by York, Allie
I jerked awake at my alarm and barely made it to the bathroom across the hall before I was puking. I didn’t feel sick, just tired and upset. My hands trembled while I brushed my teeth and fixed my hair. I still had to meet Harris at the clinic. I doubted there would be time, but we had to talk. I had to tell him and hope for the best. I would have felt so much better if I had ever talked about our future with him. I went back to change, and my phone buzzed again.
Harris: Can you get there about twenty minutes early? We need to talk.
* * *
Ozma: Sure. Everything okay?
* * *
Harris: Yes
With an ominous text like that, I did not believe the ‘yes’ he sent. If anything, it made it worse. ‘We need to talk’ was not a good thing, never was, and I had to follow up his ‘talk’ with ‘I’m pregnant.’ A pit settled in my stomach. A big gaping hole opened up, making me cry all over again. I had to leave in ten minutes, but sank to the floor and started bawling. Harris was about to leave me, I was pregnant and not sure I wanted to be, and my dad was stalking his mom. If I hadn’t already puked, it would be happening as the thoughts raced through my mind. Ziggy crawled into my lap and I hugged him tight, trying to calm down and catch my breath. I pulled myself off the floor, put on jeans and a cute top, I could at least look cute for his little breakup speech. I tried to think of anything I could have done that warranted a ‘we need to talk’ but nothing came to mind. We left lunch happy, and he dropped me off with a kiss, just like always. Nothing stuck out as a negative in my mind. We were happy, or at least I was. I shook my head and put Ziggy in his crate to go face whatever life had to throw at me next. I looked back at the tiny back seat of my bug and tried to visualize a car seat there. I tried to picture a cute little red-haired baby with green eyes, but those thoughts had Harris in the front seat next to me.
I pulled into The Shore and took a steadying breath. I tried to plan my speech, but without knowing what Harris needed to talk about, I couldn’t plan my speech. I saw Jolene in the lot and climbed out, walking very slowly to the front glass doors. I stopped again in the foyer and took a breath. Layla wasn’t at the desk, so I made my way to the back, checking the exam rooms on my way. The lights were all off. Where is everyone? I made it to the break room and saw Harris sitting on the couch with his back to me. I pushed the door open and he turned his head, just barely, to look at me. Then I saw the board. Green marker had a Hangman game sprawled out.
“Hey, Kitten,” Harris stood and gave me a half smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked sad. The pit in my stomach turned into my chest getting ripped wide open, I blinked back tears.
“What’s going on?” I walked slowly to where he stood and he handed me a blue marker. I looked up at the board, “E?” He wrote an E in the last spot, and I twisted the lid on my marker, unsure of why I even had it, “S?” Harris drew a head on my hanging man, “M?” Two M’s were written on the board and I glanced back at him, unsure of what was going on. His face stayed irritatingly blank, “A?” He wrote an A, “T?” My hanging man got a torso. I studied the puzzle, ignoring the sound of a closing door behind me. Hangman was fun, but for Harris and me, it was how important things were shared. For us it was more, and I needed to know what he was telling me, “L?” I looked over the letters and it clicked. The marker in my hands clattered to the white tiles and I spun to find Harris on one knee, box in hand, and all our friends near the door. I didn’t even notice them all coming in.
“Oz, you are my everything. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, worshiping you, and growing old with you. Will you marry me?” He flipped the box open to show me an emerald solitaire, and my hands went to my mouth. A deafening silence filled the room, but only for a second.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted the words out before I could even think. The collective gasps were an afterthought, because Harris’ eyes going wide and his mouth falling open had all my attention. He was on his feet, shoving the ring in his pocket, before I could blink and the tears spilled over my lashes. I expected him to yell or something, but instead, I was smothered against his chest.
“Really?” His back was to everyone when he whispered in my ear. I choked on a sob and nodded, “Oh my god.” I had no idea what oh my god meant, but he had shove the ring back in his pocket at lightning speed. He hugged me tighter, and kissed my hair.
