Chapter 18 flashing back to May, 2016
With the situation surrounding the baby and the fight with Sam, Freddie hadn't slept much since the blonde walked out of his life. Of course, one thing constantly on his mind was the baby. He hadn't forgotten about the little girl who was very sick and carried half his DNA but he didn't want to be a pest to her mother either. He had no idea if she wanted anything to do with him or only for him to fill out the papers and continue without any other contact from him. He had decided that if he didn't hear from her today, he decided he would text in the morning. If she responded, he'd know she wasn't ghosting him. If not, well, life would go on.
His phone rang late in the evening, it was her number. "Hello." He sounded tired and worn out, and he was.
"Freddie?" A weak, yet familiar voice. "I didn't know if you'd still be up. I didn't wake you did I?"
"Oh, hey. No, I'm still up, no worries. I've been thinking of you. Did you get the paper work?" He asked the obvious question which he already knew the answer to, thanks to the tracking he placed on the envelope at the post office. "How's the baby?"
This question took her breath. Up to this point, she didn't know if Freddie even cared about the child or wanted anything to do with her. Maybe he was concerned after all. "She's . . . she's better, Fredward. A little better." She was taken in by his concern and didn't know what else to say. "I - um, would you like me to send you a picture?"
"Uh, yeah. Of course. I'd love that. But she's really getting better?" He perked up and sounded more awake at hearing this. "That's great. What happened?"
"The doctors picked something up on one of your papers I guess. They changed out a couple of her medications and she started to respond. They still think she'll need a transfusion but at least she's turning the corner. She's in intensive care for now."
"Transfusions are pretty serious. Especially for a baby, though. How old is she?" Not like he didn't know but he couldn't think straight.
"She turns one next week. The trouble is her blood type. It's rare and the one time they tried to give her blood a couple of months ago it made her worse."
"And with her being so young, just giving her plasma isn't an option." He knew this much from what medical knowledge his mother shared with him.
"She's B negative and apparently there's a marker or something on one of her chromosomes that makes her susceptible to rejection if it's not a perfect match."
"How about you? Can they use your blood? Like, she had your blood when she was inside you, right?" This sounded logical but he knew it wasn't necessarily true.
"They say I'm not compatible. I'm O negative, universal donor to 99.99 percent of the population, but because of the whatever it is in her system, mine won't work. They checked my mom's and a cousin of mine, too. I wish I could reach my dad but I haven't heard from him in a while. I was even gonna call . . . well, I didn't think it would be a good idea."
"I can do it." He simply said. "If you don't match, then I almost have to, right? I mean, she got that gene somewhere. And if it wasn't from you, it had to be from me."
"You? I'm sure you'd have to be tested first to be sure but they did say the father would most likely be compatible since I'm not. Bu-but we're not even in the same time zone, you'd have to fly out here and then there's no saying it would match even if you do. Would you really do that? For her? For me?"
"I have a feeling it will work. We have to try. I know exactly what's going on, I have the antigen, too. So does my mom, she told me about it. My grandpa has it too; it's genetic. It must have been what they saw in the data. How about I check into coming out as soon as I can?"
"Freddie, are you sure? You hate to fly. You told me after that time you went to Japan you have PTSD about being pushed out of the plane."
"I flew to L.A. when I thought Sam got hurt and it didn't kill me. It just takes a few tranquilizers, that's all. I really need to do this. I mean, I haven't done anything else for you or the baby. I don't want to be that kind of dad. Let me try, please. Graduation is Thursday. I can be on a flight Friday morning."
She was touched as his sentiment. "What about your mom? What will you tell her? Did you tell her about the baby yet?"
"I didn't, I know she'll probably have a stroke about it." All along he thought maybe he should wait to tell her about the baby and just tell her he was going out of town.
The girl sighed, she knew how his mother treated him, as if he were ten. This news would probably push her over the edge. The baby's grandma would be in a mental hospital for sure.
"So it's settled, then." He confirmed. "I'll let you know what time my flight gets in."
"You can stay here. I have my own apartment." She added before quickly backing up. "You know, so you don't have to get a hotel or anything."
Several hours later . . .
"You're going WHERE?" Marissa Benson screeched after Freddie told her he was flying to the mid-west on Friday. "Freddiekins for God's sake! That's a thousand miles away!"
"It's just for a few days. For a, um, to see the college." He lied to his mother's face, with her reaction to his plans to even leave town for a few days, telling her about the baby would surely kill her.
"But it's so far away!" She whined. "Why on Earth do you want to go out there? I thought you had an internship lined up right here in Seattle."
"I do, but, well, the company has an office out there and there's more chance for promotion." This part was true, he had looked into it at one point months ago. He had elected to stay in Seattle due to his mother and Sam both. Now, there was one less reason to keep him grounded. "And there are schools with good grad programs."
"You haven't been on a plane since that time we went to Japan." She fussed. "You have anxiety about flying!"
"I flew to L.A. the other year to see Sam, remember."
"And look how that worked out. Have you heard from that little witch? I cannot believe she just ran off like a thief in the night again the way she did." Marissa had no idea why Sam left, but she soon would. "Almost two weeks and not a word from her, huh?"
