Chapter 5
Claire stood in the examination room examining a teenage girl.
"So how long have you been feeling nauseous?" Claire asked.
"A few days now," the girl replied. "Mostly in the morning."
"Any unusual appetites?" Claire asked.
"I have been craving pickles," the girl replied. "And I'm hungry all the time!"
"When was the last time you had your period?" Claire asked.
"A month and a half ago," the girl replied.
"So you missed a period," Claire said.
"You don't think I'm pregnant?" the girl asked. "I've only had sex once and my boyfriend wore a condom."
"Condoms aren't always a guarantee," Claire said.
"I'm only 16!" the girl shouted. "My mom is going to kill me!"
"Would you like to take a pregnancy test to know for sure?" Claire asked.
"Yes," the girl said.
After taking the test, the girl and Claire looked at the test.
"It's positive," Claire said.
"No!" the girl shouted.
"Calm down," Claire said. "It's going to be okay."
"My mom is waiting in the waiting room," the girl said. "Just tell her I have a virus."
"Okay," Claire said. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Tell me where the nearest abortion clinic is," the girl said.
Back in Long Beach, Shaun sat on a bench in the backyard of Clark's house. Clark came outside in his wheelchair and went over to him.
"What's up?" Clark asked.
"I'm thinking," Shaun replied.
"About what?" Clark asked.
"Why did you tell the server we were brothers?" Shaun asked.
"Well," Clark said. "I love you as if you were my brother."
"I had a brother," Shaun said. "He died."
"I know," Clark said. "And I had a brother, and he died. Shaun, it's okay to think of each other as brothers."
"I'm scared that if I consider you my brother, you'll die too," Shaun said.
"Shaun," Clark said. "I'm not going anywhere."
"We can't predict when we die," Shaun said.
"That's true," Clark said. "So let's not worry about it. Like it or not, I consider you my brother."
Shaun looked at Clark.
"Okay," Shaun said. "Okay, Max. You're my brother."
Clark patted Shaun on shoulder.
"Now that we're brothers, is there anyway you can visit more often?" Clark asked.
"I have to work, Max," Shaun said. "So do you. And your twins are due soon."
"I hate that we live over 300 miles away from each other," Clark said.
"Me too," Shaun said.
"We can still FaceTime," Clark said.
"And talk on the phone," Shaun said.
"And text," Clark said.
"And email," Shaun said.
"And mail each other Christmas and birthday presents," Clark said.
"What do you want for Christmas?" Shaun asked.
"I want a cake from this bakery called 'Flower Flour'," Clark said. "I love that bakery and I proposed to Shayna there."
"Okay," Shaun said.
"What do you want for Christmas?" Clark asked.
"A mixed CD with the songs we butchered at karaoke," Shaun replied.
"Deal," Clark said.