“Whatever!” Naya said. “Screw Mom and Dad! They’ve always just thought about themselves. Who needs them? You and I have got each other. We always have, and we always will. And since you apparently haven’t noticed how great you are, let me tell you something else: I can’t think of one other person who puts other people ahead of themselves the way you do. I know I don’t, I never could. Do you have any idea how rare that is, how amazing? Just look right now: we’re all standing here around you worried sick, because you mean that much to us. We wouldn’t be doing that if you weren’t the person you are.”
Chris dried his eyes and asked Will to join him and his sister for a group hug. After a few seconds, he finally smiled and said, “Thank you guys. You’re going to be amazing parents.”
Lana choked on her drink and said, “P-parents…? What the…?”
“Shhh!” I said, covering her mouth. “Don’t ruin the moment.”
“I think Chris already did,” Will said. “But it’s fine.”
Naya asked Chris if he wanted a ride home, and he nodded. I was glad, because that meant we were leaving. Thankfully, I didn’t run into Vivian on the way out, and Chris didn’t run into Curtis, either. Lana walked us to the door and waved goodbye as we were getting into the car. I treasured the silence once I shut the door, and almost instantly, Chris fell asleep next to me. I couldn’t help but notice how Will and Naya smiled whenever they looked at each other on the drive home. I guess they’d finally made it through the crisis.
16
Interview Time
I’d been trying and trying, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer: “Naya, might I know what the hell you’re doing?”
For ten minutes, she’d had her shirt lifted up and was moving some white thing all over her stomach. Whatever she was trying to do evidently wasn’t working, because she wouldn’t stop cursing between clenched teeth.
“I’m trying to hear the baby’s heartbeat,” she replied, very focused.
“How pregnant are you again?”
“I don’t know. Six weeks, maybe.”
“I think that’s a little soon.”
“Who asked what you think?” she snapped. “I want to hear it, and I’m going to hear it, and that’s that.”
Jack lowered the volume on the TV and asked me, “What’s she doing?”
“Now you’re jumping in,” Naya jumped in. “Can’t everyone just leave me alone? I’m trying to hear my baby’s heartbeat, Ross.”
“Did I miss the moment you decided to keep it?” Jack asked.
“I wasn’t aware I had to inform you,” she replied. “Anyway, yes, I’m keeping it, I’m going to be an excellent mother despite whatever you may think, and if you make any smart comments, I’ll throw this thing at your head.”
“Jeez. I was just asking,” Jack said.
“Wiiiiiiill!” Naya cried. “I think something’s wrong!” As always when she was upset, Will came running out of his room, looking pallid and scared, and asked her, “What is it? Does something hurt? Are you sick? Is it…?”
“I can’t hear the baby’s heartbeat!” she shouted.
Will closed his eyes, trying to gather as much patience as he could before telling her, “Naya, you’re six weeks pregnant. Of course you can’t hear the heartbeat. Now put that damned thing away! Doctors say they can be dangerous!”
“I’ve been reading tons of stuff on the internet, and I didn’t see anything about it.”
“Oh, the internet!” Sue piped up. “The same internet that tells you how Avril Lavigne is really a lizard person? Good job, you’re a crack researcher.”
I decided to try and help out: “It’s too early, Naya. I think it’s something like twelve weeks till you can consistently hear a heartbeat. And Will and Sue are right. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re not a doctor. Now just relax and take care of yourself and rest and look forward to when you can finally hold that baby in your arms.”
“I like how you skipped on the gross part. The baby has to come out before she can hold it. You do know giving birth is the worst pain you’ll ever experience, right?” Sue asked her.
Someone knocked at the door. Will went to answer while Naya, still looking suspicious, as if she didn’t trust any of us, rolled up the cords on her machine and lowered her T-shirt with an expression of defeat.
“Does somebody want to tell me where the star of the show is?” said a voice that sounded vaguely familiar. No one else reacted except Jack, who instantly panicked, flopping on the floor and crawling behind Sue’s armchair to hide, almost knocking it down in the process. Alas, his effortswere in vain. Joey walked in, crossing his arms and knitting his brow as he stood in the middle of the living room.
“There you are!” he called out.
