Baby (Laundromat Chonicles Book 3) (3 page)

Lena offers me an apologetic look. I smile, with understanding in return. It’s not her fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. It’s just what happened. I can’t stop loving Lena any more than her mother can. I feel bad. The last thing I want is for my future mother-in-law to hate my guts. I hate the idea of her missing the birth of her first grandchild. All I can do now is hope she comes around but in the meantime, I will support Lena as best as I can.

I’m not sure how long I sit in the car watching the house for signs of Lena but it seems like an eternity. I’m getting ready to get out of the car and go inside to check on her when I see her backing out of the front door, closing it softly. As soon as she’s a few feet from the door she runs to the car, sliding in breathlessly. “Go. Get me the hell out of here.”

“You okay?”

“No, just go dammit. I can’t be here anymore.” There are no tears. I think she cried them all out. There’s just deep resentment in her voice. I don’t bother with a reply, instead I back out and lead her away from the only family she has and from the one woman she’s relied on her entire life. The one woman who just broke my girl’s heart.

***

Three weeks have passed since we broke the news of our impending arrival to our parents. Lena’s mother still hasn’t reached out to her and even though she puts on a brave face I know she’s hurting. My father, on the other hand, didn’t give a shit, as I expected. He does love Lena so having her in the house has actually softened the old man. Other than our parents, we’ve told no one about the baby.

Lena is almost four months along and starting to show. Graduation couldn’t come fast enough. We finally accepted our diplomas together then celebrated with my dad at dinner before going out with some friends that night. After incessant questions on why Lena wasn’t drinking, we broke and told our friends about the baby. None seemed surprised but all were supportive, which was a tremendous relief for both of us. Three weeks later, we moved into our own apartment.

“Welcome to our new home, baby.” As I shove the door open, I lift her in my arms carrying her over the threshold and into our tiny place. It’s nothing more than a living room with a small kitchen, a puny bathroom and a little bedroom but it is ours. It’s perfect.

“Ahhh,” she squeals. “Don’t drop me. I’m getting too fat for you to carry.”

“No, not fat… beautiful and pregnant. There’s a difference.” I place her gently on her feet as soon as we are behind closed doors. We don’t have much as far as furniture goes. My dad let us take the old couch from the garage. The pea green furniture is an eyesore, but it’s comfortable and does the job. We bought a few kitchen items at the thrift shop and a small TV stand. Unpacking doesn’t take long but by the end of the night we both collapse onto the couch, exhausted.

She’s at one end, I’m at the other, our legs entangled. “Babe, rub my feet please,” she begs sweetly, wiggling her foot in front of my face. I gently begin to knead the soft flesh of her foot. I love her feet. They’re small, dainty, soft.

“Mine too please.” I wiggle my own foot in front of her face.

“Ewwww, I’m not touching boy feet.” Her face scrunches in disgust.

“Please, my feet are clean. I take very good care of them.” I assure her, and it’s not a lie. I never walk barefoot.

“Ugh, fine,” she agrees warily. It feels good being here with her, in our own space, just her and me. “Well, how does it feel being all adult and stuff?” she asks before she yawns.

“Feels pretty good actually. I’ve been adulting for a while, babe, but it feels good to be here with you, starting our life.” My fingers dig into the pad of her feet, eliciting a moan of approval. “How do you feel being all adult?” I bounce the question back to her. I imagine this is a harder adjustment for her. Graduating and college was her mother’s main focus for her. She didn’t have to work. She was just taken care of.

“You know. You don’t have to stay there and let him beat up on you, Hap. Come live with me. I’m sure my mom would agree.” Her innocence is one of the things I love about her. Since she first spoke to me when we were ten she’s been my best friend and then six months ago, I made her my girlfriend. It was clear at a very young age that Lena was my soul mate, even before I knew what that meant. At fifteen though, hormones got the best of me. Well, hormones and seeing her date another douche bag was enough to spur me into action. Since the day I made her my official girlfriend we’ve been together.

