The Question

by Zena Wynn

  “Ooo, sounds romantic. So, you do the dirty with him yet?”

  “No, I haven’t. Not that it’s any of your business. We haven’t been seeing each other that long,” Gail said a bit stiffly.

  “Well, how long is long enough?” Crystal asked irritably. “You’ve been without sex for a long time. I thought you were horny? Here’s your opportunity to get some.”

  “Crystal, it’s not that simple and you know it,” Gail replied huffily. “It’s only been a couple of weeks. I need to know him a lot longer than that before I’d feel comfortable being sexually intimate with him. Besides, part of me feels like I’m cheating on Jason just by going out with Greg. That’s just not a step I’m ready to take,” she finished firmly.

  “Gail, you have to let go of the past sometime. The only way you’re going to get past feeling guilty about having sex with another man is to just do it.”

  “Crystal, my life is not a Nike commercial, and sex is more than something you do to get it out of the way.” Gail didn’t know why she was bothering trying to explain. Until she lost a husband, this was not something Crystal would understand. Besides, her sex life was really none of Crystal’s business.

  “Alright, alright. I’ll let that go for now. When can I meet him?”

  “I don’t know. Like I said, he’s a lawyer and his schedule is very busy.” Gail wasn’t ready to start introducing Greg to friends. She wanted to keep him to herself a little while longer.

  “If the man has time to see you, he has time to meet your best friend. Come on. Give me a day. I’m not going to leave you alone until you do,” Crystal sang.

  “You are such a pest!”

  “I know,” Crystal acknowledged cheerfully. “Don’t you just love me?”

  Gail couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay. I’ll check with Greg and see if he’s free Friday night.”

  “You do that and bring him here for dinner. Tell him to bring his swimsuit and we can swim and grill out by the pool.”

  Gail sighed. “I should have known when Rashid showed up last night that he would say something to you about Greg. Speaking of last night, while I appreciate the generous offer, I really wish y’all would have asked before leasing a car for me to use.”

  “I know how you feel about your car, Gail, but even you have to admit that it’s not in the best condition.”

  “Yeah, I know. It’s starting to cost more to repair it than to buy a new one. Actually, at the rate I’m going, I’ll have replaced everything in it soon and it will be new again—on the inside that is.”

  “Gail, really. Jason would be horrified if he knew you were driving that death trap simply because he bought it for you. It’s a car, girl. Find some other way to remember him by,” Crystal said admonishingly.

  “It’s not a death trap. It’s just got a lot of miles on it,” Gail defended her car. Then she admitted, “That’s what Greg said too. I know you’re right. It’s just hard. I’ve had that car for so long that it’s comfortable. I like it. I wouldn’t know where to start looking for another one or what kind of car to buy.”

  Crystal was silent for a moment. “Drive the one we got for you and see how you like it. Give yourself a chance to get used to something different. By the time you deliver, maybe you’ll have a better idea of what kind of car you want and the idea of getting a new one won’t seem so difficult.”

  “I’ll do that. And, thank you for the Santa Fe. As mad as I was at the time, I knew just my pride was offended. Although I don’t think my car is that bad, I would hate myself if something happened to the babies because of it that could have been avoided,” Gail said solemnly.

  “Don’t worry about it. You made the right decision. You always do,” Crystal said encouragingly.

  Not always, Gail thought and laid her hand on her rounding stomach.

  * * * *

  Dinner was a complete disaster. It started bad and went downhill from there. When they arrived, it was evident from the tension between them that Crystal and Rashid had been arguing. Crystal was artificially cheerful with everyone but Rashid. With him, she was as cold as ice.

  Rashid was his usual quiet self, although with Greg he seemed ultra-reserved, as though he had judged and found Greg to be lacking. He made no effort to be cordial and only spoke to Greg when politeness demanded he do so.

  On the other hand, she couldn’t shut Crystal up. She questioned Greg about everything. No topic was deemed too personal. Gail was so embarrassed. Crystal also threw Jason’s name into the conversation, seemingly every chance she got. She brought up memories of their times together that Greg would have no knowledge or any interest in, leaving him out of the conversation on many occasions.

