"Jocelyn," Max called.
God, I hope he doesn't want me to make dinner now!
"Jocey?" He knocked on my door.
"Come in."
"Hey?" He walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you sick again?"
I wish he'd stop asking me that!
"No." I sighed. "Just a long day."
"Maybe you should cut back those hours?" He smiled. "I appreciate your work ethic, but ever since Alex left, all you do is work. I know you miss him, but maybe you should go out with some friends?"
I still hadn't told him I wouldn't be attending school. If I told him, I'd have to tell him why, and I still hadn't managed to work up the nerve to tell him he was going to be a grandfather.
"Once school starts, you'll be busy. You should be having fun now."
Oh, I think I already had enough fun!
"I just saw Evan the other day," I said. "I have to work all weekend. I'm trying to get the hours in now."
"You can't sit around and wait for Alex," he said. "November is a long way off."
"Not that long," I mumbled. "Look, I'm fine, Dad. I'm just tired. Would you mind if I didn't cook tonight?"
"No," he said. "I'll order something for us."
"Okay."
"What do you want?"
"Something with pineapple, I think?" I'd been craving pineapple all day.
"Pineapple?" He laughed. "That's odd."
"Why?"
"Your mother used to crave that when she was pregnant with you," he said. "But I don't think I've ever seen you eat it before."
"Oh." I tried to think quickly. "I ate it at the Jordans. They love fresh fruit, and I found out I really like it."
What were the chances Liz and I would have the same craving? We had nothing else in common.
"I guess I could run to the store and pick some up," he said, as he rubbed his chin. I prayed he wasn't making the connection.
"No," I said. "You pick what you want to eat. I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm just really hungry."
"Okay." He smiled, but he didn't look happy. "Are you sure everything’s okay?
You can talk to me, ya know."
"Yes." I patted his hand in an effort to assure him. "It's a girl thing."
He held up his hand. "Say no more, please."
I laughed as he bolted from the room like he had a tiger on his tail. Max had always felt uncomfortable talking to me about anything that had to do with the female body. It didn't make growing up so easy, but luckily, I had the Internet. Actually, that was coming in handy with all my pregnancy questions. I really didn't have any place else to turn. Liz wasn’t an option, since she hadn't been there for any other significant moment in my life. I often thought Sarah would be the perfect one to talk to. She was so nurturing and tender, and I didn't think I'd feel embarrassed to ask her anything. I wished I could tell her.
