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“You should tell her. Maybe before the party,” Emily blurts out.
“Really?” I’ve thought about telling her, but I wasn’t sure what Emily wanted. We’ve had enough time, I think, and my heart pumps fast every time I talk to my mom and don’t mention a huge nine-year-old secret.
“As soon as possible,” Emily says. Her face is stoic without a hint of her thoughts.
“I will,” I promise and pull out my phone. Another missed call from Mom. I show Emily. “That’s her now.”
“Great. Olive and I will meet you at home.”
They walk towards Emily’s car as I open my phone and walk outside to a small bench facing the street. I tap on my mother’s contact and hold it to my ear as I watch Emily and Olive cross the street, hand in hand.
“Maxwell?” Mom asks, the second the call is answered.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Are you still in Goldheart?” Her voice sounds uneasy.
“Yes, Mom, is everything okay?”
“I talked to Noelle.”
All blood drains from my face. “Oh?”
“She told me something truly shocking. Did you have a baby with that girl you saw ten years ago?”
Goddamn Noelle. “Yes,” I answer.
“Maxwell, I…I…” Quiet sobs echo through the phone. My heart squelches as I listen.
“I didn’t know,” I tell her. “Honestly. I don’t know why Emily kept it from me, but she did.”
“Noelle says she met her on Monday. You knew for three days and didn’t tell us?”
I lean forward on my thighs. “I wanted to get to know her first.”
“It’s a girl?”
“Yes. Her name is Olive. She’s so beautiful and so smart. So funny.” That makes my throat swell, difficult to swallow.
“Oh, Max. That’s wonderful, sweetheart. But are you sure that child is yours?”
My brows furrow, and I grind my loafer into the ground before standing up. Walking into an alcove between storefronts, I say, “Emily was a virgin when…we, you know.”
“Oh,” Mom says as we devolve into silence. I check my phone to make sure the call is still active. My mom breaks our pause. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Please think this through, Max. Please. Are you back together with the girl?”
“No” feels strange coming out of my mouth.
“All I say is don’t throw away all of your future plans. You already broke up with Noelle. I just don’t like where this is going. At all.”
“Mom, we’ll talk about it on Saturday.”
“Oh good, you’re still coming to the party.”
“Of course I am. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I roll my lips together. “Are you going to tell Dad?”