  As soon as she reasonably could, Gail got them out of there. As they drove away from the house, Gail apologized profusely. “Greg, I am so sorry. I swear, if I had any idea it would be this bad, I’d have never have agreed. I don’t know what got into Crystal. I’ve never seen her so…so, I don’t even know what to call it. And Rashid? He was almost rude. He’s not the most talkative person I know, but I’ve never seen him so…well, almost unfriendly.”

  Greg reached out and captured the hand she was gesturing with. “Don’t worry about it. It’s no more than I expected. I’m the new man in your life. It’s natural that comparisons would be made. Besides, it was easy to see that they’d been fighting when we arrived. Do they do that a lot?”

  “No, not normally. I mean, all couples have spats from time to time. Usually, it’s Crystal flying off the handle about some thing or another. Rashid’s pretty unflappable, very easy going. That’s why his behavior tonight didn’t make sense.”

  “That’s cause you’re not a man. It made perfect sense to me. I’m poaching in his territory and he doesn’t like it,” Greg said reasonably.

  “His territory? That’s crazy. You just met Crystal tonight.”

  “Not Crystal. You, babe,” he said with a laugh. “I’m talking about you.”

  “Oh, now I know you’ve lost it. I don’t belong to Rashid. He has no reason to feel possessive of me.”

  “Sure he does. Two of them, right here.” He rubbed their joined hands against her belly. “It’s instinctive. You’re carrying his children, therefore you…and the children, belong to him.”

  “That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Rashid and I don’t have that kind of relationship, and never have. You must be mistaken.” He had to be. If she and Rashid had ever been lovers, Greg’s reasoning would make more sense.

  “Think what you like, but I know what I’m talking about. Now your friend Crystal? That’s a different story. Has she always been jealous of you?”

  Gail jerked her body around to face him completely. She wished he weren’t driving so she could see his face. “What did you mean by that? Crystal’s not jealous of me. She has no reason to be.”

  “Honey, that woman’s so jealous of you that she positively oozes with it.”

  “What are you talking about? She just spent the evening singing my praises. I wished I’d known what to say to shut her up.”

  “Yeah, and she said all of that because she knew you’d be uncomfortable. Why do you think she kept mentioning Jason? She was trying to get to you and run me off at the same time. Most friends would have gone out of their way to avoid saying his name, just to put me at ease. I’m telling you, she knew what she was doing. Crystal’s not as flighty as she acts.”

  Gail didn’t know what to say. She didn’t believe his assessment of the situation but she had to admit, neither of her friends had made a good impression tonight. It would be a long time before the four of them got together again, if ever.

  * * * *

  Gail floated in the pool, allowing her thoughts to drift randomly, simply enjoying the peace and quiet. This was the best part of her day. The next place she moved into really needed to have a pool.

  The last few weeks had been quiet. She hadn’t seen much of Crystal or Rashid. Greg’s suggestion worked like a charm. She went
to their house immediately after work; exercised, let Carmelita feed her, and left. If she saw them at all, it was as she was leaving the subdivision and they were entering. Crystal believed that Greg was keeping her too busy to come around.

  Her stomach was growing daily, as though the twins had decided it was time to make their presence known to the world. Her respectable “B” cup had swelled to an awe-inspiring “D.” Greg was very much in favor of the new curves she was sporting.

  She was wearing maternity clothes full-time now, as none of her regular clothing fit. Anyone who didn’t know she was pregnant before was aware of it now. As expected, it was the source of a lot of speculation in the office.

  Many of them were aware that she and Greg were an item, as he made no attempt to hide his interest in her. Rumor was rife that it was his child she was carrying. Since no one was bold enough to ask her directly, Gail said nothing to set them straight. It wasn’t their business, anyway.

  Her thoughts, as usual, drifted to Greg. He was always on her mind. He would absolutely flip if he could see the bikini she was wearing. She grinned evilly at the thought. She was gleefully considering all the many ways that he would try to coax her out of it when a muscle cramp hit her without warning. She immediately doubled over in pain, sinking beneath the surface of the water.

