Chapter 14- Another Baby
Three days passed and still no one seemed to want to talk to anybody else. Process on the boat slowed as the guys stayed close to home. They were too worried that if they left for a long period of a time, they would return with someone seriously hurt.
Cloe watched as Ved rocked their son. They had been talking about what everyone's problem was. "…and have you seen how Lex and Trudy act around each other?"
"What do you mean?" Ved asked as he looked up at his wife. "From all that you have told me about them, they don't seem to be acting strange." While working with the Technos, Ved only conversed with Cloe, and didn't have much contact with the other Mall Rats. All he knew was based on what Cloe told him, so he really didn't understand what Cloe was talking about.
"Oh, I agree. They're fighting like normal, but there's something more." Cloe paused to contemplate what was going on in her mind. "When they don't think anyone is looking, especially each other, a look passes between them. Lex looks like he wants to jump her. She looks the same, but there's some confusion and anger mixed in."
"Maybe they secretly like each other and are too afraid to say something," Ved proposed nonchalantly. Cloe began to laugh.
"They hate each other! There's no possible way." Or is there? she asked herself.
"Either way…" Ved said as he began to walk towards Cloe, "the easiest way to find out is to ask. Now, little Josh is hungry and I should go downstairs to see if we are going to work on the boat any." After handing Josh to Cloe, Ved leaned in for a kiss. Getting what he wanted, he left Cloe to think about Lex and Trudy.
The first person Ved ran into was his brother. "Hey, bro!" he called to get his attention. Jay turned around and waited for Ved to catch up. "Where are you going?" Ved asked as he came to a stop next to his brother. They began walking before Jay answered.
"I was going to go check on the boat." Jay seemed a little restless. Although they were now walking, he seemed to have some pent-up energy. Jay kept fiddling with his hands, something the normally cool and collect Jay would never do.
"Is everything okay?" Ved asked. He waved to Bray as he waited for Jay to explain what was wrong. Jay looked to see who Ved was waving to and sped up his walking.
"I guess I'm not use to this semi-idle lifestyle. Never thought I'd say that, huh?" Jay asked, trying to pacify his brother. "So, how is it? Being a new father and all?"
Ved realized Jay was changing the topic, but answered the question anyways. "It's great, life-changing," he said as he laughed. A smile grew across his face, one Jay hadn't seen since before the virus. "I now understand why they say it's the miracle of life. Don't tell Cloe or anybody," Ved said, lowering his voice, "but I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night just to watch him sleep."
"And wasn't it you that was saying you never wanted kids?" Jay teased. "In fact, I believe it was you that said how you hated children. They were too needy and…" Ved playfully pushed his brother.
"Shut up," he said. "And what about you? You were the one who loved kids. Where's yours? I'm surprised Amber and you never had a child."
"That's not true…" Jay whispered. It looked like Ved had hit the nerve that would get Jay to tell him what was wrong.
"What are you talking about?"
Jay paused and started to look around. When he was sure no one was around, he pulled his brother over to the tree the boat was attached to. "The night before last I overheard Bray and Trudy talking about Amber….
"I'm really worried about her," Bray said. He was keeping his voice down in case there was anyone around. Trudy sat on the couch next to him, her head bent close to hear what he had to say. "Every morning she's been getting up and rushing to the bathroom. I swear I hear her throwing up, but she says it's not true."
Trudy nodded her head. "I knew something was wrong. I thought I heard the same thing yesterday. I even asked if she was feeling okay the day that Josh was born." Trudy paused trying to think what was going on with her best friend. "Do you… do you think it's the virus?"
Bray violently shook his head. "Don't even think it, Trudy. I won't lose her again. I just won't!" Trudy placed her hand on his knee. "I'm sorry Bray. She just got me so nervous."
"They didn't know I was listening in," Jay told his brother. "I ran up the stairs and knocked on the bedroom door. There was no answer. I waited, debating what I should do. Then I heard something coming from the bathroom, so I knocked on the door…
Amber instantly pulled away from the toilet. "Yes?" she called.
"Open up, Amber!" Jay demanded. It took only seconds before Amber opened the door. She had cleaned up and was acting like nothing was going on.
"There are other toilets if you really needed to use one," she teased. "It's all yours." Stepping aside, she let Jay have access to the bathroom. Instead, Jay followed her.
He waited until they got to her room before he said anything. "Why are you throwing up?" he asked. "If this has something to do with the virus, you should have said something. It would affect all of us."
