“Julie, I know you’re probably freaking out right now, but we’re all here with her. Me, Finn, Kel, and Ernesto. We’d never let anything happen to her. We love her and we’re going to take care of her, I promise you. So don’t worry and call us back as soon as you can. We’ll be waiting.”
I hang up the phone and round the corner. All eyes are on me.
“You love me?” Emerson asks through her tears.
“Of course we do,” Kel whispers as he leans down next to her. “If I had a sister, I’d want her to be just like you. This baby is going to be one lucky kid. His mom is pretty kick-ass.”
He bends down and kisses her cheek. I don’t know if it’s the fire or the people in the room, but I suddenly feel warmer than I’ve ever felt before.
“We’re going to need some hot water, blankets, scissors, and towels. But first, do you have a bathroom I can use?” Ernesto asks. “I’ve been holding it for over an hour and my bladder may burst.”
“Oh, sure thing. First door on the left. I mean, right!” he shouts.
It’s too late. Ernesto already opened the door on the left. Two chickens and a mini pig join us in the room. The chickens’ wings are flapping and the pig is snorting. I jump on the chair on instinct.
“Oh dear, well I guess the chicken’s out of the bag,” the old man laughs.
Emerson gawks as she tries to breathe through another contraction with feathers floating through the air.
“It gets a bit lonely at times and it’s too cold for them outside,” he explains, “so I keep them in here with me. I used to have a farm. I sold it when I moved out here to retire, but I couldn’t part with my girls. They’re real tame, I promise you. They’ll even let you pet them once they get to know you a little bit.”
“Do they have names?” Kel asks, crouching down to pet the pig.
“The chickens are sisters. Their names are Rachel and Monica.”
“Rachel and Monica?” Kel questions.
“Yeah. I love those girls fromFriends. I always said I’d marry the both of them. Monica would keep my house clean and cook for me and Rachel… well, I’m sure she’d earn her keep.”
I glance over to Finn and he smiles at me.
Ernesto exits the bathroom, moving around the chickens that have nested on a blanket near the door and goes back to attending to Emerson.
“And the pig?” Kel asks as he scratches behind its ears.
The old man laughs and points to him. “Hey, she likes you. I call her Kelly ‘cause she’s cute as a button, like Kelly Clarkson.”
“Kelly you say?” I ask with a chuckle.
Kel frowns. I stumble off the chair and make my way over to him, scratching him behind the ears as he scratches the pig.
“Look, we’re both petting Kelly,” I say with a laugh.
Kel shakes his head and tries to stand. I wrap my arms around him and hug him. He smirks and pats my back. I glance over to Emerson and she’s smiling through the pain. She makes it look easier than it is.
“What’s your name, sir?” Finn asks.
“Oh I’m sorry. My name’s Johnny Kennedy,” he says, shaking Finn’s hand.
“John Kennedy?” Finn questions. “Like the thirty-fifth president?”
“Yep, except I never had me a Jackie or a Marilyn. Lucky son of a bitch.”
Finn smiles and I can’t help but stare. Our eyes meet and I turn away. He’s a good man. Areallygood man. What in the hell is wrong with me?
