by Kat Addams
“What’s to discuss? What, do you think I’m that dense? Is it because I haven’t finished school? You think I’m some kind of nitwit? I can see it plain as day. I don’t need an explanation, mate.” She spit out the last word before leaning into me and whispering in my ear, “He seems sweet. He has your eyes. I hope he doesn’t have your shit for brains. Maybe you can not fuck this one up, friend.”
Layla turned on her heels, barreling past Monica and my son, and left, stomping through the door.
I scratched my head, realizing that she hadn’t been joking when she said she had raging-bitch pregnancy hormones too. I was shocked that she hadn’t slapped me in the face. I thought if she could hike her leg up over her belly, she would have probably kicked me in the nuts. I deserved it. And some.
“I’m sorry. Let’s talk. Do you mind if Thomas sits over there while we catch up? He’s a good boy. Super quiet and shy. He’ll be fine.”
Thomas. I cringed. Monica never knew the name I called my member, so I couldn’t exactly blame her for naming our son after my penis. He had, after all, come from there.
“Sure. Give me a minute. I need to handle some things. Have a seat. I’ll be right back.” I disappeared into the back, grabbed my phone, and dialed for help.
“You never told her, did you?” Jay answered the phone.
“What? How did you know why I was calling you?” I paced the tiny room in the back, which would eventually become my office.
“Because I just got a text from Rox, asking if you had a child and why I didn’t tell her. I texted her back that you didn’t. It was a misunderstanding. What happened?” he asked.
“About that. I do have a child. I think. The boy is the spitting image of me. I don’t know the details yet, as I ran to the back to call you to help Layla, please, while I handle Monica and my … son.”
“Bloody hell, Aiden! I’m on it. You keep me updated. As soon as you’re finished with her, I want to know just what the hell is going on. Now, I have to tell Rox that you really do have a kid, and I didn’t tell her about the baby thing and all of that drama. I have to do damage control too. Shit. Just call me later when you’ve handled your business. I don’t even know what to say.”
“I know. Me either. Sorry I let this mess get out of control. Talk soon.” I hung up the phone.
I forced one foot in front of the other as I made my way back to the dining room and back to Monica and Thomas.
“I can come back another time,” Monica said. “You don’t look so well.”
“Of course I don’t look so well! You just turned my life upside down. For the second time, by the way.” I threw my hands in the air.
Thomas’s eyes grew wide as he stepped in front of his mom.
“It’s fine, honey. Sit over there and play that game you like on my phone. I need to have a grown-up conversation, okay?” She handed him the phone and nudged him toward a far corner.
He walked right past a table and sat on the ground.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to get upset. I’m obviously in the middle of some big life changes.” I ran my hand through my hair and blinked before pinching myself.
Nope, not a nightmare.
“Why now? Why did you lie to me back then? Do you have any idea how much you hurt me? You never responded to any of my calls or texts. You just shut me out. What kind of person does that?” I fought to keep my voice from rising.
“A young, dumb, and scared person who was in the middle of a mess of her own making. I wasn’t in love with you. I knew you loved me, and I just couldn’t do this”—she motioned with her hands between Thomas and me—“family thing with you. I was in love with someone else. He was in the Army though and always gone, so I didn’t know if things would work out or not. I kept you in my back pocket like a terrible person because I didn’t want to be a single mum. I’m sorry. I did think Thomas was his though. Up until a few years back at least. It was his eyes at first—Thomas’s. They turned the same shade as yours. Then, his bottom lip curled into that pout you do. You’re doing it right now.”
“So, you’ve known for years that I have a son, and you didn’t tell me?” I asked. My heartbeat pulsed in my ears. “Does your boyfriend know he’s raising a child that’s not his?”
“Husband. We were married. And no, he didn’t. He never knew you existed. He was deployed during my pregnancy. It was easy to hide. By the time I had Thomas, he was coming back. I had to send you away. I’m so, so sorry, Aiden. I was completely immature back then, and I had no idea how to handle my situation.”
“Jeez! But why now? Why are you just now telling me this?” I hissed.