Amber shook her head. "Like I told Trudy, it's NOT the virus. Now if you excuse me…"
"No I won't." Jay held the door opened by placing his foot in the doorway and placing his hand on the door. "If it's not the virus, then what is it?" Amber looked around.
Giving up fighting and needing to tell someone, Amber said, "Come in and I'll tell you," she said. She stood and paced the room. "You might want to take a seat," she said when Jay continued to stand. Following her advice, he sat on the edge of the bed.
Amber paced a little longer and then stopped right in front of him. "We're… I'm in major trouble," she said.
"What do you mean?" he asked. "How are we in trouble?"
"I'm pregnant!" she cried. "I'm three months pregnant and it's our child!" Jay sat in shock.
"I didn't believe her at first, but then her symptoms sank in," explained Jay as finished his story. "The nausea. The tiredness I see in her eyes…" Jay still seemed to be keeping something inside, but Ved was in too much shock to notice.
"So," Ved started, trying to understand, "you're going to be a father." The two sat in silence. "Wow," Ved whispered after a while.
"I don't know if I would use that to describe it, but yeah…"
"What are you going to do? Have you told Bray yet?"
"I don't know, and no we haven't. I'm not sure if I want to tell him, if Amber should tell him or if the two of us should."
"Whatever you're decision is, I'll support you. Looks like I'm getting the chance to be the more responsible brother."
Re-Nee stretched as she yawned. Rolling over, she pulled the covers over her head. It had been a long time since she had slept in and she was going to enjoy it as long as she could. That was called short when there was a knock on the door. "Re-Nee? Are you okay?" Cloe asked through the door.
"Go away…" Re-Nee mumbled. She curled even deeper, hoping that Cloe would get the point. Reaching to the other side of the bed, Re-Nee grabbed the second pillow. It smelled like the summer sun and the ocean wind, mixed with something she just couldn't name. She wasn't complaining though.
"Re-Nee? Did you say something?" Cloe continued. "Tina's looking for you and Johnny's worried. He's afraid you're depressed about something."
"I'm up!" Re-Nee yelled. "Tell him I'll be right down." Cloe said 'okay' and Re-Nee was left with a little peace. Stretching one more time, she got up and started her routine morning chores.
She paused when it came time to make her bed. Red spots dotted her sheets. Paying no mind, she gathered up her sheets and continued along her way with a smile on her face. Giving her room once last look, she made sure everything was in order.
Going downstairs, she headed straight to the laundry room. Dropping her sheets off, she said hi to Cloe. "I'm sorry I was so grouchy. I was enjoying my sleep."
Cloe took the sheets from her and put them with the other color cloths. "Don't worry about it. I'm sorry I woke you up. I don't think I've ever seen you sleep this late. You deserve it."
"What time is it anyways?" Re-Nee asked. The way Cloe is talking, you would think I slept the morning and most of the afternoon away.
"Umm…" Cloe thought. "It's got to be past one or two by now."
I did sleep the day away. "Wow. I didn't realize it was that late. I haven't slept that long since before the virus. Well, I better go find Johnny before he tears the house down in search of me." Re-Nee and Cloe laughed and then Re-Nee was on her way.
Re-Nee had barely made it into the kitchen before Johnny was calling for her. "SIS!" he yelled. "Are you sick? Why were you still in bed? What's wrong? Are you sick?" The older sibling was saved by the entrance of Tina.
"As you can see," Tina said to Johnny, "she is more than okay. Now, why don't you go play with Michael and the other kids?"
"Do I have to?" he whined.
"Yes."
"No." Tina looked at Re-Nee, a little shocked. Although Re-Nee loved Johnny with all her heart, she stayed too busy to have her little brother under her feet. "I was thinking about grabbing a fishing pole and going down to the docks," Re-Nee explained. "Johnny's more than welcomed to come."
Johnny wasted no time and ran for the fishing poles. Re-Nee laughed at his enthusiasm, but stopped when Luke entered the room. The two other occupants looked so sad, but both were too stubborn to say anything that would make the situation better. Something has got to be done about those two, Re-Nee thought, but nothing could keep the smile of her face.
Saying good-bye to the two, Re-Nee practically skipped out of the room. At that moment, Cloe entered into the room. "That was strange," Tina said. "I've never seen her act like that. She was actually…"
"Giddy," Luke supplied. Tina looked at him and actually felt connected to him for the first time since she found out that he had lied. "What has gotten into her?"
