Thanksgiving

Lib

It's when everything's going good, that's when trouble strikes, right? You're feeling great, you let your guard down and BOOM! Trouble right here in River City, as the song goes. I know that sounds kind of cryptic, but it's true. Let me explain.

We'd had a really good time at Halloween, despite you know, being attacked by Billy Hargrove, an alien dog and then Jason Carver. Despite three monsters, the party was great, and I knew we'd made a lot of goodwill by having it. Everyone was feeling upbeat and looking forward to Thanksgiving, me especially when I found out that Eddie had never had a whole turkey.

"I mean I've eaten turkey before, and had like, turkey sandwiches, but like a full BIRD on the table?" He shook his head. "Nah. Wayne and I usually go to the VFW hall for their buffet."

"That's just criminal," I told him. We were lounging in bed, listening to the rain and cuddling. It was Wayne's morning for chores, and we were savoring the comfort before we'd have to go get breakfast started. "We'll head over to Food Fair and reserve a bird today."

"Mmmmhmmm," He replied, nuzzling my shoulder. I knew he wasn't paying attention to my words, but I didn't mind. Eddie is very much a hugger-cuddler. Given how much we both needed that comfort, I was feeling good myself and willing to share. He grinned and those dimples would be the death of me yet.

I reached for him. "You," I growled. "I want you, right now."

"Aren't we the pushy one this morning?" he laughed, pulling me over the top of his body under the sheets. Eddie looked rumpled and mischievous, which is just how I like him. He's wiry and stronger than he looks, but also the sweetest person I know. Eddie is a nurturer and it's clear to anybody who's ever met him.

It was just a quickie before breakfast, fun and silly and SOOO good right up until we both felt the condom break.

Panic time. Eddie rolled off me, muttering "Shit, shit, shit!"

I sat up, reaching for the tissues on my side of the bed, gingerly fishing out bits of latex while Eddie peeled the remains off his softening erection, looking terrified.

"It was an accident," I told him firmly, fighting to keep my voice steady. "They happen, all right? We're not going to panic and be stupid here, babe."

Eddie wadded up the remains and dropped it in the trash can, looking pale. "Sorry, but I'm already panicking. When is your period supposed to start?"

"Umm . . ." I glanced at the ceiling trying to think "Somewhere in the middle of the month, I think."

"You think?" he shot me a distressed look.

"Not an exact science, but roughly, yes," I told him. "Around the fourteenth or so."

"So this is the worst time in the cycle to have a rubber break," he groaned. "Right at this point."

"Look, let's shower and get downstairs so we can face things properly."

Eddie sighed, but followed me into the bathroom, the two of us staring in the mirror together. Normally I loved the sight of us, but Eddie still looked spooked.

I turned to him. "One broken rubber doesn't automatically mean pregnancy. And in the event that I do become pregnant, well, we'll talk about that at the appropriate time. I can't even test until after I've passed that date, Eddie, so it's 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' time."

He pulled me into his arms, nuzzling me. "Ok, so I'm here and I'll BE here but this is new and I'm not totally sure about how I'm going to deal with things until we know for sure. Hell, do we say anything?"

I turned on the water as I considered it. "I think we should, but I'll tell Mom and you tell Wayne. And let them know that the other one knows."

Eddie nodded, looking relieved. "Okay. He'll keep your mom from killing me. Maybe."

I laughed. "Nobody's going to kill anybody and with luck, this will turn out to be nothing more than a close call."

He looked at me in that special way he has, the one that says how much he loves me, and we got in the shower.

Eddie

Back when I was a kid, I decided that I was never going to be like my old man. I'd never treat any kid the way he treated me because nobody deserved that kind of shit and pain. As I got older, I figured it would just be easier not to have kids and risk messing them up. I mean look at me—I'm not cut out to be a dad. I'm loud and Metal, and only have a few part-time jobs and even though I'm more reliable than I used to be, I'm still getting my OWN shit together so now it totally not the time for a baby.

Shit.

The truly painful thing is that I never wanted to do anything to upset the status quo. Things were GOOD at the house. I had a family; Wayne was in a good place and we had the holidays coming up. I had love and good food and a routine and Lib and now it was all going to shit because someone at the Trojan factory fucked up the quality control.

I was barely able to finish my breakfast, thinking about it.

Just nudged me. "Eddie?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you putting tabasco on your waffles?"

I looked down at the bottle in my hand. "Uh, taste experiment."

Just looked interested. "Cool. Savory versus sweet on carbohydrates. Next time you should try barbeque sauce."

I made a face. "You can do that one. Wayne, we're heading into town, right?"

He nodded, carrying his plate to the sink and rinsing it off. I heard Lib starting a load of laundry and it freaked me a little that everything was still so . . . normal. We were facing earth-shattering news as far as I was concerned and yet the chickens needed feeding and Mrs. Jones needed milking.

Misty came in and I couldn't face her yet, so I got up, handed off my plate to Wayne and went out to the barn.

The barn is one of the best parts of this place. I have one half of it for my D&D stuff and my instruments. It's warm and quiet most of the time, and I can think.

I considered a cigarette, but there was too much hay around for that. Instead, I picked up the old wooden guitar and aimlessly strummed it, thinking.

If Lib was pregnant, that would mean she'd have our baby in late July, early August. It had been a while since Sex Ed, but that seemed about right, time-wise. We'd be in the high heat of summer, with Just going into seventh grade and I'd be nearly 23 by then, and Lib would be 20.

Not teenagers anymore.

Wayne came out so I followed him to his truck, climbing in quietly as he shot me a quizzical look. I bit the bullet.

"Lib . . . might be pregnant."

He whistled but didn't say anything. I spoke up again. "We've been careful but the um, condom broke this morning and shit, I've been stressing about it ever since. I suck."

Wayne chuckled, and the lightness of his tone helped. "Nope. Shit happens and it happens when you least expect it."

"Misty is going to murder me," I predicted, feeling a chill run through me.

"Misty is more practical than that, and you know it, Ed. She'll be pissed but afterwards, she'll be right there, baby or no. Early days yet. Might not take."

"Orrrr, it could take," I persisted. "And that would mean—"

"—it would mean you'd have another decision to make, then," he intoned, shooting me a serious look. "Ed, get practical, son, figure out what you want."

Great advice. Too bad I had no clue.