Well, that was terrifying. And it was only going to get worse.
Maggie was pacing, trying to breathe deeply and calm down. Her heart was thumping and tears were threatening to roll down her cheeks again.
True, Henry's parents took it better than she expected, but they had still looked scared and disappointed. Their expressions had been difficult to read when Henry told them he thought they would keep the baby, though. Shock? Disapproval? She couldn't tell. All they said after that was "Oh," and "Goodbye."
That was just their response to Henry's remark. Maggie was reeling. Why didn't he say he thought they'd give it up for adoption? What exactly did he mean by "keep"? Were they really going to raise it? She was to afraid to ask.
"Maggie, it'll be okay." Henry said as he watched her pace anxiously.
"That was only the tip of the iceberg!" She turned to him, trying to keep her emotions under control. "There's so much more that we're going to have to deal with and I don't know..." Her voice cracked terribly on the last four words. Feeling her knees give out, she fell to the floor.
Henry walked over to her and knelt down beside her just as she began sobbing. He held her again and she continued to cry into his shoulder.
"What if I'm not strong enough?" she asked just as her sobbing grew louder.
Hot tears were seconds away from tumbling out of Henry's eyes, but he held them back. If he broke down, it would make her feel worse.
"You're one of the strongest people I know," he said quietly as he rubbed her back. "I know you can get through this."
After that, her crying softened. "Really?"
"Really."
Maggie sniffled loudly and wiped her eyes. "Thanks. I needed to hear that." She frowned as she pulled away from him and noticed the wet mark she left on his shoulder.
"I want to tell Uncle Bryan by myself."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm going to tell him after you leave." They stood up and he kissed her cheek. "Go home, Maggie. You need to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
Unless Dean Bartlett kills you first, she thought as they hugged goodbye. He was right, though; she really needed to sleep. And she was certainly not up for another confession session.
"Good luck, Henry."
Uncle Bryan continued to watch his movie, which by this time had about a half hour left. The image of Maggie ascending the stairs in an obvious emotional state occasionally floated to the forefront of his mind, but he ignored it. Whatever was going on probably had nothing to do with him, and the kids were old enough to settle it by themselves.
The front door had opened and closed, meaning either Maggie left or Jasper returned.
There's nothing to worry about, he told himself. However, his Uncle/Dad/Dean senses were tingling, and there was obviously something the matter. But it was best not to get in the middle of it. They'd only lie to him about it anyway. Not that the inevitability of the numerous hijinks last year had turned Mr. Bartlett into a defeatist. Absolutely not. He just... learned when to keep his distance. The line of course was drawn at matters of national security. And explosive devices. And burglary at the museum. Oh, and anything that could implicate him in a murder or make him lose his job.
But whatever it was was strictly "them" business. He could feel free to stay out of it.
"Uncle Bryan?"
Mr. Bartlett watched as Henry rounded the arm of the couch.
Maybe he only wants to watch the movie. Never mind the fact that he looks nervous.
"Do you need something?"
"Um... I really need to tell you something."
Oh, no. What happened at the museum this time? Did he find another bomb made by our founding fathers? Did Jasper accidentally release another virus into the school? Has there been another assassination plot?
Perhaps I should brace myself. He thought as he paused the movie.
Henry gulped, which only made Uncle Bryan more nervous. Henry was usually able to keep calm.
"What's happened?"
Henry sat down on the coffee table. "I should probably just come right out and say it."
Mr. Bartlett raised an eyebrow. "Alright."
"... Uh..." Goodness, Henry was sweating. "Well... I... um..."
"Henry, just – "
"I got Maggie pregnant!"
The ensuing silence was, pardon the pun, pregnant with incredulity. This was a joke. It had to be. Henry and Maggie weren't dating, and Maggie would never do something so irresponsible. Maybe the truth was so bad he chose to cover it up with this outrageous lie.
Springs squeaked as Uncle Bryan adjusted himself on the couch. "Henry, I'd rather you tell me the truth."
"That is the truth. Maggie and I just told my parents on iCat."
Nevertheless, denial was still the preferable option.
"No really, Henry – "
"I knocked her up, Uncle Bryan!"
Frustrated, he pinched the bridge of his nose. This wasn't happening. Maggie was surely not pregnant. It had to be some kind of absurd cover story. Or... perhaps Uncle Bryan was being punked. Yes, that was it. In the name of all that is good, please let that be it.
"This isn't funny. If this is some kind of joke – "
"I promise I'm telling you the truth! We did it without thinking and now Maggie is pregnant." Henry finally began to cry. "Uncle Bryan, I'm so sorry. We didn't mean for it to happen. I don't know what to do.""
Mr. Bartlett stared at his nephew, searching for any – any – sign that he was lying. But it seemed that Henry was genuinely scared.
"Oh... my," He said, for lack of a better word. His nephew had a talent for trouble – the aforementioned mishaps among other equally perilous adventures could attest to that – but they all somehow paled in comparison to this.
Feeling like he had had the wind knocked out of him, Mr. Bartlett sighed exasperatedly. "You've really outdone yourself this time."