Katy's POV
My parents and Bobby Jo flew into New York a week ago. It's a little over three weeks until my daughter is due. It's the 4th of November.
I've decided that after she is born, I'm leaving him. I don't want him to treat her like he treats me.
I went to work and saw Kermit sitting there.
"Hey Kermit," I said.
"Hey Katy," he said.
"Your usual?"
"Yep," he said. I walked his order to his table when I felt a sudden pain in my abdomen. I dropped the tray, breaking the glass and his food landing on the floor.
"Woah!" He said.
"I'm so sorry," I said. I tried to bend down to pick up the broken glass.
"I got it, sit down," he said. I sat down as he picked up the broken glass carefully and threw it away, with the help of my coworkers. He looked up at me. "Are you okay?"
"I think I'm in labor," I said.
"Do you want me to call your boyfriend?" He asked.
"No, my mom," I said. I definitely don't want my best guy friend calling Anthony. He would say that I'm cheating on him.
He tried calling.
"She's not answering," he said. "Does your dad have a phone?"
"He and my mom share one."
"You sure you don't want me to call Anthony?"
"I'll call him," I said. He handed me my phone. I called, and he didn't answer.
"Want me to drive you?" He offered.
"Yeah," I said. "We can try calling at the hospital."
He nodded. He helped me into his car. And drove me to Mercy Hospital. He helped me into the ER and told the front desk lady that I was in labor.
"Are you the father?" She asked.
"No," he said. "I'm just her best friend."
"Alright," she said. "We'll get you right back, sweetheart."
"Thank you," I said. "Try to call my parents again." I handed him my phone.
Charles' POV
We went straight to the hospital after Katy's friend called us. Angela called Anthony on our way and told him that she's in labor. He sounded irritated.
Katy asked for Angela and Bobby Jo to be with her, and specifically, not Anthony.
Anthony finally showed up 30 minutes after we got there.
"So, where is she?" He asked.
"In the delivery room," I told him.
"Well, I better go there then." He started to pass me, but I grabbed onto his shoulder.
"She doesn't want to you in there," I told him. "She asked for her mom and Bobby Jo."
"The father is supposed to be in the room," he said, angrily.
"It's up to the mother," he said.
"That's crap!" He said.
"Calm down, man," Katy's friend, Kermit, said. "Some women just prefer their mothers there instead of their boyfriends or husbands."
"Who the hell are you?" He asked Kermit.
"I'm one of Katy's friends," he said. "I drove her he—"
Anthony cut him off by punching him. He went to punch him again, but I held him back.
"This is not the time and place for this!" I told him. I looked at Kermit. "I think you should head home, son."
"I think you're right," he said. "Oh, here's her phone." He handed me her phone. He left the hospital.
We waited there until Angela came out at about 11pm.
"She's here," she said, smiling.
We went back, and Katy was holding her baby girl.
The nurse handed her to Anthony. He looked at her like he was looking at something he had no interest in. He studied her. "She looks like you," he told Katy.
Katy's POV
"So what's her name?" The nurse asked.
"Katy Carmela," I said.
"You're naming her after my mother?" Anthony asked, not sounding happy about that.
"Yes," I said.
"Who's last name will be on the birth certificate?"
"Mine," I said. "Katy Carmela Clutterbucket."
The nurse looked over at Anthony for confirmation.
"I don't care," he said. But what he doesn't realize is the reason I want her to have my last name is that once I leave him, she will grow up with no connection to him.
"Well, now we will have to establish paternity," the nurse said. We both nodded.
After a couple of days we went home, Anthony went straight back to work like nothing happened. My parents came by.
"Hey mama, hey daddy," I greeted them.
"How is she?" Mama asked.
"She's asleep right now."
"How are you?" Daddy asked.
"I'm doin' fine," I said.
"Are you gonna leave him?" I just looked at them. "You gave her your last name, there has to be a reason."
"Once I get everything together in a couple of days, I'm leavin'," I said.
"He's hurt you, hasn't he?" Daddy asked.
"Yes," I said, finally admitting it to them. "He abused me almost our entire relationship." I looked over to Katy Carmela's room.
Mom caught my gaze. "She's…?"
"Yes," I said, looking down. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I'm sorry I left like I did, he said he'd hurt you."
"Why don't you just come back with us?" Daddy asked.
"Honestly, I like it here," I admitted. "I like my job and my new friends. This is her home."
"Are you sure you can handle being on your own?"
"I have up 'til now," I said. "We'll be fine, daddy."
"We love you, Katy Grace," mama said.
"I love y'all too," I said.
"I want you to get away from him as soon as you can and get a restraining order against him," daddy said. He handed an envelope to me. "This should help you get started." I looked in the envelope, and there was money.
"I can't take this," I said.
"You can, and will," mama said. "Get you and that little girl to a safe place."
"I will," I said. "I love you."
They hugged me and headed back to the airport.