“Because he’s dead.” Her face contorted into a painful expression I knew all too well. Grief. “Thomas has no one. No father figure, no siblings. Nothing but me. I thought that even if you are over here, maybe he can see you now and then and at least keep in touch through calls. He needs someone. He took his father’s death pretty hard. I’m worried about him, and this was the last thing I wanted to do, just so you know. I’m doing it for him.”
I walked over to a table and sat down, putting my head into my hands. I knew how hard it was to lose a parent. I couldn’t imagine going through those emotions at such a young age. I glanced at Thomas across the room. His eyes shifted from his mother to his phone to me. Monica looked his way before coming to the table and sitting in front of me.
“He knows then? That I’m his real father?” I whispered.
“He knows,” she said.
“How in the world did you tell him that after he lost his parent? That was a mistake. You should have waited! He has enough to handle without knowing his father wasn’t his father,” I said through clenched teeth.
“His father died two years ago. Thomas has only gotten worse. He’s in therapy, but he’s lonely. I’ve tried to get him involved in different things, but it’s not working. I thought, at the very least, this new information to him would give him something else to think about. Maybe something to look forward to. Summer trips or something. I’ll pay for it all. I’ll do anything for my son. He needs someone besides me. He’s hurting.” She bit her lip, turning her face away from me.
I swallowed hard. This boy was my flesh and blood, and he needed help. There was no question about it; I’d step up to the plate, even if the thought of Monica lying to me for so long boiled my blood.
“We are going to need boundaries and lots of talks. I’ll do what I can for Thomas. But you … you fucked up big time. You should have told me a long time ago, but you were a coward. And now, look at this mess. I have a child on the way. I have a life here. You can’t just show up and think things will fall into place. This is going to be a lot of damn work on everyone’s part. Not just mine and Thomas’s,” I spit out.
Monica nodded.
I walked over to my son and crouched in front of Thomas, who forced his eyes on the phone screen instead of looking back at me.
“Thomas, I know your mum already told you who I am. She also told me you lost your dad. I know what that feels like. It’s the worst feeling imaginable, and it never leaves. It only fades. Sometimes, it still pops up here and there. But let me tell you about a lovely emotion that will help you get through the tough stuff. I admit, I struggle with it myself at times. It’s called hopium.” I sighed, sitting down next to him and pushing my back against the wall.
ELEVEN
Layla
I should have given Aiden time to explain, but after seeing guilt wash over his face, I didn’t need an explanation. Clearly, my friend had lied to me about his past. I immediately called Rox after I left him and headed toward DTF. I needed my girls. I had been riding a fairy-tale high for weeks. Nothing could ever be this perfect. Of course there was a villain or a plot twist or a … curveball.
“Fuck this curveball,” I muttered to myself, pulling in behind The Pink Taco Truck. I slammed the door shut before collapsing on a nearby table in a pile of bloated, chubby, pregnant tears.
“Where is he?” Bett
y hopped out of the back of the truck, brandishing a metal spatula that she swung in the air. “I knew it. I knew one of these men would fuck up sooner or later. Is he at this new restaurant? I’m about to take my ass up there and—”
“He’s there. With her. And his kid. I just don’t understand.” I raised my head. “Why wouldn’t he have told me he had another kid?”
“That’s a big secret to hide. I don’t know.” Nikki sat down next to me, rubbing my back.
Betty smacked the spatula on the side of her hip. “I’m out. I’m going to tell him just how dumb that move was.”
Rox hopped out of the truck and blocked her path. “No. We’re going to wait to see what’s going on. Jay seemed just as surprised as we were. I don’t think he knew.” Rox stood in front of Betty, shaking her head.
“He was as pale as a ghost and looked as if he’d been caught red-handed. He’s guilty!” I cried.
“Maybe so. Who knows? But we can’t just go on a witch hunt without all the facts!” Rox said.
“Yeah, we can.” Betty bounced the spatula against her palm.
The raging-bitch hormones inside of me wanted her to take another spatula and duel his ass back to Oz.
