Chapter 12- Safe Haven
With a little less than two weeks left until the Europe trip, Maya wondered what she would tell Shawn. She obviously could not go to Europe now. She had not told Shawn yet about being pregnant and she worried how he would react.
"Whoever decided that morning sickness was a good name for this, needs to be shot." Maya finished rinsing out her mouth with mouthwash, for the fourth time that day. "Morning, noon, and nighttime sickness sounds more appropriate." Riley looked at Maya, concerned.
"You really get sick that often, Maya?" Riley scooted over to make room for Maya on the couch.
"Yeah, and it sucks. Instead of showing pictures and videos of women in labor to scare girls into abstinence, they should just show videos of them getting sick all day." Maya nibbled on the edge of a cracker and downed the last of ginger ale, rolling her eyes. "That would close anyone's legs." Riley giggled at Maya's last comment. Noticing Maya's glass was empty, Riley stood up and reached for the glass.
"Here, let me refill your glass, Maya."
"You know, Riles, I am perfectly capable of getting my own drink. My legs aren't broken."
"I'm just trying to help."
"All right. If you insist." Maya smiled and handed Riley her empty glass. As Riley headed for the kitchen, there was a knock at the door and the sound of keys turning in the lock.
"Anyone home?" Shawn's voice echoed from the kitchen. Riley turned back toward Maya and they looked at each other in alarm. Riley ran back over to the couch and covered Maya's nonexistent bump with a blanket. Maya looked at Riley in confusion.
"Riley," she whispered, "what are you doing? It's not like I am showing yet."
"Just being cautious." She headed back toward the kitchen. "Uncle Shawn! I've missed you!" She jumped into his arms for a hug and squeezed him tightly.
"Where's Maya?" he asked as he returned her hug and kissed the top of her head. With her head still burrowed into his chest, she pointed toward the living room. Shawn patted Riley on the back and walked into the living room.
"What? No welcoming committee?" he asked playfully. Maya smiled up at him, but remained seated on the couch.
"Hi, Shawn. Welcome home." Shawn's smile faltered.
"Maya, you don't look so good. You look…pale. Are you feeling okay?" Maya shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. She patted the seat next to her.
"Come, sit. I need to talk to you." Worried, Shawn sat on the couch next to Maya.
"What's wrong, Maya?" Maya took a deep breath and looked Shawn right in his eyes. She hated so much to disappoint the only person who had acted like a father to her.
"Shawn, I can't go to Europe with you. Something happened and-" Shawn cut her off.
"That's okay, Maya. I am not going to Europe now. I have been reassigned. They want me in Texas instead. Some bat festival thing."
"No, Shawn. You don't understand. I can't go on the trip with you.
"Why?"
"Because, I…" Maya paused, unsure of how to word it, but then just blurted it out, "I'm pregnant." Shawn was speechless. He sat on the edge of the couch, just staring into space for a minute. Suddenly, his face went dark.
"Who's the boy, Maya?" He said through clenched teeth. Maya knew that first part had been too easy.
"Josh." She replied quietly, looking down at the floor. She looked up at Shawn. His face was rigid and he had turned an angry shade of red. She noticed that he had his fist clenched into a ball. He stood up and headed for the door. Riley stepped in front of him, preventing him from leaving.
"Uncle Shawn," she warned, "The rest of the family knows. Don't do anything dumb, please."
"Oh, you mean, like beat the tar out of your uncle Josh?" He walked around Riley, exiting the house and slamming the door.
"Uh-oh, Maya. I think we better call Mom and Dad or Josh, let them know." Riley started to dial the phone. Maya stopped her and took the phone.
"I will do it, Riles." She replied as she dialed Josh's number.
"Josh. It's Maya." Maya was pacing back and forth, wearing a rut in the living room carpet. "Hopefully, you get this in the next hour or two. My advice to you is to lay low, like really low for the moment. Shawn just found out and he is not happy. He is either on the way to see you or Cory. Please, please call me when you get this. I love you." She hung up the phone, but continued to pace the floor.