"It's that time of month," Cloe said. Tina gave a knowing nod of her head, while Luke looked confused. "Sheets tell everything. Maybe instead of moping, she's trying something new."
Tina shrugged and began to walk away. Luke watched after her, wishing he had the courage to say something, to follow. He was about to walk outside when he heard someone clearing their throat. Turning, he saw Tina standing in the doorway. She looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just shook her head.
Luke was about to walked out the back door, but turned back to look at Tina one last time. This time, she stood facing him. "Are you coming or what?" she asked. Not saying another word, she walked back out of the kitchen.
Ebony took a hold of Slade's hand as they walked down the beach. The cool, wet sands felt great against her bare feet. She felt different here, like she was never Queen of the Locos or Ram's wife.
That's what I wanted, right? To forget my past, to start anew. Ebony was jolted from her thoughts by Slade whispering into her ear.
"And what is going on in that thick-head of yours?" he asked, his voice filled with seriousness. It was a little game they played. To the untrained eye, it looked like they hated each other, but in reality, they couldn't keep their hands off one another.
"And what concern is it to you?" she asked, more serious than the game called for. You don't have to tell him everything, the commanding side of her said.
"I get the point," Slade said. "You don't want to talk. That's all you had to say."
I would talk if I knew what was going on in my mind, the calmer side of Ebony said. But I have no clue myself, so why make myself vulnerable?
The two continued their walk. Neither saying anything to the other, yet there was a very comforting silence surrounding them.
"Tina… look…" Luke began to say as soon as they reached the living room.
Tina held up her hand. "Don't say another word. I get to go first." Luke sat down and waited for Tina to begin. He nervous played with anything his hands made contact with. First, it was his other hand, then a stray string from the couch. Finally, he grabbed a couch pillow.
"I trusted you," Tina began. With each word said, she had to fight the urge to hit him. She was still angry with him, but Michael had started asking questions about why they weren't sleeping together, so Tina thought it was time to talk. "Even before we started this relationship, I trusted you. You gave me your word. You promised that you would tell me who the mother was, but you kept it a secret. You waited too long to tell me the truth. I don't know if I could ever forgive you."
"But Tina…" Luke exclaimed, but she cut him short. "I am not done yet," she said, shutting him up.
"I love Michael like he is my own, but now I have to decide whether I should give him back to his biological mother or selfishly keep him for myself. Three years ago, I would and could have given him up without looking back. Three years ago, I had the chance to do that, but you kept vital information from me. Now, when I give him to Salene, a part of me will die."
Tina sat down and wiped the tears from her face. Luke got up and knelt in front of her. He lifted her chin until they could look into each others eyes. "I know that there's probably nothing I can do to salvage our relationship, but I want a chance to explain things." He waited for Tina to say something. When she didn't, he took the chance to explain himself.
"First of all, I'm sorry. I know that by me saying it nothing will change, but I'm truly am sorry. I was looking out for everybody, but it backfired on me. Salene was in enough trouble. First of all, she was a Mall Rat, friend to the rebels. You know how the Guardian felt about them. He only kept them alive because he thought it would be beneficial to him. Not only was she a Mall Rat, but so was her husband, the man that tried to kill the Guardian. The Guardian was afraid enough. He didn't want to worry about Salene raising the child to be just like his dad."
Luke paused a second to catch his breath. He wanted to get this all out before Tina decided not to listen to him. "I knew you were the best to take care of Michael, that's why I didn't take him from you that night. It's the reason why I didn't tell you who the mother was. You would have rushed to Salene and dropped Michael off. That move alone would have killed Salene and you. The Guardian… well, he was crazy. He didn't care if he killed someone who was no harm to him. Michael would have been passed on to someone else, someone who might not have taken care of him as well as you did.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you sooner, as soon as we got to the island, but the longer we were away from the city, the more I thought it wouldn't matter. I never imagined Salene to show up on our little beach here." Luke stopped. The words were now chocking him. He felt like this would be the last time he would be able to talk to Tina.
"Please forgive me. I never meant for things to turn out this way." It was his turn to look down at the ground and for Tina to lift his chin. She smiled at him and he began to fill with hope.
"If you ever keep anything so important from me again, I swear you will never see the light of day again. I will kick your ass. Do you understand?" She waited for him to nod his head. When he did, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. When it finally ended, Luke looked her in the eyes. "I promise never to keep a secret from you again."