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Well, now Anthony knows how crazy my mom is. She had laid into him, but in typical cowboy fashion he held on until the end. He was the last one to get a word in against my mom. My dad on the other hand wanted to meet his grandson as well as the baby that’s growing in my belly.
The next morning we head back to Texas and to Kathy’s house to pick up Luke. I still have to tell him that I’m going to have a baby. I spend most of the ride home thinking of how to break the news to Luke. I’ve run several scenarios in my mind several end well, while several end with him pitching a tantrum and not wanting a brother or sister.
We get to Kathy’s around dinner time and she has made dinner and includes us in the meal as well. We sit down over dinner and talk about how the whole conversation went. Kathy tells me that our mom called her after we left the house to get it off her chest. Apparently according to my mom Anthony is a worthless piece of shit, and I just spread my legs for any man. She didn’t even think about the fact I had been in a relationship with Johnathon for several years as well as Jeff. I didn’t just have sex with the first man that came along. She frustrates me so much.
“So, mom didn’t recognize that Anthony was Chris’ best man at our wedding.” Kathy informs me.
“What did she say when you told her that he was the best man and Chris’ best friend?” I ask between bites of salad that I am eating.
“Nothing, she says she doesn’t remember him.” Kathy tells me. “What’s funny is how she remembers what she wants to when she needs it, but can’t remember things when someone else is pointing it out.” Kathy finishes.
Kathy and I laugh together at the quirks of our mom. We have a semi sick way of dealing with her selective memory. If we don’t laugh about things like this then we don’t let it go and it builds up to a head, just like with my mom.
Chris and Anthony exchange confused looks as to why we cope this way, but they are cops they cope with death and other things they see with their weird sense of humor too. I guess they never thought that non military, or non first responders would cope the same way as they do. I tell Kathy that I haven’t figured out how to tell Luke that he’s going to be a big brother yet.
“You’ll figure it out when the time is right.” She says with expert older sisterly advice. I never asked why she and Chris don’t have any kids yet, it’s none of my business. I would love to see Kathy as a mom. She works her ass off at her job, and helps me whenever I need it with Luke. Now she has an extra hand thanks to Anthony being in my life.
“So Chris, when are you going to make me a godfather?” Anthony asks his best friend jokingly.
“When the heavens and earths move into the right formation.” He teases back, not wanting to rush things and cause a strain on Kathy and his marriage. Anthony laughs that familiar deep laugh of his.
I know that Anthony wants Chris to be not just our kids uncle, but also their godfather. I know that is what he was implying when he asked Chris the question. We have to talk in code around Luke until I tell him.
The weeks seem to drag on, the morning sickness has hit hard this time. Most of the articles I’ve read say that since the pregnancy is so different it’s going to be a girl. A few of the articles say that with a different father the baby may be the same sex as a previous pregnancy, but act different. I’ve been laid up in bed for almost two weeks only getting up to make dinner for the boys, and to puke my guts out. If I smell meat cooking I feel like I’m going to puke. Anthony has been dropping off and picking Luke up from school for me, but Luke is ecstatic to ride in the cruiser with him.
Tonight I’m in a rare form of morning sickness. I tried to cook pork chops and potatoes for dinner thinking the potatoes would be nice on the stomach, but the minute I swallowed them my stomach churned. I had to bolt to the bathroom. Just as my heaves are ending and I know there is nothing left in me to puke Luke comes in and says, “Momma you need to go to a doctor I don’t like you this sick all the time.” I still haven’t told him that I’m pregnant.
I see Anthony standing in the doorway his arms are crossed across his chest with a shit eating grin on his face. I finally get up, the time has come to tell Luke. “Luke baby, I have seen a doctor and this is just part of what is ‘wrong’ with me.” I use air quotes to say wrong because nothing is wrong with me I’m just pregnant.
“Really momma, what’s wrong?” He asks curiously. I’m now eight weeks pregnant and tomorrow I get to see the baby for the first time. My first ultrasound, the first picture of the baby that is growing inside of me.
Anthony is watching very attentively as to how Luke reacts to the next answer. “Well, you see Luke...” I start knowing that there is no turning back now. “Well, momma is carrying a baby in her tummy, and you see son sometimes when a woman is carrying a baby it makes them sick sometimes. It will go away over time, but it’s going to take just that, time.” I explain studying the look on Luke’s face.
“So, you and Mister Anthony are going to have a baby together? Does that mean I’m going to be a big brother?” He is asking questions faster than I can answer them.
“Yes, Luke, you are going to be a big brother. And Yes Anthony and I are going to have a baby together.” I answer the first two questions.
“Yippie I can be a big brother.” Luke says running out of the bathroom no longer concerned for mommas health. He gets up and goes to Anthony and gives him a great big hug. Then I hear what makes us all laugh. “Thank you Mister Anthony for giving my momma a little brother or sister for me.”