My father’s hitting sprees are getting to be less and less but every time I sport a new bruise Lena worries. However, I’m pretty sure this one will be the last. “Your mom isn’t fond of me, babe, and you know I can’t leave my dad.” I kiss the top of her head. “Besides, I don’t expect this to happen again.”

“Really, why?” She leans back to look up at me.

“I’m getting bigger, stronger, tougher. Let’s just say this shiner was hard won. I don’t see him wanting to go another round with me.” I left out the part of him breaking down in a heap of emotions and tears. I also left out the part that he’s going to work today with a matching shiner. I’m not proud that I punched my dad, but it felt good to show him he can’t keep using me as his own personal punching bag. He apologized, as always, but this time it was different. I think this time he meant it.

“Well, I hope you’re right. Next time you’re coming to stay with me.” I couldn’t say no to the pleading look in her blue eyes. “Okay. Come on, I’ll take you home before I go to work.”

I landed my first job right after I turned fifteen. My father never gave me money for extracurricular things. He barely bought me clothes so as soon as I could work, I did. Started at a local fast food restaurant until I turned sixteen and then went to work in a restaurant washing dishes and bussing tables. It’s a shit job but pay is decent and the servers always tip me, which is nice. And it also allows me to take Lena on proper dates.

“You really have to go to work?” She whines quietly. I chuckle when I see her face pout.

“Yes, I have to work, baby, but I’m off at eight and I’ll pick you up. We can go to dinner okay?”

“Okay.” She conceded, sliding into the passenger seat of my car.

“I know you’ve been an adult for far longer than you should have been, babe. But how does it feel to be on your own.” She dodges my question while she mimics the way I rub her feet on my own.

“I’m not on my own. I have you and that little baby.” Smiling at her, I kiss her big toe. “I love you, Lena.”

“I love you too, Happy Man.” She giggles knowing she’s the only person ever allowed to call me Happy. I don’t know what my parents were thinking when they chose my name but I swear I’ll never curse my kid with a horrible name like that. “Anyway, I’m happy too. I’ve always known I’d spend my whole life with you so this is natural for me.” Her answer is perfect. Not a day has passed or will ever pass that I’m not grateful to this woman.

“I might fall asleep right here,” she whispers sleepily, her massaging slowing down.

“Go ahead, it’s our place. You can sleep wherever you want.” She wraps her arms around my leg, cuddling it close to her before resting her head against the back of the ugly couch, letting her eyes close. Seconds later, she’s softly snoring and for the moment, everything is perfect.

***

Summer is slowly passing, and Lena is little by little getting bigger. Adjusting to being on our own is more of a struggle than we anticipated. Learning little things like each other’s bathroom habits has been a big adjustment. She’s still super touchy about me being in the general vicinity when she takes a shit. It doesn’t bother me. I tell her that but it doesn’t matter. If I so much as knock on the door she’s screaming.

Shower time has also been something we have to compromise on. Our water heater is tiny so two showers back to back is impossible. We showered together in the beginning, but now she’s getting self-conscious with her growing belly. Again, I told her not to be, but all that gets me is a death glare. After a huge fight, we agreed to rotate morning and night showers. I couldn’t believe how quickly a fight over hot water escalated.

Now that some time has passed we’ve worked out the kinks which is such a relief. I hate fighting with Lena. She’s my rock, having her pissed throws everything off. I’m struggling with her mood swings, walking on egg shells, and not really sure how to help her but after our first doctors visit I feel more comfortable knowing it’s not Lena that’s a raving lunatic, it’s her hormones.

Our state health insurance finally kicked in and we’re walking into Lena’s first doctor’s appointment since that positive pregnancy test. Her hand is linked in mine, squeezing tightly.

“I’m nervous, Hap,” she confessed just before we walked into the clinic.

“Don’t be nervous. I’m here with you.” I assure her, giving her hand a quick kiss.

“What if they’re assholes because we’re young? What if they lecture us or won’t take me as a patient because we’re young? Then what? What if something is wrong with the baby?” Her eyes glossed over, and I could see tears were threatening to fall. She’s on the verge of a meltdown, I could see it. I’d learned to recognize the signs and try to diffuse the situation before she’s a pile of tears on the floor. Women are hard to figure out.