  Bubbles rose as she let out an involuntary gasp of pain. She grabbed her calf, trying to massage the tight muscle while she sank lower and lower into the pool. Just her bad luck that she caught a cramp right when she was floating over the deep end.

  Gail forced herself to remain calm and not panic. She was running out of air and needed to swim to the surface to get more, but couldn’t as long as the pain kept her muscles locked up.

  Just when she was beginning to seriously worry, a pair of strong arms grabbed her from behind and pulled her to the surface. She broke through and sucked in a lung full of desperately needed air. Gail’s body was turned and she immediately reached out and clung to Rashid, her arms locked around his neck, holding onto him like a lifeline.

  With a few powerful backstrokes, Rashid swam with her to the shallow end of the pool where the stairs were located. When Gail tried to release him and stand, her muscle spasmed and she cried out with pain. She would have gone under again if Rashid hadn’t swung her up into his arms.

  “What is it?” he asked sharply.

  “Leg cramp,” she got out between teeth clenched against the pain.

  Rashid carried her out of the pool and set her down in one of the patio chairs. He knelt in front of her. “Which leg? Never mind.” He brushed her hands aside when a particularly vicious cramp had her hands shooting to cradle her calf, her left leg drawing up reflexively, close to her body.

  Rashid grabbed her ankle securely with his hand and began to firmly massage her calf muscle as he slowly forced her leg to straighten. Gail hissed in pain and tightly gripped the sides of the chair, her body arching as she instinctively struggled to get away. She wanted to knock his hands away from her leg but knew he was only doing what needed done.

  While he worked the knotted muscle, he berated her. “It was beyond foolish for you to be in the pool alone. Do you not know even the most basic rules of swimming safety? What if I had not decided to come home early? Do you think I wish to come home and discover my wife’s dearest friend and my unborn children dead in my pool?”

  Gail let Rashid’s words wash over her. She knew it was the fear talking, manifesting itself as anger. She was a little shaky herself at the close call.

  Crystal came in just as the last of the cramp was leaving her leg. “Gail, when I saw your car in the driveway, I thought I’d find you still back here by the pool. What on earth is going on?” she asked suspiciously. “Rashid, why are you all wet?”

  Rashid still had on his suit, obviously having stopped only long enough to take off his shoes and jacket. He was drenched from head-to-toe, with water still streaming off of him. “Leg cramp,” he told Crystal tersely. “I came home to find our friend here in the process of drowning.”

  “Drowning,” Crystal echoed, her eyes shooting to Gail for confirmation.

  “It hit me while I was floating in the pool,” Gail confirmed.

  “Alone,” Rashid muttered angrily.

  Ignoring him, Gail continued. “I was trying to work it out when Rashid so gallantly rescued me.”

  “Stretch out your leg. See if it is gone,” Rashid instructed.

  Gail extended her leg and flexed her foot. “It’s a little sore but I think that it’s leftover tenderness from the cramp. I’ll know for sure when I put my weight on it.”

  “Stand and let’s see.” Rashid moved back and gave her room, but remained on his knees.

  Gail stood and drew in a sharp breath.

  “There is pain? Where?” He was looking at her leg, feeling the muscle to see where it was knotted.

  “No, my leg’s fine. It’s the babies. They’re moving.” Gail was awed. She’d felt flutters before but this was actual movement.

  Rashid’s gaze shot to her belly. “Where?”

  “Quick, give me your hand.” He held it out and she placed it on her belly. “There. No, wait. Right here.” She adjusted his hand.

  “Do you feel it? It’s not very strong.” Gail kept her hand over his, pressing it firmly against her stomach. She found herself holding her breath, as though that would allow him to feel them better.

  They both startled when one of the babies made a strong kick, right against the place where Rashid’s hand was resting. Gail laughed as Rashid looked at her in astonishment. “Did you feel that?” he asked excitedly.

