhaps she hadn't interpreted the words as he feared she had. Maybe he was worrying for nothing.

  They arrived at the University of Michigan hospital in just under an hour, and Cole left his car with the valet service. Adrenaline likely driving her, Lucy walked so fast Cole was nearly jogging to keep up with her.

  When they made it to the emergency room, Lucy grabbed the first person to walk by with a hospital badge. “I'm looking for my brother. He was hit by a car."

  "Sorry, ma'am,” the man in scrubs said. “I just work for transport. You'll have to check at the desk."

  But no one was at the desk and Lucy was clearly too upset to wait. “Is there anyone here?” she shouted. “I'm trying to find my brother."

  No one came to the desk, but suddenly a voice drifted to them. “Lucy? Is that you?"

  Lucy whirled around. “Ben?” Her voice cracked and her face lit up as if she'd won the lottery. She walked toward a curtained off area. “Where are you?"

  "Here. Curtain three."

  Cole saw the curtain with a red three posted on it and pulled it back.

  Ben lay on his back, his right leg in a cast elevated on several pillows. His face had a few cuts, and there was a bruise on his cheek, but other than that, he looked okay. The knot that had filled Cole's stomach since Lucy's call finally started to untangle.

  Lucy pushed past Cole and flew to her brother. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close, and sobbed. “Bennie, you're okay?"

  "I'm fine.” Ben's voice was muffled against her chest. “Luce, please. I'm still kind of sore."

  She immediately released him. “Sorry.” She wiped her face and calmed her sobbing to an occasional sniffle. “Are you sure you're okay?"

  "Well, my leg is broken, and my bike is destroyed, but I'll live."