by Cher Etan
Martha turned to regard him in surprise, “Why?”
“Because I can…and I need to speak to you.”
“Well, this is just…unfortunate because I just had breakfast at home. My doctor advised me to lose some weight because of the arthritis so I don’t think I should eat again.”
“Okay then, will you have coffee with me?”
“Black, no sugar.”
“Coming up. Go sit down and wait for me?”
“Alright,” Martha said walking toward the breakfast nook. She picked up an apple from the fruit basket and bit into it as she awaited her coffee.
Max brought it, served on a tray in a mug with “World’s Best Mom” on it. Martha regarded it in amusement.
“Where did you get this?” she asked.
“I bought it at a flea market yesterday. After I dropped Chris home I was…a bit restless so I went downtown and wandered about a bit thinking about her, me, my parents, her parents…and you. I just want to be the parent to my child that you have been to Chris.”
“Don’t put me on too high a pedestal. Have you met my daughter?”
“You blame yourself for that? At some point your kids grow up and they’re responsible for their own decisions.”
Martha was silent. “Well anyway, enough about me. What did you want to talk about?”
“I just wanted your input on the way forward.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Marriage,” Max said.
“Marriage? I thought you wanted to be a co-parent. Where does marriage enter that equation?”
Max took a deep breath. “I’m not dying; I don’t have cancer but that’s about all that is certain. This thing that I have is of uncertain symptoms. I don’t know what effects it's going to have on my body. This may well still be the only child I’m going to get. Even if it isn’t the only child that I’m ever going to get, I owe it the chance to grow up with both parents.”
“So you want to get married because the girl is pregnant? How many times has that worked out that you know of?”
“I don’t want to get married because she’s pregnant,” Max said.
Martha grunted skeptically.
“What I mean is…I’ve known that girl since she was ten. I know who she is in a way that is different from the way I know other girls. I know her heart. I know that my heart would be safe with her.”
“Your heart…? I thought this was a business arrangement?” Martha prompted.
Max was quiet for a bit. “It's not that cut and dried. It's not possible to have a child together and remain detached. Especially when the other person is already a friend. A good friend. Almost family. I’m just trying to be realistic about likely scenarios,” he said.
“Have you talked to her about this?” Martha asked.
“I want to. It's difficult to find the words.”
“And that’s why you wanted to talk to me?”
“Exactly,” Max replied.
*****
“Hello,” Christine said answering her phone.
“Hey Chris. How are you?”
“I’m doing great. You?”
“Well, could use a good stiff drink but I understand I’m pregnant.”
“You’re pregnant? I thought I was pregnant.”
“It's our baby, we’re both pregnant.”
“Aww, how sweet,” Christine said sarcastically.
“So I wanted to find out if we could maybe talk?”
“Oh, you want to sign the papers and shit?”
“That…among other things. Will you meet me?”
“Yes of course,” Christine said.
“Coffee at the Thinking Cup?”
“That is weirdly appropriate,” she said.
“How’s five o’ clock work for ya?”
“Works just fine.”
“Okay then, see you then.”
*****
The coffee shop was full when Max drew up at exactly 5pm. He wondered if they would get seating but then spotted Christine sitting at a table reading something with a bag saving him a seat opposite her. He walked slowly toward her expecting her to look up at him but she continued to read. Max walked up to her and stopped right in front of her chair.
“Hey,” he said making her jump. She really hadn’t heard him coming…granted the coffee shop was noisy but...
“You scared me,” Christine said.
“Sorry,” Max said moving to his seat and moving her bag to the table.
“No problem. What’s shaking? You have the papers?” she asked holding out a hand for him to drop them into.
“Er…no. Clarence needs to get back to me on some specifics but I thought maybe we should talk about logistics, the way forward, how to handle this whole situation.”
“Okay…but I thought all that would be in the contract?”
“Some things you can’t legislate,” Max said looking her in the eye, then his eyes dropped to the cup sitting in front of her. “What are you having?”
“Mocha cappuccino. Wanna taste?”
“No thank you, I’ll just have an espresso if I can catch the eye of a waiter in this place. Wow, it's loud here.”
“Lots of people talking,” Christine said with a shrug.
“Yeah, well anyway that Harry Potter character said it’s the best way not to be overheard,” he said, making her smirk.
“You are such a nerd,” she said.
“So are you,” he replied.
“Okay enough with the small talk. What’s up?”
Max leaned back in his seat studying her intently. “How do you feel about a marriage of convenience?” he asked.
“You mean in general or…?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“I mean…would that be something you’d be interested in?”
“Why would I be?”
“Well, what if someone was offering?”
“Why would they offer?”
“Because maybe, the baby you’re carrying might want to grow up with both parents.”
“I thought he already was,” the smirk was still on Christine’s face.
“I meant together, together. In the same house. It's not like you have anything else going on.”
“Wow. That was my dream proposal. Hey Chris, how about it then? Not like you have anything else going on,” Christine said sarcasm dripping from every word.
