"He's back?"
"Apparently," Bay confirms.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing of importance," Bay answers.
"What about the baby?"
"He was busy eating a sno-cone. I don't even think that Ty realized he was there."
"So you didn't tell him?"
"What was I supposed to say? 'Look I know that you've been away at war, and the only time we've spoken is through half a dozen emails, but guess what, we have a kid.' I am sure that would have went over well."
"You are the one who didn't want to tell him," Kathryn points out.
"I know."
"I tried to convince you that you should tell him."
"How? That isn't something you want to reveal via email, or on a phone call."
"It wasn't as if going to Afghanistan to tell him in person was an option," Kathryn reminds her.
"I know that is why I didn't tell him."
Kathryn shakes her head, "That is why you didn't tell him?"
"I didn't want him to be distracted. I didn't want to be responsible for him being distracted, and having something bad happen to him."
"Bay I don't want to argue about this. You know that I never agreed with the way you handled this whole situation when it came to telling him."
"I know that you thought that I should have told him."
"He's back now, so what are you going to do?"
"Hope he doesn't stick around?"
Kathryn looks at the toddler on Bay's hip, "And that's fair to who, exactly?"
"Isaac is too young to know the difference. What if he gets attached, and then Ty goes for another tour? That is the last thing we need."
"Bay don't you think that Ty has a right to know that he has a son?"
She shrugs, "I don't know."
"You owe it to Isaac the opportunity to get to know his father."
"Why does this have to be so complicated?"
"Because you are seventeen years old, and you have a son to think about. There is no other way for it to be."
"I know that you think I made the wrong choice. I know you are never going to forgive me for this mistake. I'm not asking you to. I am just asking for you to let me handle this on my own."
"Bay you are seventeen."
"I know that!"
"Don't get angry at me."
"I'm not angry at you," Bay insists as Isaac squirms.
Kathryn reaches for the little boy. He slides out of Bay's arms onto Kathryn's hip.
"Who are you angry at?" Kathryn questions.
"Maybe I'm angry with myself. I never intended for any of this to happen."
"But it did," Kathryn points out, "and there is no going back now."
"I know that."
"But?"
"I just wish I had known how hard this was going to be."
"We tried to tell you," Kathryn reminds her.
"I wouldn't give him back, I wouldn't..."
Kathryn cuts her off, "I know that."
"Sometimes I just wish that it happened ten years later in my life."
"But it didn't."
"Mom!"
Bay looks at Isaac. She smiles, as he tries to wriggle free of Kathryn's grip. Kathryn sits him on the floor. He runs over to Bay, and grabs onto her leg. He looks up at her.
"Mom!"
"What Isaac."
"Bunny at?"
"He's in your room, are you getting sleepy? Do you want to go take a nap?"
"Up."
Bay lifts him off the ground, "Why don't you eat dinner first? Then you can have your bath, and it will be bedtime."
"Bunny?" he answers.
Bay shakes her head as she holds her son, "No, bunny can't take a bath with you."
December 23rd, 2011-
Bay sits in the kitchen, on the barstool, in front of the island. Kathryn places pancakes in front of her.
"Thanks," Bay smiles.
"Bay Christmas is in two days, and you still haven't said what you want."
Bay pauses. She looks down at her round stomach. Kathryn can't help but follow her line of sight. Her eyes fall on Bay's stomach. She tries not to think about the harsh realities that will soon consume Bay's life. The thought of her sixteen year old daughter having a baby is enough to turn her stomach.
"I don't want anything," Bay insists.
"Bay it's ok. Tell me what you want."
"I don't want anything," she answers.
Kathryn walks around, to the other side of the island. She stops next to Bay. Bay turns towards her, and looks at her.
"Bay," she pushes Bay's hair off her shoulder, "I want you to have whatever you want. It's just the two of us here. You can tell me what you want."
"Nothing."
"I know you want something."
"I don't deserve anything. I am sixteen years old, and I am six months pregnant. I have no job, and no money. You have already pledged your support. That is all that I can ask for. I know how expensive this is going to get. I don't need anything else."
"Bay you are still a kid."
"And at this time next year I will have one of my own."
"Please don't remind me."
"Remind you? How can you not be reminded? It's right there for the entire world to see. It's like a billboard that reads, 'Attention Kansas City, Bay Kennish is sixteen, and six months pregnant,'."
"I try not to think about it," Kathryn admits.
"So you're in denial."
"Yeah," she nods.
"It is all I think about. How could I think about anything else? He tap dances on my bladder, and kicks me in the rib when I'm trying to sleep."
"He?"
"I thought that I told you that."
"No, you didn't."
"I found out at my last appointment."
"How would I know that? You don't let me go with you."
Bay looks at her mother. She sees the look of disappointment in her eyes. Bay reaches forward, and takes Kathryn's hand. She places it on her stomach.
Kathryn stares at Bay's stomach in disbelief, as her hand rests on it. The unborn baby inside responds to the sound of Bay's voice.
"What are you doing in there?" Bay questions.
Kathryn feels him move in response. It takes all of her strength not to cry, faced with the reality of the situation.