As usual, R&R! Enjoy! :-)
Chapter 19
Red's POV
It's my 20 week check up and I'm going to find out if I'm going to have a son or daughter. Kenny so far is a no show. He promised he would be here, but we'll see. He didn't show up to my last appointment either. I'm kind of disappointed in him that he hasn't stepped up the way he promised.
"Are you ready to find out what your baby is?" The sonographer asks me.
"Can we wait a few more minutes?" I ask her. "I want my fiancé and I to find out together."
"I'll give you five minutes, but that's all I'm allowed to do."
"Thank you." I send Kenny a text asking him if he's on his way.
"I'm sorry, we can't wait any longer." The sonographer gave me ten minutes.
I sigh as Kenny hasn't text me back yet. "Can I at least see the baby without finding out the sex? I really wanted to share this moment with my fiancé."
She nods. "I'll put it in an envelope and you can open in when you're ready."
"Thank you."
Once I leave the appointment, I get in the car and immediately call Wendy. "Hi Red!" She answers cheerfully. "So am I going to have a godson or goddaughter?"
"He didn't show up!" I burst into tears.
"What?"
"Kenny didn't come! He promised he would be here!"
"Again?"
"Yes again! I know he mixed up the dates the first time, but he told me last night he would be here!"
"I'm so sorry honey."
"I don't think he wants this baby." I pout.
"Aww, why do you think that?"
"He hasn't been there like he said he would be."
Wendy sighs. "Not to make excuses for him, but he really has a lot going on."
"Then he should say that instead of telling me he'll be there and getting my hopes up!"
"I agree."
I wipe my eyes. "I should go to his house."
"No! Call him first."
"Why?"
"You don't want to look crazy by showing up unannounced. Plus you don't know if Tammy is there. You need to stay away from her!"
"She's all the more reason I need to go over there. Maybe he's been playing me the whole time and really is trying to work it out with Tammy!"
"No way, he can't stand her!"
"I have to go see for myself."
"That's not a good idea."
"I need answers!"
"You don't need to stress out about this. Think about your baby, the stress can't be good for him or her. Speaking of which, you didn't answer me before, is it a boy or girl?"
"I don't know…"
"Oh, the baby didn't cooperate?"
"I didn't want to find out without Kenny. I have the sonogram in an envelope."
"Well open it and find out! I'm ready to shop!"
"I'm going to go home and take a nap. I'm going to try to reach Kenny when I wake up so we can find out together."
"I understand. That's the best way to handle it."
"I'll call you when I find out." We say our goodbyes and hang up. I kind of lied to her. I'm not going to take a nap…at least not yet. I'm going to Kenny's house and wait for him to get home so I can get some answers.
Kenny's POV
I had to leave work early to pick Johnny up from school. He had a fever of 101 and was complaining of body pain and threw up several times. The poor kid looks miserable. I head into his room to check on him.
"How are you feeling buddy?" I ask him as I put a cold wash cloth on his forehead.
"I want mommy!" He whines.
"I'm here."
"But you're not mommy! She knows how to make me feel better!"
"I can too if you give me a chance."
Johnny shivers. "I'm freezing. Can you get me another blanket?"
I nod. "Of course."
"Thank you." He shivers again.
I feel his forehead. "You're burning up. I'm going to take you to urgent care."
"Now?"
I nod. "I'm going to leave Sadie a note so she doesn't worry." I write a note then I carry Johnny downstairs just as the doorbell rings. I lie Johnny down on the couch and answer the door. I'm shocked to see it's Red. "What are you doing here?"
"Well hi to you too!" She replies as she walks in.
"Now isn't a good time."
"You missed another doctor's appointment!"
I put my hands on my mouth. "Oh shit! That was today, wasn't it?"
"YES IT WAS!" Red yells and stomps her foot. "You forgot again? I sent you a text!"
I'm taken aback because I've never seen Red like this before. "I'm really sorry. I had-"
"WHAT? What excuse are you going to give me this time? Did you go see your brother and mix the days up again?"
I lower my head and point towards Johnny. "Johnny is sick. I had to pick him up from school early."
"You could've said that!"
I look at her. "I completely forgot about the appointment. I'm so sorry."
"Johnny has a mom. She could've picked him up! It's not like she has a job outside of trying to make us miserable!"
I shake my head. "Yeah and if I did that she would tell the court I'm not capable of taking care of my kids. You know that."
"Oh grow some balls Kenny, damn!"
"Red!" I'm completely in shock. "What the hell has gotten into you?"
"You promised you would be there for me and the baby! You've missed BOTH appointments and you don't even call to check on me!"
I sigh, she's absolutely right. It's not that I'm doing this intentionally, but I can't make her understand that. "I'm trying to be there for you. I also have to be there for my kids. I'm sorry, but you know they come first."
"I understand that, I just thought you would be there for appointments especially now that we're back together."
I blink. "We're not back together."
"We're not?"
I shake my head. "I told you we can't be together until my divorce is final. I can't have you as my girlfriend while I have a wife. It's not fair to you."
"I was your fiancée!"
"I know." I look at Johnny who looks completely miserable. "Look, I have to get Johnny to urgent care. He's burning up. We can discuss this later, ok? I swear I'll make this up to you." I honestly should ask Red to examine him since she's a nurse, but she's so angry right now so I might as well leave that alone.
"Don't bother, I know you're too busy." She takes her engagement ring off and throws it at me. "I guess I should give this back to you!"
"Red, you're overreacting. We need to sit down like adults and discuss this!"
"This is exactly like I didn't tell you about the baby! I knew you weren't going to make time for us!"
"I'm really trying, it's just so much is going on right now. I'm doing the best I can."
Red shakes her head. "If this is your best, then that's pathetic!"
I don't know if it's her hormones, but she's definitely not acting like herself. "What can I do to make this up to you?"
"There's nothing you can do." She looks over my shoulder. "Johnny is throwing up, you better tend to him. The baby and I will be just fine." With that, she storms out.
I grab a bucket for Johnny and hold it in front of him while he continues vomiting. I rub his back. "Let it all out buddy. It's going to be ok."
He wipes his mouth and looks at me. "Can you call mommy now?"
I shake my head. "I'm going to take you to urgent care. I'll call her when we get there." I pick him up and carry him to the car. I can't help but think about my argument with Red. In all the years I've known her, I've never seen her angry like before. I don't blame her, I've completely let her down. I let my child down. Sadie was right, I can't seem to focus on more than one person at a time. I have to do better! All my kids deserve the same amount of attention. I just hope Red will forgive me for this…