Max smiled. “Hey, if I thought dinner and dancing in the moonlight would convince you I’d have gone that route. But I know you; you’d just think I was shining you.”
“And you’re not?”
“Why would I? To what end?”
Christine shrugged, “I don’t know. Who knows why men do what they do?”
“Not you, right? So why not take the safe bet? The man who won’t break your heart and who happens to be the father of your kid as a bonus.”
“As a bonus. Yay,” Christine repeated.
“So is that a yes?”
“That is a ‘I’m not sure what exactly is going on around here. I might need a few more conversations before I do’ answer,” she said fingering her teaspoon.
“Okay then, where would you like to have these conversations?”
Christine looked down and then glanced up at him from beneath her lashes. “I’m just sayin’…I think I rush into things and it gets me into trouble. Case in point…pregnant. I wanna do something different and take my time. Weigh my options. Find out what I’m getting into.”
“If you were anyone else, I would describe to you the generosity of the prenup and turn your head with a diamond the size of your head. But since it's you, I don’t know how to convince you that this would be a good idea. At least not without pushing some buttons I know would upset you.”
Christine narrowed her eyes, “What buttons?”
Max took a deep breath, regarded her intently and then opened his mouth. “Did you enjoy growing up with an absent father?”
Christine’s eyes narrowed further and Max hastened to j
ump in before she could say anything. “If you had a choice, wouldn’t you rather have your mother and father living in the same house if they got along?”
Christine continued to glare, “We get along?”
Max shrugged, “More than most employer/housekeepers’ granddaughter combos I’ve seen.”
Christine laughed reluctantly, “Is that our frame of reference?”
“Hey, grading on a curve has got me through every day since kindergarten. I’m taking it,” Max said with a shrug.
“I…will think about it,” Christine said. “But so…does that mean no contract?”
“I thought we would combine the contract and the prenup if you’re amenable.”
“I think this is probably something you’d have to explain to your board of directors.”
“Again, they don’t run my life.”
“What about your mother?”
“She doesn’t run my life either.”
“I mean are you going to tell her?” Christine asked slowly as if he was retarded.
“Tell her what? You haven’t given me an answer.”
“What about the baby?”
“Plenty of time for her to hear the bad news.”
“Bad news?”
“The fact that she’s not my only heir?”
Christine lifted her brow, “Cynical much?”
“Realistic,” Max said sipping on his coffee.
“Well anyway, this has been great and all but I have work tomorrow, I need to get my rest and there’s traffic so I better get a move on.”
“Yeah of course, let me pay the bill, I’ll drop you off.”
“I have my car thanks.”
“Oh. Alrighty then. So I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Ye-es? See me for what?”
Max shrugged, “Just cause.”
“So eloquent. I love it,” she said with a smile.
Max smiled back but made no reply.
*****
She was eating dinner with her grandmother when something occurred to her.
“Oh my God, I have to tell mom about this don’t I?” she asked her gra.
Martha shook her head, “Why do you have to?”
Christine shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe because she’s about to be a grandmother?”
Martha smiled a bit cynically, “Forgive me but I don’t think Cordelia is ready to be a grandmother just yet. That dead beat boy toy she’s married to is definitely not ready to be a granddad.”
“And they’d probably be out for what they can get too. Asking for loans and shit from Max?”
“You can probably count on that.”
Chapter 5
Cordelia Richards walked into her house, her eyes on the tabloid newspaper in her hands. There was a picture of her daughter having coffee with some rich guy. Cordelia was pretty sure it was the rich guy her mother worked for – it had been a while since she saw him but she was pretty sure he had a French name and so did this guy.
“Hmm, look what Chris is up to,” she told her husband Kevin as she held the magazine out to him. He leaned forward to see the picture and read the caption.
“You think they fucking?” he asked her.
Cordelia shrugged, “Who knows. Maybe. Hey, you think that’s why Mama’s kept that job so long. Because she was pimpin’ Chris out?”
Kevin snorted, “Your mama be singin’ in the choir every Sunday and shit…I don’t think she's in the pimpin’ game.”
“So this Max guy just like dark meat then?” she asked peering at the picture of the guy.
“You talkin’ bout your own daughter you know, right?” Kevin said with a laugh.
“Oh I know. But look how they sittin. They lookin so cozy and shit. I bet they fuckin.”
“Well then good for her right? He’s loaded ain’t he?”
“Pretty loaded. According to this article he’s a billionaire.”
“That’s good right?”
Cordelia looked up from the article to stare at him. “You remember the last time she tried to hook up with a rich guy? My friends are still laughing at me,” she said a tad bitterly.
“That’s coz they jealous of your family doing well and all. Fuck em.”
“Yeah well my ‘family’ may be doing well but I don’t see no benefit from it. You’d think my darling professional engineer daughter might share the wealth but nooo…she pretty much ignores me.”
“Yeah she a bit stuck up,” Kevin agreed. “You want some weed?” he asked holding out a blunt.
