“Oh no, please don’t cry,” I said.
“Mom. A little self-control please,” E.G. said, as he stood by his dad and watched the whole thing.
Well, that was the wrong thing to say because his mother shot her gaze to him and narrowed her eyes in a menacing expression.
“What did you do to this young woman?”
E.G. shrugged. “I knocked her up. Obviously.”
“Son,” his dad, Evan, said, shaking his head. “I can’t tell you what it’s like to feel so happy for you and so disappointed at the same time. I raised you differently. First, you get married, and then you knock her up.”
“Seems a little old school,” E.G. muttered. “Come on. Our driver is waiting.”
“Driver?” his dad asked him. “You’re back to that?”
“It’s just more convenient,” E.G. said.
“Yes, I can see that,” his mother nodded, and then shot her husband a look which communicated so much.
It was strange, but suddenly I was fluent in Allen eye communication.
Don’t make a big deal about him not driving, Evan. You know he’s still traumatized from the accident.
I was just asking a question, Jackie. But I’ll drop the subject.
Our son is still in pain.
Our son is still in pain. I get it.
They had it, I thought. That real connection. It was all right there and so completely obvious.
Then she hooked her arm around my waist and together we all headed outside to where Ricky was waiting with the car.
“Now, I want to know every little detail,” she said, as she ushered me through the doors.
“Of your son knocking me up?” I teased.
“You can spare me that,” she laughed. “Let’s just skip to the part where the doctor told you both.”
E.G.’sHome
“I’m certain it’s a girl,”Jackie said, looking at the picture of Boo E.G. and I had put on the refrigerator.
“Mom, I told you we didn’t have them check the sex. All you’re seeing is the top of the head and an arm. I think.”
“Boy or girl, as long as it’s healthy,” Evan announced.
I was putting together cheese and snacks just to hold us over until dinner. I set them out on the counter and Jackie made a fuss.
“Sit, sit. I can do that. You need to rest.”
“Mom, I think Flowers can handle a few crackers.”
“I can handle eating them,” I said, as I took a seat at the kitchen island and grabbed a cracker with some cheese. “I’ve been on the streets, so I thought I knew hunger. But this whole pregnancy stuff is off the hook. I am constantly hungry.”
Jackie beamed at me. “That’s a good sign. Means the baby is growing nice and healthy.”
Evan clapped his hands together. “Let’s talk specifics. When is this happening?”