“He never mentioned anything at all? All this time y’all spent together over the last month or so, and he never said a word about something he left in Australia? Like a whole person? A kid?” Nikki rubbed her crystal necklace.
“Never. Nothing. He’s been perfect. Things have been too perfect.” I pushed myself up from the table, groaning and clutching my stomach. “I don’t feel so great.” I stumbled to the side of the taco truck.
“Whoa there. Sit back down. Where are you going?” Rox grabbed my shoulders, steadying me.
“Water,” I croaked out before unleashing a gush of watery fluid down my legs.
“What the fuck? Are you peeing? Child! What did that man do to you? I’m going to kill him! One minute, he promises you a fantasy, and the next, he makes you piss your pants? Fuck that!” Betty threw her hands in the air.
“No, that’s not pee. Layla, your water just broke.” Nikki jumped from her seat, running to my side.
“Water,” was the only word I could manage to say before doubling over in a pain I had never felt before. I’d broken a toe, sprained an ankle, and had the occasional migraine. But this pain knocked me on my ass. Literally. I fell to the ground.
“She’s in labor. Get her in the truck. Let’s go,” Rox said, nodding for Betty and Layla to hoist me back up and into the passenger seat. They strapped me in as the contraction let up.
“Are you timing these?” Nikki asked from the backseat.
Betty cranked the engine and sped off.
“Timing what?” I squeaked out, breathing through my teeth as another contraction ripped through me.
“The contractions. You’re supposed to time them. I think they’re coming too fast!” Nikki’s voice rose.
Rox reached around the back of my seat, keeping a tight grip on my hand.
“I don’t math! You know that. I can’t,” I said, placing my hands on my belly and squeezing.
“It’s not math! And stop that! You’re squeezing her out like a roll of toothpaste. Put your legs together. Keep her in! Give me your phone. I don’t think this is normal.” Nikki reached for my phone in my purse and dialed Celeste.
I faded in and out, listening to Nikki time my contractions out loud for Celeste. Each contraction became stronger and stronger and closer together.
I let out a bloodcurdling scream, burning my throat and my lungs. Betty looked back to Rox and then to me. I’d never seen Betty afraid of anything, but the fear in her eyes looked so ridiculously out of character that I began to laugh uncontrollably.
“Are you pranking me?” Betty asked, side-eyeing me. Her fingers curled around the steering wheel in a death grip.
“No.” I laughed before crying again. “Oh! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!” I screamed, rolling down the window for air.
“Celeste, I don’t think she’s going to make it. These are coming too fast. We’re fifteen minutes out still,” Nikki barked into the phone.
“She’s coming! She’s coming! Help. Help. Help.” My voice came out shrill. Haunting. Demonic. I scared myself. This was a new pregnancy symptom. I’d never known my voice could change, but here I was, spouting out babble in a devilish monotone. I’d bet money that as soon as I made it out of this truck, Nikki would clear the air with her sage sticks and crystals of whatever hellish energy had come from inside of me.
What if my baby is a monster? I shivered. That would be my luck. I wouldn’t only skip over my fairy-tale future, but I’d also birth straight into a nightmare instead. My daughter would come out, speaking in tongues and casting spells to make our eyeballs melt in their sockets. I’d blame all of Nikki’s crystals that hung in our truck.
“Ask her if this is normal. How am I making this noise? Is it supposed to hurt this bad? Fuck!” I said, moaning with an opera-like voice. If this pregnancy symptom lasted, at least I might be able to get a side hustle as a narrator. I’d already mastered several different dialects in the last few minutes.
I sang, “Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do,” loudly, testing my skills before screaming through another contraction.
DTF became silent.
“Celeste says it’s normal to sound like a zoo during mating season. She’s coming. She’s meeting us at the hospital. Deb too. She’s on the call. She says to keep singing. Laughing. Whatever. Just listen to your body and breathe,” Nikki said. Her bottom lip turned down into a frown.
“Listen to my body. Hoo-hoo-hee. Hoo-hoo-hee. Oo-ee-oo-aa-aa-ting-tang.” I pushed my breath out between clenched teeth. I grabbed Rox’s hand, squeezing it tight.
