Chapter 14- Anything For You
Shawn stood in the doorway of Maya's room, sipping a mug of hot coffee and watching the two of them sleeping. Maya had her arms wrapped around Josh's waist and Josh's hand was on Maya's belly. Shawn let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. As endearing as this picture was, he made it clear that Josh was to sleep on the couch last night. He carefully placed the coffee mug on Maya's dresser and quietly made his way over to the bed. Leaning over Josh ever so quietly, he gave him a hard, quick smack to the middle of his forehead. Shocked, Josh bolted upright. When he saw Shawn standing in front of him, he quickly covered his bare chest with a portion of the sheet that Maya was coveting.
"I thought I asked you to sleep on the couch." Shawn said.
"Um, I thought, uh…" Josh stammered, turning red. "You did. I'm sorry." Maya stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She noticed Shawn standing in front of her bed, and groaned, burying her head under the sheet.
"Good Morning, Sunshine." Shawn remarked, sarcastically. "Time to hit the road. Let's go. We leave in 30 minutes." He left the room and closed the door on his way out. Josh rolled over and kissed the top of Maya's head. As he stood up and got out of the bed, he leaned over and kissed Maya's belly.
"Good Morning, Little One." He spoke low and soothing. "It's Daddy again." He smiled to and put his ear to her belly. Maya tousled his hair and laughed.
"We are never going to get out of bed if you are waiting for a response." Maya said. Josh held up a finger, listening.
"Hang on, I can hear something in there. Is that the baby?" Josh asked, excitedly. Maya laughed again.
"Sorry to disappoint you, hon, but that is my stomach growling. I am starving. Bean is only like one month in, about the size of a rice grain. You would not be able to hear it yet." Maya explained. Josh gave her a mock pout and she kissed him. "Let's get going before he comes back in here." Josh sighed and agreed.
"Hey, Shawn?" Maya asked. "I thought my mom was going to be here, too." Shawn nodded, not taking his eyes off the road.
"She was, but somebody called in sick, so she offered to do overtime to cover it." He explained. "We will discuss everything when she gets home and has a chance to rest." Maya nodded in acknowledgement.
"So, Josh," Shawn eyed him in the rearview mirror, "have you given any thought to what you will do for work, yet?" Josh thought for a moment.
"I am already majoring in Integrated Digital Media." Josh replied. Shawn furrowed his brow.
"What is that?"
"I want to design computer game graphics and special effects for the movies." Josh explained. Maya beamed with pride, listening to him talk about his dream. She leaned against his shoulder and squeezed his hand. He glanced down at her and smiled, silently mouthing the words, 'I love you'. Maya closed her eyes and savored this moment with Josh.
Less than 30 minutes later, they pulled up to the NYU campus. Maya was awestruck. As they walked toward admissions, she looked all around her.
"Josh, this place is huge!" She exclaimed. "How do find your way around every day?" Josh pulled a campus map out of his bookbag.
"This helped me the first few weeks." He explained. "After that, you get used to it." Maya studied the map as they continued down the path. When they finally reached the admissions office, Maya was feeling nauseous again and found a bathroom next to the office.
Meanwhile, Shawn and Josh waited for the admissions counselor to see them in.
"Mr. Joshua Matthews, she can see you now." Josh and Shawn walked into the office and sat in the chairs that were placed in front of the counselor's desk. The nameplate read 'Cora Sikel'.
"Mr. Matthews, I presume." Ms. Sikel held out a hand which Josh grabbed firmly.
"Yes, m'aam." He gestured to Shawn. "This is my Uncle Shawn." She nodded to him and grabbed his hand before they all sat down.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting today, Mr. Matthews?" She opened a file on her desk, with Josh's paperwork neatly stacked up inside. He took a deep breath and explained the situation. Ms. Sikel listened intently and nodded silently when he had concluded.
"Basically, I need to know if I can continue this major online or if I can transfer credits to a closer university. Closer to Manhattan, I mean."
"Of course," Mrs. Sikel replied. "I understand. Let's see what we can do here." She looked at his paperwork and looked back up at him. "I don't see any disciplinary issues that would prevent it. And the major you are taking on", she paused, looking at another paper, "is doable online as well."
"That's awesome! Thank you!" He rose to stand up and leave. Ms. Sikel stopped him.
"Before you leave, do you want to start the paperwork first?" She asked, amused. Josh laughed to himself.
"Of course, yeah. Let's do it." He sat back down and finished the process, signing the papers and obtaining all of the logins he would need for online courses. Afterward, they visited his dorm and packed up his room, loading it into Shawn's car, before heading back home.
When they got back home, after stopping to get something to eat for Maya, Katy was already there and waiting.
"Mom," Maya ran to hug her, "you're home." Katy squeezed her daughter tight and kissed her forehead.
"You feeling okay, sweetie? You look pale." Katy placed the back of her hand on Maya's forehead.
"I'm fine, Mom. This morning sickness is just kicking my butt, that's all." She hugged her mother one more time, before heading into the house.
"Josh, how have you been?" Katy turned to him and hugged him. He returned her hug and kissed her cheek.
"I'm good. I signed up for online courses through NYU, with the same major." He replied. He started to head into the house when Katy grabbed his arm.
"Thank you." She said. Josh looked at her, confused.
"For what?" he replied, turning toward her.
"For being willing to do this for Maya." Josh smiled at Katy.
"I would do anything for Maya, Ms. Hart. Anything."
