This chapter is set in mid-April: a couple of days after the end of the previous chapter.
"Are you sure that you're ok with this?" Chris questioned as he slipped his shoes on
Lucy rolled her eyes, "I was the one who suggested it, remember?"
She was right. After two days of sitting around waiting for the results of the chorionic villus sampling, Chris and Lucy both realised that they had to do something to take their minds off of it. So Lucy had insisted that Chris and Jem go on a double date with Tash and Andrew, though Chris was still feeling uncertain.
"But what about you?" Chris asked
"I'm meeting up with some friends, we're going to watch some reality TV and eat a load of junk food" she replied, then noticed Chris' disapproving expression and sighed, "I mean, eat a load of fruit and veg"
Chris nodded, "Yeah, I hope so" he murmured, "But remember to call me if the Hospital contacts you"
Lucy nodded, "Yes, I will" she agreed, "Now go and have a good time"
Chris smiled and kissed her cheek, "I will, thank you"
Lucy swatted him away playfully, but watched after him worriedly once he had left. She had been lying about meeting up with friends: Lucy was way too anxious to do anything other than sit by the phone, so that was her plan for the rest of the day.
xxx
Jem was entertained by Tash and Andrew's stories of Chris over the years. The couple were pleased to divulge into any tales that they could remember, claiming that it was better that Jem heard all of the worst stories sooner rather than later to prevent any issues or big revelations further down the track. Through Chris' friends, Jem learnt quite a lot about him, such as Chris' coming out experience (including his relationship with Summer and his crush on Andrew), his and Andrew's failed business venture involving restoring and selling old cars, as well as the car accident that many of his friends had been involved in. Although some of the experiences were still difficult for Chris to relive, he was barely paying attention to the conversation. Instead, Chris had been tapping his feet against the floor, checking his mobile intermittently and glancing around uneasily, which had started to exasperate everyone else at the table, who were trying to enjoy their meal and discussion.
Eventually, Tash reached across the table to cover his hand with one of hers, "Chris, we get that you're anxious, but what you're doing is kind of annoying"
Chris glanced away sheepishly, "Sorry, I've just never been so distracted on a date before" he apologised
"It's a 'double date' actually" Tash corrected
"You know what I mean" Chris argued, "It's just that Lucy and I knew there was a chance that Annie could have spinal muscular atrophy, and we've prepared for it. But the reality of her actually having it is a whole other story"
"Hang on, Annie?" Andrew interjected, having not heard the baby's name before
Chris nodded, "We found out that we're having a girl, so we're naming her Anne Katherine Robinson-Pappas"
"Wow, that's really nice" Jem added
"And here was me thinking you'd name her after your favourite person in the whole wide world" Tash huffed
Chris chuckled, "Well that was over three years ago, things change"
Jem looked confused, "I'm sensing a story here"
Chris nodded, "At the beginning of 2012 I ended up in Hospital after being beaten up, and let's just say that the painkillers they gave me were a bit too strong"
Andrew scoffed, "That's an understatement" he argued, "I'd never seen Chris so relaxed before, or so honest"
Chris glanced down at the table, "Yeah, I was a bit over-the-top"
Tash nodded, "He said that Summer and Andrew were his third and fourth favourite people in the world – though he didn't specify which one was which – and that I was his first favourite"
Chris pulled a face at her, "In that case, I think it needs an update"
Jem sniggered, "Am I going to be anywhere on this new list?"
Chris nodded, "Well since Tash was the one who decided to bring this whole thing up, I think I'll put you in first to replace her"
Jem smiled and kissed his cheek whilst Tash frowned, "No, nobody replaces Natasha Williams" she argued
Chris grinned, "I think I just did"
Andre laughed, "Well at least it distracted you for a few minutes" he pointed out
Chris nodded, "Yeah, it did. Thanks" he agreed, before returning to his food. Suddenly his mobile buzzed next to his plate and Chris grabbed it immediately, thinking that it was Lucy contacting him.
"What is it?" Jem asked worriedly
Chris sighed as he returned his mobile to the table, "It was mum, asking if I needed any more stuff from home"
"Hang on, you didn't take it all with you?" Jem questioned
Chris shook his head, "No, I only took a few weeks' worth of stuff" he replied
"Why?" Jem asked in confusion, "I thought you moved here permanently"
Chris shifted uncomfortably, "Actually, I only came here to get some space from my ex, and to help Lucy set up for the baby" he admitted, "In fact, I should have gone home a few weeks ago"
Jem was quite hurt by this revelation. If he'd had known that Chris was only planning on being in America for a few weeks, he wouldn't have let himself get as invested in their relationship as he had done already. Although Tash wasn't an expert on body language, she sensed Jem's anxiety and made a mental note to warn Chris about it at the first opportunity. Jem kept his feelings to himself and tried to brush them aside as Andrew moved the conversation onto Chris' apprenticeship at Fitzgerald Motors. However, he was filled with dread at the thought of the future: he could almost picture himself with Chris for a while yet, but if Chris wasn't planning on staying in New York then what would that mean for their relationship?
xxx
Jem slammed the front door behind him as he wheeled inside. Zach glanced up from where he was lounging on the sofa and looked at him quizzically.
"Where were you?" he asked
Jem sighed, "I was on a double-date with Chris, Tash and Andrew"
"How did it go?" Zach asked innocently
Jem almost snapped at him sarcastically, but knew that he couldn't because Zach genuinely didn't understand that he was annoyed. In some ways, it was irritating because he always had to be honest with him, but he also appreciated having such an open relationship with his brother.
"Not well" he admitted
Zac stood up, "What happened?"
"Apparently Chris doesn't have plans to stay here in the long-term" he revealed
"You mean he wants to go back to Australia?" Zach clarified as he stood in front of his older brother
Jem shrugged, "He didn't really say, the conversation was dropped as quickly as it started"
"Then how do you know?" Zach pointed out, "If he didn't actually say that he wanted to go home then why do you think he does?"
"It was the way he was acting" Jem replied carefully, "He's only in New York to help Lucy set up for the baby, but he was supposed to go home weeks ago"
"He was supposed to?" Zach repeated, "Then why didn't he?"
"Because he was busy" Jem guessed
"Busy with you?" Zach clarified
Jem considered this: the timing matched up as they had met a few weeks earlier, so perhaps Chris had held off from going back home to give their relationship a try. But if that was the case, then why didn't Chris just tell him when they first met? That kind of secret changed a lot of things in their relationship, and Jem wasn't sure what the future held for them - if they even had a future at all.
Thanks for reading! The next chapter will be up in due course: I have a vague plan for the next few chapters, but if anyone wants to contribute their ideas for other points in the story, don't hesitate to let me know. In the meantime, reviews are always welcome!