After she left, the blonde had written letters to Mrs. Benson, Spencer and a couple of others explaining exactly why she had left town in such a hurry. The letters would soon arrive in the mail, much to Freddie's chagrin.
Unlike last time they dated in high school, when Sam and Marissa could not stand the sight of each other, the two had actually become friendly. Sam had even confessed to the woman that she was closer to her than her own mother not long before the breakup. Sam's departure made Marissa anxious, not knowing the reason for the breakup. She almost felt like she lost a daughter when Sam left so suddenly.
With a heavy heart, Marissa and Freddie celebrated his early college graduation. He had things packed up for the impromptu trip and early Friday morning while his mother was still at work, he asked Spencer to drive him to the airport.
"When you coming back, Freddo?" Spencer asked while they were on their way. "Your mom said this was a college interview so I'm guessing you'll only be a day or two?"
"Hopefully next weekend."
"I thought you were all set for an internship with Zaplook right here in Seattle. What's got you all interested in Chicago all of a sudden?"
"Actually they have an office in Chicago and I might not have told mom the whole reason I'm going out there. But you can't say anything." He was willing to share a little more with the only male role model he had in his life.
"There's a girl, isn't there?" Spencer smirked. "I hope it's a girl. Not that there's anything wrong if it's a guy, but . . . So, how'd you meet her, um, this . . . person?"
"For Pete's sake, I'm not gay, Spence." Freddie huffed. "God, how many girls have I dated? Yes, I'm going out there to see a girl. And before you say any more, it's someone from my past, not someone I just met. I'd rather not get into too much right now because I don't know where things stand with her. It's just necessary that I go out to see her right away."
"Say no more." Spencer nodded, figuring it was a girl Freddie met at college. "Good luck with everything then."
While his plane was in the air, Spencer arrived back home and retrieved his mail. He opened a letter from Sam, apparently at the same time his neighbor across the hall was opening a similar one. His eyes re-read the letter and he shook his head before focusing once again on the yellow sheet.
Hey Spence,
Thought maybe this time I'd write a note and say goodbye. I know this is sudden and I left without telling you or anyone why Freddie and I needed to get away from each other. Last time I took off, it was my idea to stretch my legs and see the world. This time, it's not really my fault. Yes, Fred nub and I had a fight and yes we broke up and knowing what a huge wuss he is, he probably doesn't have the stones to tell you himself so I will. He has a kid. He knocked up some trashy girl that already screwed him over once and he never told me. I can never trust him again and I simply can't live in the same city as him. So when you miss me, thank him. And then kick his ass for me!
Sam
Marissa came bursting into Spencer's apartment like she was on fire, a similar letter in her hand. "Spencer! Did you know anything about this?"
Seeing what he was holding in his left hand and the blank look on his face she knew he didn't. "I guess not."
"Do you have any idea who this mystery girl is?" He asked the fussy mother. "I didn't even know he was dating anyone. Do you think he was cheating on Sam?"
"It's got to be a mistake, Spencer." She shook her head. "There is no way my Freddie Bear gave himself to some girl that he hardly knew. He hasn't dated anyone besides her and there is no way he fathered a child out of wedlock. Samantha was on birth control, she told me."
Spencer was vaguely aware of Freddie's dating habits but he said nothing.
Four hours later, Freddie was gathering his things after his flight landed. He quickly made arrangements for a ride and headed for the address he sent the medical information to.
With only one bag and his laptop case, he climbed out of the Goober ride share car and went into the lobby of what was probably once a very nice building but was now a little outdated. The doorman looked friendly and greeted him with an smile and called the apartment he was asking about to announce his arrival.
"Eleventh floor, third door on the left after you leave the elevator." The gray haired man informed him, pushing the elevator call button for him. "She knows you're on your way up."
"Thank you." Freddie responded and smiled slightly.
This was it, she knew he was in the building, he couldn't back out now. A million thoughts raced through his head as the elevator began its ascent.
The doors opened and he made his way down the long, dark hallway. Part of him felt like he was on a death march, part of him was simply glad to be there. He distracted himself with taking in the surroundings. How different this building was from Bushwell, where the halls were well lit and wide. He saw the door marked 1106 which is where he needed to be. He took a deep breath as he approached and raised a hand to knock. Before his knuckles could make contact with the wood, the door swung open, revealing a face he hadn't seen in nearly two years.
Her eyes had dark circles and her makeup was nonexistent. Her formerly neatly arranged hair was a wild mess of curls, waves and strands and it appeared unwashed. A baggy Mid-West U t-shirt hung on her petite frame and the 80's style gym class shorts she was wearing were not her usual style. She was bare footed and certainly didn't look like herself.
"Hey, you." She feigned a smile. "Come on in."
"I, uh, thanks." He responded and walked inside the meager apartment. "How is she doing?"
So who do YOU think Freddie is visiting? I've tried to keep this ambiguous to build suspense but I suppose everyone has probably figured out by now who the mystery momma is. We'll officially reveal her next time.