“Are you mad?” I finally found my words and chanced a glance at him. Harris smiled, and shook his head, fishing in his pocket.
He flipped the box open again, looking down at me, “One thing at a time. You didn’t answer me.” He took my hand, holding it steady in his, “Will you marry me?” my mouth fell open, but closed, and then opened again. I nodded, lip trembling, and Harris wasted no time getting the ring out of the box and onto my finger. I stared at the beautiful ring, a princess cut emerald set in white gold, “We’re having a baby?” my eyes snapped to his.
“Yeah,” I squeaked. Harris grabbed me up and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and someone in the room whistled. I forgot we even had an audience, but it didn’t matter. Harris slipped his tongue in my mouth, just for a second, before pulling away, and resting his forehead on mine, “I just found out today. I went to get something to prevent it and surprise.”
“Oz, this is amazing,” Harris kissed me again, smiling wide. I grabbed his face and pulled him closer, letting out a breath and returning his kisses with just as much excitement.
“Excuse me?” Gloria’s voice snapped us out of a kiss, “Did I hear that correctly?” She wedged herself between us, staring me down, “A baby?” Harris groaned and moved around his mother to hug me again, “Well?” Gloria glared and I nodded. Then she hugged me too, “A baby!” She shrieked in my ear, and jumped up and down. Rose joined in the little party and jerked my hand to see my ring.
“That is not a diamond, Harry. What the hell?” His sister didn’t catch things like that, but at least she was trying to defend my engagement ring honor.
“Rosie, her name is Ozma, her mother was Dorothy. Do you even know where that’s from?” Harris reached around his sister and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear making me swoon.
“The Wizard of Oz… Oh! Emerald City! Got it.” Rose turned red and hugged me again.
A thought hit me and I couldn’t help but laugh, “Oh god. Harris. My name will be Ozma Oswin.” I start laughing uncontrollably, and Harris snatched me up to kiss my head and hug me. One arm went around his sister and Blair came to study my ring. We were congratulated by everyone. The room is eerily quiet when everyone leaves us alone to talk. Harris pulls me back on the couch and settles me in his lap.
“How long have you really been hanging on to that little nugget of information?” He buried his face in my neck.
“Just for a few hours. I went to go get the pill and they tested me first. I didn’t want to call or text, so I waited. I was in shock, so I blurted it out, I am so sorry.” I trace my finger up the still-pink scar on his arm and squeeze his bicep.
“I’m not mad. I thought you were already on something. I never even thought to ask. God, I’m an ass, Oz. I am sorry. I should have been more responsible. You never mentioned it, so I didn’t even think.” Harris kissed my neck, and slipped his hand under my shirt to my stomach, “How are you feeling about it? Are you okay with it?” I felt him swallow against my shoulder.
“We were both pretty stupid, but I think I’ll be okay. We never talked about the future, so I panicked a little, but I’m adjusting to the idea.” I kissed his forehead closing my eyes and relaxing.
“We should find a house. One we can grow in. God, this is incredible,” Harris cleared his throat, “Do you really like the ring? If you don’t, we can get something else…” I kissed him before he could finish.
“I love it. I thought the worst when you said we needed to talk,” My stupid tears started again, “We’re getting married?” Harris nodded, and we went back to silence, soaking it all in until Layla
ran in yelling for a vet. I got up and Harris left me with a kiss. I watched him run after her from the room, and picked up my blue marker from the floor to finish the puzzle. ‘Will you marry me?’ I pulled my phone from my pocket and snapped a picture of the puzzle. I wanted it framed on my wall, or on the table next to my bed. It was the most life altering game of Hangman ever.
Chapter Twenty-One
Harris
We made one more pass through the house, neither of us looking impressed. It was house number six for the day and neither of us liked a single one. We were not that picky. At least three rooms and a fenced yard. Not hard. Ozma’s expression mirrored mine, and I shrugged. We would find it eventually. The realtor was still spouting off details about the house that had two rooms and no fenced yard, but neither of us were listening. I led Oz outside, telling the realtor, whatever her name was, that we needed to look around outside.
