Chapter 19

Manhattan, NYC - 2022

Sydney watched the Dateline interview wind down from her seat off-set. Halona had been back for months, refusing all media requests until finally, her manager working in cahoots with her agent, convinced her to share her story. The hope was to capitalize on her ongoing social media buzz and potentially deter the paparazzi. Sydney nervously tapped her foot as most of the interview focused on Halona's childhood and rise to fame. When it came to the abduction, she stuck to her story: no memories, just waking up in the hospital. The investigation was briefly discussed before they wrapped up.

The interviewer thanked Halona, who offered gracious goodbyes before rejoining Sydney near the exit door leading to the parking lot. Security flanked them on both sides as Sydney opened the car door and tossed her purse in the back.

"I'm starving." Halona mouthed silently to Sydney.

"What do you want for dinner?" Sydney asked, eyeing Halona.

"Mmmm, sushi." The response was almost automatic. It had been years since she'd had any. Her breath caught in her throat as she recalled explaining sushi to Buck and the kids.

The evening air had taken on a crisp chill. A few months had passed since Halona first arrived at the Cross' doorstep. Now, seated around the dining room table, she shared a meal with Buck, Isaac, Megan, and Ms. Fitz. They enjoyed a hearty roasted pie filled with vegetables and chicken. The dish evoked fond memories for Halona, reminiscent of the chicken pot pies her mother used to make.

Isaac took a bite and grinned. "My favorite is steak and potatoes."

Buck nodded in agreement. "Steak is pretty good, but I'm going to have to go with fried chicken."

Megan piped up, "I like pancakes!"

Halona smiled, her heart warming. "Breakfast is my favorite too. But I really love French toast."

Megan's eyes widened with curiosity. "What's French toast?"

"It's like pancakes but made with bread," Halona explained. "You dip it in a mixture of eggs and milk and cook it in a pan."

Megan's eyes sparkled. "Can we have French toast sometime?"

Ms. Fitz scoffed lightly but Halona quickly reassured her. "Absolutely, we'll make it happen."

Halona then excitedly shared some of her favorite foods. "I'd love to introduce you to enchiladas, or tacos! Mmmm, lasagna, pizza, and sushi."

Isaac and Megan looked horrified. "What's sushi?" Isaac asked, his face scrunching up in distaste.

"It's raw fish and seaweed," Halona said.

Isaac shuddered. "Raw fish? Yuck!"

Buck chuckled. "I've eaten raw fish to survive, but I wouldn't be thrilled to eat it for fun."

Halona laughed. "Sushi is a little different than wrangling up a trout in the stream and eating it like Gollum."

The memory faded with Halona chasing the kids around the yard, croaking "My precious" with exaggerated drama. Buck, watching from the porch, nearly doubled over with laughter at the sight. The joy and warmth of the moment lingered in Halona's heart, a cherished snapshot of a time filled with love and laughter.

"Hold on," Sydney said, pulling Halona from her reverie. "Isn't that a no-no when you're pregnant?"

Halona's smile faltered. "Oh shit, that's right!" The weight of her situation hit her hard. Tears welled in her eyes as the reality of raising a child alone overwhelmed her. As soon as she sat down in the car and shut the door, the tears flowed freely.

"It's just a recommendation," Sydney said gently. "We can get sushi if you're craving it."

Sydney slid into the driver's seat, glancing at Halona's sudden emotional shift. One moment upbeat, the next a sobbing mess. Sydney shook her head, silently vowing to never have children. These hormonal swings added a whole new dimension to crazy.

"Are those happy tears or sad tears?" Sydney asked, trying to decipher the situation.

Halona took a shaky breath, wiping her eyes. "I'm alright," she mumbled. "Just hormones, I guess."

"So, you're keeping it?" Sydney asked cautiously as she started the car.

Halona nodded. She caught a flicker of hesitation in Sydney's eyes, mirroring her own internal struggle. Knowing the truth about the abduction - or lack thereof - had erased any questions about the baby's father for Halona. But sharing that truth was impossible.

"You don't," Sydney empathized. "It's still early enough - "

"No, I'm keeping it." Halona cleared her throat, forcing a smile. "At the ultrasound, we got a precise date." She hoped to ease Sydney's concern, but mostly to mask the lie twisting in her gut. "I conceived after I got home."

"That must be a relief," Sydney said, pulling the car towards the house.

"Yeah," Halona offered a weak nod.

"Burgers, Mexican, or Chinese?" Sydney asked.

Halona blinked, momentarily forgetting their conversation in the face of food options. "Hmm?"

"To eat," Sydney reminded her gently.

"Oh," Halona considered her options, a craving for something spicy settling in. "Umm... Pizza, of course. We're in New York."

"It is obligatory." Sydney snickered and stole a glance at Halona, her voice suddenly tinged with concern. "So, you gonna tell me who the baby daddy is?"

Halona's breath hitched at the term. A grimace contorted her face for a fleeting moment before she forced a smile. "It's not like that."

"Who is it?" Sydney pressed, her curiosity piqued.

"He's an old friend," Halona said, searching for a plausible explanation. "You don't know him."

"Halo, I've practically known you my whole life," Sydney countered, rolling her eyes. "There's no friend you have that I don't know."

Halona missed the point entirely, focusing on the gaps in their friendship. "Well, I'm sure there are a few things you don't know about me," she said defensively, thinking of family vacations or sports events Sydney hadn't attended.

"Look," Sydney relented, nudging Halona's arm gently. "You don't have to tell me right now. But you should get your story straight before you start showing. Because the media is going to have a field day with any inconsistencies."

Halona stayed quiet the rest of the drive. Sydney's words hung heavy in the air. She knew Sydney was right. She needed to come up with a believable story for the baby, something that wouldn't fall apart the moment people started asking questions. A knot of worry tightened in her stomach as she realized just how difficult this would be.