Chapter 6-She's the what of my what?

As soon as Alistair fell on the floor Max, Niles and Lionel went to help him up off

the floor. Mrs. Bale went to the kitchen for an ice pack. Fran, C.C., Yetta and the kids retreated into the library. And, of course, Jean rushed up the stairs after her daughter.

"Judy, it's Mum." She said as she knocked on the door.

"Come in." She said. Jean opened the door. Judy sat on the bed. It was clear that she had cried a little, but had stopped. She looked strangely happy.

"Judy, sweetie, are you alright?" She asked as she took a tissue out of her pocket and handed it to her.

"Yes Mum, I'm quite fine actually."

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

"Because I wasn't sure until a few days ago. I kind of had to think about it myself a while before I could tell anyone you see. Alistair wasn't even supposed to find out about it like that."

"Well, how do you feel?"

"Excited. I didn't think I'd ever be a Mum. Like I said before, I've been divorced twice and I'm not even forty!"

"Well congratulations then." She said as they hugged. "I'm very happy for you. But what are you going to do about Alistair?"

"What about him?" Judy asked.

"Well, it's his baby too, right?"

"Yes, and I'm glad it's his baby."

..........................

"She's the what of my what?" Alistair asked. He was in a panicked state. He sat in a leather chair in the living room. An ice pack on his bruised head and a scotch in his hand, of course provided by Lionel.

"It's alright. You're going to be a Dad, it's the greatest thing in the world!" Maxwell told him, an enthusiastic tone could be detected in his voice.

"I've never been a father to a child, but in a way I feel like I can say that Judith is my daughter. I didn't feel that way at first, but believe me, you'll grow into it." Lionel told him.

"Well, I've never been a father of any type." Niles said as he took a cigar out of his pocket and handed it to Alistair. "But this will make it all better."

"Niles!" Maxwell protested.

"Alistair, another thing, if you're going to be a father, then you can't have any more of that." He said, taking the cigar from Alistair.

"But, but that's Cuban!" Niles said.

"All the more reason for me to keep it."

"But we can't get those in America!"

"Fine." Lionel said, handing Nile's precious Cuban cigar back to him. "You can have it."

"Thank you." He said, putting it back into his jacket.

"Now Alistair, don't be so scared. This is a natural part of life."

"I know, it's just the last thing I ever expected."

"Well sure it is, now, I think that you should work up the courage to go and talk to her." Max said.

"And that's another thing I'll do." Alistair replied.

"What?" Lionel asked, not knowing what he was talking about.

"Not be like my father. I actually want to be there, for everything. I actually care, I'm not so sure that my father really did all that much. I don't just want t just send the poor kid off to boarding school or off with a nanny and be done with it. I don't want to never spend any time with them at all. No, that's wrong, really wrong. No, I want to do this, I really do."

"That's the spirit!" Maxwell said. "You'll love this in no time."

.....................................

It had gotten late, and soon everyone else retreated to bed. Alistair lye on the living room couch. An empty bottle of scotch that he had shared with Max, Niles and Lionel sat upon the coffee table next to him. The initial shock of his impending fatherhood not only scared him, but it really did bring joy to his heart. But mostly it scared him, and had made him very tired. He was sound asleep. Judy knew that when she went and sat on the table beside him that night, just to see if he would by some chance, wake up. Even thought she knew that Alistair was one of those people that just couldn't be woken up too easily once they actually were asleep. He had not gone to see her that night, as he should have. She pondered this as she softly ran her fingers through his hair. She wanted him to wake up, so very much. She didn't want to talk to him, but it was necessary, even if she had to be the one to initiate the conversation. When, after a while it became apparent to her that Alistair was not going to wake up until morning, Judy headed back up to bed.