“Yeah okay,” she said putting aside the paper to take the blunt.
*****
“Good morning Martha,” Max said as she came through the front door. He was waiting in the foyer again, looking hopefully over her shoulder like he was waiting for someone else to come through.
“Good morning sir. Are we expecting company for breakfast?” Martha asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“I don’t know. You tell me.”
“Well as far as I know the answer is no. But perhaps Andrea can confirm that for you.”
“God, you’re such a pain sometimes Martha. Tell me how Chris is.”
“Chris is fine. She left for work at 5am; something to do with a major power outage downtown. You should know if you’re headed to your office.”
“We have back up power so…anyway, so she’s at work huh? Did she have breakfast before she left? Isn’t that a bit early? Did she throw up?”
“Yes, yes, yes and yes,” Martha said.
“Wow, does she need anything? Do we need to make an appointment with the doctor?”
“Have you chosen an obstetrician yet or is it the fertility doctor who will take you through?”
“Yeah, Dr. Mulholland will be taking us through.”
“Great, so when is your next appointment?”
“Next Thursday, I think. That last meeting is kind of a blur in my mind, I don’t think I heard anything after the doctor said ‘You’re pregnant’.”
Martha smiled, “I don’t blame you; it's shocking news even when you’re expecting it. Topped with everything else that’s been going on with you, I’m guessing your body just wanted to shut everything down for a minute.”
“Yes. Exactly. That’s why I love talking to you. You always know exactly what I mean.”
“Then maybe she’s the one you should be making marriage proposals to,” a voice said in the doorway making Max jump.
“Chris! I…didn’t see you there.”
“No shit,” she replied with a shit eating grin.
“What are you doing here?” Max asked and then almost bit his tongue. “I mean…not that I don’t want you to be here.”
Christine waved a dismissive finger at him. “There was an accident at the site; I was told to go home for the rest of the day and I thought I’d come here and see my grandmother.”
“Because you don’t see me enough at home,” Martha said dryly.
“Actually, I don’t but also I need to discuss something with you…privately,” Christine said darting a glance at Max.
“And it couldn’t wait until-“ Martha began to say.
“No it couldn’t,” Christine replied curtly still darting glances at Max as if hoping he’d take the hint and just leave.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to talk,” he said at last, getting it.
Christine watched until he left the room and then lifted her shirt to show her grandmother a bruise on her pelvis.
“I fell,” she said, mouth pouting exactly the same as when she was eight years old and wanted her grandmother to kiss away her boo boos.
Martha walked closer to examine the bruising. “Hmm, looks like it's swelling,” she touched it gently and Christine flinched. “What happened?”
“I was on top of a ladder, there was a short circuit and the line that I was working on shot sparks in the air. It startled me and I kind of jerked backwards because I didn’t want the sparks to hurt the baby. Then I fell, but Jermaine caught me so I didn’t hurt m
yself too bad but my hip banged into the aluminum siding. Should I go to the hospital? Will the baby be hurt?”
Martha was still intently examining the site of injury. “Do you have any pain? Bleeding? Cramping?” she asked Christine, pausing after each question for Chris’ head shake.
“Well, usually if the baby is hurt then one of those things happens. However lets not take chances with my great grandson. I’ll call Max to take you to the clinic.”
“No need for that. I drove here all by my own damn self; I can definitely take myself to the clinic. No reason for anyone to be in a panic.”
Martha just looked at her granddaughter a bit sternly. “It's his child too. He has a right to know.”
Christine sighed. “Okay then fine. I’ll go tell him,” she said stomping grumpily out of the room calling Max’ name.
“I’m here,” he said appearing as if by magic in the hallway and startling Christine quite badly. More than was warranted she thought.
‘Ugh do I have a B12 deficiency or what?’ she thought with self disgust.
“Uh hi,” she said to Max.
“Hi,” Max replied walking toward her. “Something wrong?”
“You could say that…er not really, it's just precautionary you know,” she said with a nervous laugh.
Max frowned. “Chris? Tell me what’s wrong,” he said in a tone that brooked no opposition.
Christine sighed wearily and then lifted her shirt again to show him the bruise. “I fell.”
Max hurried forward, hand outstretched as if to touch the bruise…but he stopped just short of her skin, “Does it hurt?” he asked.
“Like a bitch,” Christine said. “Gra thinks we should probably have it checked out just coz of the location and shit?”
“Oh. Yeah, she’s probably right. Do you feel okay though?” he asked reaching out a hand to guide her gently into a seat like she might break if she stood for a moment longer.
“I’m fine. Really. Just, you know, the pain…and the er, the baby. Worried,” she mumbled.
“Andrea!” Max called and the clack of high heels on the uncarpeted corridor could be heard hurrying toward them from the study.
“Yes Max?” Andrea said coming to a halt at the door. Her eyes widened as she saw Christine…with Max’ hand still on her shoulder with him bent solicitously toward her.
“I need you to call Dr. Mulholland and make an appointment for us as soon as possible. Now would be best.”