“Shhh, calm down, baby. Everything is going to be okay. Please, stop worrying so much.” It’s the same thing I tell her all the time, but it’s like she’s addicted to worry. She can’t stop.

“How can you be so sure?” she questions nervously.

“Because it’s you and me and as long as we’re together everything will be okay. Okay?” I lifted her face to meet my gaze.

She shook her head slowly. “Okay, Hap. I trust you.”

“Great, let’s go in.”

We sat and filled out paperwork before a nurse finally called us back. After a weigh in, which Lena made me close my eyes for, the nurse gets us checked in with a smile. The moment she leaves the room I look over at my girl. “See. She was nice. Nothing to be scared of.” Leaning forward I pat her knee trying to reassure her.

“Yeah, she was nice. They’ve all been nice so far. As long as the Dr…” Before she can finish a small Asian woman enters the room after knocking softly.

“Hello, I’m Dr. Nguyen. It’s nice to meet you.” Her hand extends to both Lena and me.

“I’m Lena and this is my boyfriend, Hap. It’s nice to meet you as well.”

“Well, let’s get started shall we. Is there anything you’re uncomfortable saying in front of Hap? I mean no offense, I have to ask.” The woman offers me a small smile.

“No, nothing. Go ahead.” Lena assures her.

“Good. Tell me when your last period was,” she began and the questions continued for a little while. After the q&a session was over she began the exam. “Go ahead and lay back, let’s see if we can hear a heartbeat.” The tiny lady helped Lena lay back then lifted her shirt. Lena’s belly looked far more pregnant than I realized. She’s started wearing baggy shirts and pants lately and wouldn’t let me see her without clothes. We haven’t even had sex in longer than I can remember.

My eyes traveled up from her growing bump to her face which was turned toward me and looked terrified.

“What’s the matter, baby?” I asked, standing to go to her while the doctor prepared her things.

“I don’t want you to see me all fat like this,” she whispered, pointing to her tummy.

“Lena, baby, you’re not fat you’re growing a baby. Our baby. Don’t be ashamed of that, not with me.”

“You’re not grossed out?”

“No, not at all. I love your bump and knowing our baby is growing in there.” My hand rested gently on her belly, something she had yet to let me do. “You are the most gorgeous girl I know. You will always be the most gorgeous girl to me.” Leaning down I kiss her as my thumb wipes a tear off her cheek.

“You ready to hear your baby’s heartbeat?” Dr. Nguyen asked coming back in the room. We were so lost in the moment neither of us realized she stepped out.

“Yes please,” Lena said quietly, smiling that dazzling smile. Looking at the doc, who gave me a nod of understanding, I nodded yes. I was ready. We were ready.

She placed the instrument on Lena’s belly then turned on the device. Nothing but white noise came through for what seemed like forever. Dr. Nguyen continued to slowly move the Doppler over the skin until we heard it. Beneath the white noise was a soft thump, thump, thump, thump.

“Is that it?” I asked.

“Yes, that’s your baby’s heartbeat.”

Lena’s hand squeezed mine tight as we listened, entranced by the wonder of our baby. A few minutes passed as the sound filled the silence in the room.

“Sounds good. Very strong rhythm.” She removed the device then helped Lena up. “Your exam went well. You and the baby both appear to be healthy. I want you to start a prenatal vitamin and be sure to eat well-balanced meals. I will see you back in about a month okay?”

“Okay, thank you so much.” I could see some of the stress fade from Lena’s face with the first appointment behind her.

“One more thing. Your body is changing. Hormones are going wild. You’re going to feel tons of emotions that can be erratic. Laughing one minute, crying the next. You might crave strange food and hate food you used to love. Don’t ever be embarrassed or ashamed of the things your body does while pregnant. You’re both very young and I know you’re scared but you have something I don’t see in people years older than the two of you–love. I can see the way you look at each other that you’re really in this together. That’s very rare, especially at your age. My advice, trust each other and know that it’s not going to be easy, and you’re gonna struggle but in the end you’ll be okay if you just trust.” She winked at both of us as we sat quietly, letting her words penetrate.