"Maya, you're making me dizzy." Riley was watching her walk back and forth. Maya stopped and looked at Riley.
"Sorry, I'm just really anxious." Riley nodded.
"I understand but walking a groove into the floor is not going to help anyone. Come sit down. I'll make you some tea." Maya nodded and headed for the couch. As she sat down, her phone rang and startled her.
"Hello? Josh?" she said. "I'm glad you are okay. Come over to my house, now. I think Shawn is on the way to see you."
"We aren't allowed to see each other, remember?" Josh reminded her.
"I think there is room for exceptions, Josh." Maya explained. "I think my mom will understand."
"If you're sure."
"Be here in 45 minutes. I love you." As Maya hung up, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, Uncle Josh is coming here?" Riley asked. Maya nodded.
"At least he'll be safe here." Maya rationalized. "I am going to go take a shower and probably throw up again." Riley grimaced.
"Thanks for the warning, Maya." Riley flopped back on the couch and flipped on the tv. "I'll be here when you get done."
Right as Maya turned off the water in the shower, there was a knock at the door. Sighing, Riley got up to see who it was. As she pulled back the window curtain, she saw a very panicked Josh standing on the porch. He kept looking over his shoulder like he was being chased. Hurriedly, Riley opened the door waved him in.
"Come in, come in. What's wrong, Uncle Josh?" Riley asked, concerned. After catching his breath, Josh pulled out his phone.
"Right after I got off the the phone with Maya, these messages started coming in." He showed her the text messages he received.
'This is Shawn. We need to talk.'
'Don't ignore me, Josh. This is important.'
'I'm on the way to see you now. Don't leave.'
'Goddamn it you little shit, where are you? What did you do to my daughter?' Riley's eyes got wider with every text she read.
"Uncle Shawn sent those? Wow. He sounds, well, pissed." Josh nodded and headed for the living room.
"Where's Maya?" he asked, looking around the room. Riley gestured toward the bathroom.
"She is in the shower." Riley replied. "And probably throwing up. Again." Josh's brow furrowed.
"Throwing up? She's sick?" he asked, concerned. Riley shook her head.
"Morning sickness, all day. She has been miserable." She gestured toward the couch. "Why don't you have a seat? I will let her know you are here." Riley smiled at Josh and headed for the bathroom.
"Maya?" Riley knocked lightly on the bathroom door. "Josh is here. He is waiting on the couch." Riley could hear the sound of Maya retching and she grimaced.
"Thanks, Riles. Tell him I'll- 'Blarrgh- I'll be right there." She replied weakly, her voice echoing from the toilet bowl. With shaking knees, she slowly stood up and flushed the toilet. Taking a shaky breath she grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste and looked in the bathroom mirror.
"Ugh. You are killing me already, Little Bean." Maya said to her belly. "Ease up a little, please?" She washed her face and brushed her teeth, twice. "There. That should do it."
As Maya exited the bathroom, Josh looked up from his seat on the couch. His mouth was agape in shock and his eyes were wide with awe. In his eyes, Maya had never looked more beautiful. She was slightly pale because of the morning sickness, but that only enhanced the ethereal glow she was radiating. Her beautiful golden blonde hair was dripping wet and tangled, but he only saw an angel. He slowly rose from the couch and met her in the middle of the living room floor. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her passionately before dropping to his knees to kiss her belly.
"Hey there, little one. This is your…daddy." Josh paused briefly and reflected on the sound of the word 'Daddy' and how it felt to refer to himself as such. "Wow, Maya." He looked up at her, admiring her beauty. "I'm going to be a daddy?" Maya nodded wordlessly with tears falling from her eyes. She pulled him up from the floor and held him tightly.
"And I'm going to be a Mommy. We are going to be parents." Maya sniffed back tears and Josh looked into her beautiful blue eyes.
"I love you, Maya." He said.
"I love you, too, Josh." Maya stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on his lips.