“What the hell? We can’t have that baby girl in this truck. How would we clean that mess? I’m not doing that. I can’t. Nope. Rox, tell her to hold that little girl in. She’s not looking too good.” Betty floored the gas pedal.
“Scarlett. Her name is Scarlett. Scarlett Roxanne.” I threw my head back and closed my eyes, pushing my trembling thighs together. “She’s going to be a strong woman.” I heaved a shallow breath. “Like Jay’s mom. Like Roxanne. Like us. All of us. We won’t let her make the same mistakes we have, will we? Y’all will help me? I have no one. No one! No fairy-tale prince. No white wedding. No family Christmas traditions of baking cookies with my kids and husband. No white picket fence!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Hey. Hey!” Betty shouted above me. “We’re your family! Of course we aren’t going to let Ms. Scarlett fall on her ass. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that. Now, shut those legs. We’re almost there.”
“You’re naming her after me?” Rox asked, leaning forward so that I could see her. She blinked back tears.
“Don’t cry. If I see you crying, I’m going to cry. Don’t cry,” I said too late. I saw one tear drop down Rox’s cheek and let out a wail.
“I’m not crying. You’re crying.” Rox sniffled.
“No crying! We have a baby to birth. Everyone, listen up,” Nikki screamed.
“Oh my gosh! What the hell is he doing here?” I pointed at Aiden’s classy car in the rearview mirror.
He swerved wildly, tailgating our truck. I gritted my teeth.
“I texted him. He needed to know.” Rox put her hands up in protest. “Look, I know you’re mad at him, but he’s stuck with you through this entire pregnancy. He can’t miss the birth of his child. He can wait outside of the delivery room if you want, but at least let him be present. Jay’s with him. Also, I texted your parents.”
“Rox—” I shook my head.
“Layla. This is it—your big moment. You’re going to want all the support you can get. We want to support you. We love you, and we love Scarlett. Just let us be there. Aiden included. You can tell him to fuck off. I don’t care. But let him be nearby at least. To see his child. Please? I know he loves her.” Rox’s voice rose above mine as I let out anothe
r roaring scream.
“Celeste said that didn’t sound good. Layla, how do you feel?” Nikki’s eyes searched mine.
I clutched Rox’s hand with both of mine and cried.
“Like shit! I feel like shit! Like I have to shit!” My head rolled back and forth as another contraction ripped through my body. I began to shake, holding back the urge to push.
“Shit!” Nikki said.
“No! Don’t you dare do that! I have seen those baby shows. You ain’t pooping in here. That’s a health code violation. We are going to have to burn this truck down. I said, keep those legs shut tight! We’re pulling in the parking lot. You can hold it in.” Betty jumped the curb and drifted toward the hospital entrance. “See? Driving skills, courtesy of race-car-driver ex-lover man.”
“You’re going to get us killed one day,” Rox muttered.
“Do you feel pressure down there? You still feel it? Like you’ve got to go to the bathroom?” Nikki asked, holding the phone out toward me.
I could only nod my head.
“She said yes,” Nikki spoke into the phone.
“Lift up your dress. Pull your panties down. I’m five minutes out,” Celeste barked through the speakerphone.
“I’m not wearing panties. None fit me anymore!” I cried, lifting my dress.
Aiden rushed to the door and peered into the truck right as I lifted my dress.
“Bloody hell.” He stumbled backward, knocking into Jay.
“Her head! Her head! I can’t—” I screamed, pushing with every ounce of energy I had.
Nikki tossed the phone down, screamed for Jay to get a doctor, and leaned over me, knocking my thighs apart.
“Push!” Nikki commanded, flipping my dress up and putting her hands out to catch Scarlett.
“Jesus, take this wheel.” Betty flew back in her seat, scooting as far away from me as possible.
Aiden popped his head back through the window. He’d turned an unnatural shade of white.
“You’re the strongest woman I know. Come on, love. You can do it.” He put his hand on my shoulder, next to Rox’s.