Ch. 6
It was early when Walt pulled up to the station. He was surprised to see Vic's truck in its normal spot. He had assumed he would be the first one in this morning. Coming in, he removed his coat and hat. He put them away in his office. He hadn't seen Vic at her desk. He came from his office and looked around the room when he heard sounds coming from the Reading Room. He paused at the door. Heaving was the best word he knew to describe it. Cracking the door, he saw Vic hunched over the toilet. He came in behind her and placed his hand softly on her back. She jumped slightly. He sat quietly until she was finished. Helping her to her feet, Walt waited while she rinsed her mouth and face in the sink.
"Sick?"
She wiped her mouth with a paper towel and turned to him.
"I wasn't earlier. I walked in the door and felt like I was gonna puke."
"You should probably go home."
Vic left the room with Walt behind her.
"I've got a lot to do, Walt."
"You're clearly not well."
"I took a day off last week. Remember?"
"Have you seen a doctor?"
"No."
Her tone told him her patience was waning.
"Go home."
She let out a heavy sigh. He changed his approach and slid into boss mode.
"Go home. I'm not asking. If it's a bug, you'll pass it around the office if you stay."
She glanced at him and then nodded.
"Fine."
x
Vic sat in her trailer staring out the window. She had just moved here last week after purchasing the RV. She had enjoyed Cady's company but it was nice to have something to call her own, even if it was small and had wheels under it. She chewed her lower lip, distractedly. She knew she wasn't sick. At first, that's what she'd thought. Maybe she had eaten something that disagreed with her or picked up a bug. She certainly had contact with enough people. But she was late. Over a week. At first she had chalked it up to stress. The divorce and the on/off mess with Walt was really screwing with her. When the vomiting had started, she had a startling realization settle over her. Neither time they had been together had they used protection. She could kick herself for her carelessness but what was done was done.
The timer dinged and she moved off the couch slowly. She approached the bathroom as though it held some fierce creature poised to attack. Steeling herself, she paused and then pressed onward. In her mind, she had tried to convince herself that she might not be pregnant. The stress and fatigue of her current life situation could still be to blame. In her gut, however, she already knew what the test was going to say. She slowly lifted it and stared at for what seemed an eternity. Closing her eyes, she dropped it in the trash and returned to her seat on the couch.
How was she supposed to tell him that she was pregnant?
x
When Vic called in the next day, Walt felt a growing unease in his stomach. She almost never called in. Hell, after being tortured and beaten by Chance Gilbert, she had shown up at work the next day. He sat in his office, attempting to work. Thankfully it was quiet. The citizens of Absaroka County seemed to be behaving. He sighed and rested his head in his hands. He couldn't concentrate. What if it was more than a bug? She had seemed unhappy lately. Dissatisfied and unhappy. With her marriage dissolved, there was nothing to hold her here in Wyoming. No tether to keep her in his life. Walt rubbed his face. He had gotten a call from Christine but was avoiding that. She seemed nice enough but all he could think about was Vic. When they had been at dinner, he found himself constantly comparing the two women. He wasn't sure when Vic became the standard by which he judged other women.
Giving up, he jammed his hat on his head and left his office through his private door. He pulled up in front of Vic's trailer and parked. Her truck was here. He knocked on the door and waited. It swung open, just missing him. Her eyes squinted in the bright sunlight. She was wearing sweatpants and a tank top.
"Walt? Is something wrong?"
"I was going to ask you that?"
She moved aside and motioned for him to come into the RV. He clambered up the stairs and inside. She had the curtains drawn shut and the lights low.
"Were you asleep?"
Vic shook her head.
"No."
Facing her now, he could see she was pale and looked as though she hadn't slept.
"I was worried when you called in. Still not feeling good?"
"No."
She seemed uneasy with him. Walt studied her.
"Vic, is there something going on?"
She turned away from him, arms wrapped around herself. He approached her slowly. Extending his hand, it came to rest on her shoulder.
"Vic?"
Her head dipped down. Her words were so low, he almost didn't hear them but he did.
"I'm pregnant."
For a second, everything stopped and the world seemed eerily quiet.
"What?"
She turned, his hand falling away.
"I'm pregnant, Walt."
He stared at her and all the pieces began to click into place in his mind. It all made sense now. He closed his eyes and then opened them again.
"You're going to have a baby?"
"That's generally the end result, yes."
"M-my baby."
It wasn't a question but she nodded anyway.
"Okay."
Vic looked at him as though he had grown a second head.
"Seriously? That's it? Okay?"
Walt shook his head. It was still swimming.
"I just...it's a surprise."
She scoffed.
"You're telling me. Walt, we weren't careful either time."
He nodded slowly.
"Do you know which time?"
He gestured at her abdomen. She shook her head.
"No, but I'm guessing the first time sealed the deal."
"Have you made an appointment yet?"
"No, I just found out yesterday."
He frowned.
"Why didn't you call me?"
She turned away from him again.
"I needed some time. This is pretty life altering shit, Walt."
"Yep."
Her shoulders drooped. He walked up behind her and placed his hands on her bare arms. Pulling her gently against him, he rested his chin on her head.
"I'm here, Vic. You're not alone."
He felt her shudder slightly.
"Do you...do you wanna get married?"
She pulled away from him and turned, shaking her head.
"Getting married isn't going to fix it and it's not a reason to get married. If you don't love someone..."
He winced a little and her words faltered. Vic took a breath.
"We had sex twice, Walt. We're not even in an actual relationship. It was...we had sex. You said it shouldn't have happened."
He felt disappointment and anger welling up in him and he hated himself for it.
"Is that all it was to you?"
She folded her arms across her chest.
"I can't do this with you right now, Walt. There's enough to worry about without you suddenly wanting definitions. Hell, you were dating someone else."
"We weren't dating! We went out once!"
It came out louder and angrier than he intended. Vic held up her hands, palms facing him.
"Fine, but you see what I'm saying?"
He nodded slowly. He fiddled with his hat.
"I should go. I...uh...I'll give you some space."