“Another bust,” Oz leaned into me, “Can we just go home and take a nap?” Her bottom lip stuck out, pouting.
“We don’t have a home, that’s the point, but yeah a nap sounds good. I’m fried from house hunting. The house near Mom is still for sale.” Ozma had originally shut down living closet to Mom, but Rose was working her over on the idea. The neighborhood I grew up in would be perfect for raising another generation of Oswins.
“Maybe.” Her phone rang, and she stepped away to answer it. I watched her pace on the phone shaking her head, “Dad? Wait, I don’t understand. No.” I got to her just in time for her to start yelling, “No! You leave her alone! Restraining orders are for a reason, Dad. You made her uncomfortable, and I told you to quit but you didn’t. I guess it means you won’t.” The tears started and I pulled her to my chest. I tried to spend the last few weeks out of her relationship with her father, but I could hear him screaming and I snatched the phone.
“Look you little whore…”
“Mr. Greenlee, this needs to stop! My mother has done the right thing here based on your behavior. You can’t keep harassing Oz over this. Stop, or we’re changing her number too!” I growled into the phone.
“Who the fuck are you? She’s my fucking daughter! You need to be put in your place talking to me like that. Mind your own business, before it gets you in trouble. And tell your whore of a mother to return my fucking calls!” The line went silent and I handed Oz her phone back.
“I’ll change it tomorrow.” Ozma whispered, tucking the phone back in her pocket, “I’m sorry, Harris.” I kissed her head and politely told the realtor that we needed something bigger. I opened the door for Oz and let her in Jolene before running around to jump in my side.
“Has he ever hurt anyone before? I mean physically?” I grip the steering wheel, and glance to see her shake her head, “Okay, let’s go take a nap and forget this crap. Your place?” Ozma nodded and leaned her head into the glass. We made it down the block before she reached for my hand and threaded her fingers with mine. Every time the bastard called I lost a little piece of her for a while. I wanted to go back to the days before she started talking to him again and get my girl back.
A police car flew past us on the way to her place. Then another. “Can you reconsider the house down the street from Mom? I can drive us by it.” Ozma let out a yawn and nodded. Pregnancy was wiping her out and overtime was killing me, but we had enough for a down payment if we could only find a house. At her command, I turned around in a random driveway only for another police car to fly past, sirens blaring.
“I hope it’s not a wreck.” Ozma reclined the seat and closed her eyes, resting her hand on her stomach. I couldn’t wait to find out if our little Oswin was a boy or a girl. I couldn’t wait to pick out names and decorate a nursery, and let my mom be overbearing.
I pulled into the neighborhood I grew up in, the one I biked through and learned to drive in and started reminiscing. Rose and I blew up old beer bottles in the cul-de-sac, and all my favorite block party memories happened in that neighborhood. We had neighborhood cookouts, and potlucks. All the kids came to my birthday parties, and brought enough to food for three months after Dad died. Two rights and a left took us past Mom’s to the house I desperately wanted to raise my kids in. I slammed on the brakes as soon as we pulled onto the street and Ozma jerked up in the seat.
“What the hell?” I threw Jolene in park and unbuckled both of us.
“Oh my god!” Ozma scrambled out after me. The closer we got, the worse the scene became. Police with guns, yellow tape, and two ambulances surrounded my mom’s home. Her car and Rosie’s were parked in the driveway. Deep tire tracks surrounded the house from all the police cars.
We barely made it to the neighbors before a handful of officers stopped us, “We have a hostage situation, sir. You can’t come in here. You can’t come closer.” He shoved at my shoulder when I tried to challenge him.