  “Yeah, I did,” Gail said dryly, but she was grinning when she said it. His reaction was so cute. She looked to Crystal to share the moment, only to discover that she was gone.

  Gail wondered briefly where she’d disappeared to but was distracted by Rashid. He asked a ton of questions, all about the babies’ movements. How did it feel? How often did they occur? Did it hurt? The whole while, he kept his hand on her belly, waiting for it to happen again. The incident in the pool temporarily forgotten.

  Gail ended up staying for dinner. As they were eating, Rashid told Crystal all about it in vivid detail. Crystal made all the appropriate responses but seemed a little distant. Watching her, Gail felt a moment’s unease. Greg’s words from a few weeks ago came back. How long has Crystal been jealous of you? She shrugged them off. Crystal was probably tired from work or she could have had a bad day.

  When the meal was over, Gail excused herself. “Don’t forget about my appointment next week. You’ll get to find out the sex of the babies. I’m so excited for you.”

  “We’ll be there,” Rashid assured her as he walked her to the door. He escorted her all the way to her vehicle and stood there until she was comfortably strapped inside. With a final wave, Gail pulled away from the house, Crystal’s cool behavior forgotten.

  * * * *

  Crystal waited until the last minute to show up at Dr. Hagan’s office. She wouldn’t have come at all but she knew there would be too many questions to answer had she given this appointment a miss. She walked into the waiting room just as the nurse called Gail’s name. Had she been in a better mood, the look of relief on Gail’s face would have amused her.

  “There you are. I was starting to worry,” Gail told her.

  “Just running a little late,” Crystal assured her as she watched Rashid help Gail to stand.

  To Crystal, Gail appeared to be huge. She looked like she was hiding a beach ball under her shirt, and there were still three more months to go. They all paraded to the back. Rashid was visibly excited, if you knew the signs. This was all he could talk about last night and then again this morning until Crystal had to bite her tongue to keep from hollering, “Shut up already about those damned babies.”

  She watched in silence while they set up for the sonogram. When Dr. Hagan was ready, he called them closer. Pointing to the screen he said, “As I told you before, Gail is carrying
twins. See this line right here? That means there are two different amniotic sacks, which means fertilization of two eggs. What we have here is a set of fraternal twins, not identical. Now let’s see if we can see tell what sex the embryos are.”

  Rashid moved closer to the bed, eyes glued to the screen. Crystal gave him room by moving further away. Now that she was here, she couldn’t help but be curious. After all, there was still the nursery to decorate and baby items to purchase.

  “From the looks of things, I’d say this one right here was a boy. Now let’s see if the other one will cooperate and let us see what it is.”

  Crystal watched the screen intently as she waited for the doctor’s verdict. How he could tell what anything was on the monitor was beyond her.

  “I’m not a hundred percent sure since the baby’s in an awkward position, but it looks like we’ve got ourselves a mixed set—a girl and a boy.”

  Rashid whooped, caught Crystal up in a bear hug and spun her around. “A son and a daughter. We are truly blessed by God.” Then he leaned down and kissed Gail lightly on the cheek. “Thank you for doing this for us.”

  Dr. Hagan interrupted the celebration. “If you are going to take childbirth classes, now is the time to do so. I don’t know who’s going into the delivery room with Gail but it’s recommended that you be trained on what to expect.”

  “Crystal is going to be my coach,” Gail informed the doctor.

  “I would like to be there as well,” Rashid said to Gail.

  Gail looked at Crystal, her eyes asking a question. “You might as well let him be in there with us. Otherwise he’ll drive the doctors and nurses crazy and get himself kicked out of the maternity ward.”

  “Alright, you can be in there, Rashid.”

  “And I shall take the classes with you as well. I, too, would like to know what to expect and how to be of assistance to you.”

  “That’s an excellent idea. Why don’t the three of you go together? It will be a bonding experience. They even teach you how to care for your newborn once you bring them home from the hospital, very valuable information for new parents. I would take advantage of it. It will cut down on panicked calls to the pediatrician,” Dr. Hagan suggested mildly.