“My mom and sister are in there!” I yelled in the officer’s face, but backed up when Ozma touched my arm. I didn’t have to look to know she was in tears. I just wrapped her in my arms and pulled her close. Officers shouted, sirens blipped, and Ozma shook against me. I swallowed the lump in my throat, staring blankly at the front door, waiting for Mom to walk out and beckon us in. Instead, shots rang out, muffled by the dense night air and the thick door. Ozma screamed and I squeezed her tighter as police stormed the house. I watched everything slowing down, and I tried to breathe. Nothing happened. I couldn’t inhale or exhale. I could only cling to what I had left. Ozma and our baby. The cops vanished inside the doorway, Ozma’s shoulders shook against me, and my brain kicked into overdrive. How would I live with without my mother? How would I go on without my sister?
“Harris!” Ozma shoved off me, running toward the house, pushing under the tape. It took me a breath to see what she was running to. Mom came out through the darkness, blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The police spread out, approaching the EMTs and I can finally hear the conversations.
Unknown assailant, armed man.
“Where is Rosie?” I got to Mom just in time to catch her and Ozma at the same time.
“Out.” Mom barely breathed the word, then grabbed at Ozma, “I’m so sorry. I had no choice.”
I made Mom look at me from the hug with Ozma, “What the hell is going on?” I demanded.
“Douglas showed up.” She didn’t need to say anymore. We waited, huddled together in the front yard while mom was questioned again and again. I split my time between holding Mom and holding Oz. Another car pulled in and I watched more people go in the house, then come over to question mMom. People came in and out of the house, time passed slowly while the detectives and medical examiners inspected the scene. Mom answered the same questions over and over. Ozma stared at the ground, not talking to anyone. When she finally moved, I jumped from the shock. Ozma broke her grasp and ran to the house, shoving officers out of the way in time to see the stretcher come out, body bag strapped to it. I left Mom for my fiancée, and got to her just in time for the paramedic to unzip the body bag to reveal Douglas’ face. I caught Ozma just as she collapsed backward. I held her close while they rolled her father’s lifeless body to the back of the ambulance and slammed the door.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ozma
Blair appeared next to me, black dress boots clicking on the cement. I really couldn’t stay inside any longer, it was sucking the life out of me, just like Dad always did. The whole incident was a blur. I was devastated at the time, but how could I really stay upset? Dad had been dead to me for a while, and he put Gloria’s life in danger. I kept telling her I wasn’t angry with her, but she just kept apologizing. The details became clear once we got to the hospital to deal with the details and get Gloria checked out. Dad showed up with a gun, broke into the house while she was out, and was waiting in her bedroom. How could I possibly blame her for protecting herself?
“You hanging in there?” Blair pulled me out of my funk and rubbed my belly. All that weight lost just to get pregnant and gain it back. At least I was in the be
st shape ever to bring a baby into the world.
“I am. You know how the relationship was.” I smiled through an escaped tear. “I just wish things could have been different.”
“I know.” Blair hugged me just as a crowd of Dad’s coworkers came through the doors. Each one gave me the most horrible look, but I kept my head down, ignoring it. I have no idea why they blamed me for him snapping, but they obviously did.
With Harris on one side and Blair on the other, I made it through the funeral, the burial, and the dinner my uncle hosted at some church afterwards. I went, took condolences, and stood awkwardly next to an uncle and cousins I had never met. The day was horrible, but I made it through and went home with Harris to lay on the couch and mope the rest of the night. Neither of us talked, I just laid against him, staring blankly at the wall until he insisted we go to bed. I fell asleep in his arms with him gently rubbing my stomach.
I woke up alone with the crash of pots and pans and voices from the kitchen. I put on Harris’ robe and left the bedroom to find everyone in the condo. Everyone. Blair and Ivy were making breakfast, arguing over the number of needed pancakes while Jax helped Harris take out the trash. Rose had Hemi on one side and Ziggy on the other, talking to them about peace negotiations. I couldn’t tell her that they’d already met and got along great. It was way too funny to watch her coax them into friendship. Porter and Lyric came through the door carrying a stack of boxes and Lyric saw me first.