Let's Be Mature About This BN (9 page)

CHAPTER NINE

The two walked into the Roth home to hear Sara’s wails and Elizabeth’s sobs. Elizabeth stood up from the couch Sydney walked over to her. She hugged her best friend and told her it would be okay. Then she went over to the crib where Sara lay. Elizabeth, tears still running down her face, exhausted, waved a limp hand at Gavin. Gavin went over and gave Elizabeth a hug. It was all he knew to do since he had no idea how to calm the baby down.

“I’m sorry you had to see me like this. I wish our first meeting were a little less noisy.”

“Don’t apologize for anything. It’s great to finally meet you.” They both pulled out of the hug and sat on the couch to watch Sydney.

“Miss Sara Roth, I don’t appreciate you treating your mother this way,” Sydney said while looking down at her niece in the crib. Her chubby face was mottled and red from crying. When she heard her auntie’s stern voice her eyes opened and the volume went down a little on her cries. Gavin watched as she picked Sara up and held her in her arms. She kissed Sara all over her face. “Stop that crying,” she said softly. “You too, Liz.” Elizabeth smiled sadly. “I know, Baby Sara. You’re sad because mommy is sad and daddy is away. But being a human siren is not going to help her. Help mommy out and get some sleep.” Sydney walked over to the couch and sat beside Gavin. Gavin’s arm reflexively wrapped around her waist to pull her closer and he watched as Sara was expertly quieted down and soothed to sleep.

Watching Sydney with her goddaughter put Gavin on Cloud 9. At that moment everything he’d been feeling and thinking clicked. He kissed Sydney lovingly on the cheek. She gave him a curious smile and got up to give Elizabeth her now sleeping baby daughter. Elizabeth smiled down at her baby and placed her gently back into her crib.

“I love my niece,” Sydney whispered to Gavin, “but I couldn’t do what Liz does every day. I couldn’t be in her situation. Especially with Evan working so much, sometimes it’s like she’s a single mother. I just can’t take the chance to ever feel that way.” Gavin nodded. Elizabeth returned and sat with them on the couch.

“Liz, I know it’s hard right now. However, you can’t find yourself feeling this way every night that Evan is at work because there is going to be many more of these nights.”

“I know, Sydney. I sort of had an argument with Evan before he left for work this evening. I just want him to be a home a little more. I think Sara felt that I was upset.”

“Oh, Liz. I think you owe Evan a big apology. It’s hard for Evan too, being away from his girls so much.”

 Elizabeth smoothed down her long wavy black hair with her hand and nodded.

“Don’t you think you’re being a little hard on her, Sydney?” Gavin questioned.

“No,” Sydney stated bluntly.

“Um, Sydney, I know I’m a guy so I don’t know exactly what she’s going through as a mom, but I can’t imagine how hard it is for her right now.”

“Of course I know how hard it is, Gavin, and it is not going to get any easier. I’m not telling Liz something she doesn’t already know or that we haven’t already discussed. I understand completely that she feels alone right now but I know Evan. He is a good husband and a good father just trying to provide for them. Still, every mother has to be able to handle it by themselves.” Sydney turned to Liz. “Right, Liz?”

“Sydney’s right, Gavin. I need to be strong for myself and Sara.”

Sydney gave Liz a hug. Gavin looked on feeling left out and a bit hurt. Did Sydney think he would do that; walk out on her and leave her to raise their child on her own? She was angry at him for being a guy, basically. He understood that her father hadn’t taken care of his responsibilities but it hurt to have her frustrations with deadbeat men directed at him. He couldn’t imagine doing that to her. Doesn’t she know how much he cares about her? When Sydney pulled out of the hug with Liz he was surprised to see that Sydney had tears in her eyes. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck to hug him too. He squeezed her tight as she buried her wet face into his neck.

“I’m sorry I seemed mad at you, Gavin. Sometimes I have to be tough about things, especially since I’m a woman. Liz and I are trying to stay strong without pushing away the good men we have in our lives. I appreciate you, I really do.”

“Shhh, it’s alright, I understand. You don’t have to take it all on your shoulders. I have perfectly good shoulders I wouldn’t mind using, okay?” Sydney looked up at him and he gave her a quick kiss. “Liz, I think when you talk to Evan he’ll tell you the same,” he smiled.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and smiled. “So, you two have an anniversary coming up, huh? Next week will be a month. I’m so excited for you two!”

“Time flies. I can’t believe it’s been a month already.”

“Yeah, it has,” Gavin grinned. Sydney was sitting leaned against him with her back against his chest.

“This is so weird for me to think that I’m
with
someone. But I guess that’s not new for you, Gavin. You’ve been in a long-term relationship before.”

“Yeah, but this is so different. The sum of all of the good things I thought I felt in two years I’ve felt with you in less than a month.”

“Awwwww! You two are so cute! We should meet up again. Maybe we could have a double date! How fun would that be!” Gavin and Sydney agreed. “Oh! I’ll need to get a babysitter.”

“I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind spending time with her adopted granddaughter.”

“How perfect! I’ll get a break from being Mommy and you and Gavin can see Evan. Sydney, you haven’t seen him in, like, a month so that should be cool.”

Sydney nodded.

***

“Nice to see you Gavin. It’s been a while.”

“Good to see you too.”

“If you would accept any of my invitations to some of my exhibition opening parties we’d have seen each other sooner,” Jay suggested.

“I know. You know I can’t handle that party scene anymore.”

 Jay frowned.

“Man, I’m telling you I love this girl. I knew from the start, but when I saw her with her niece the other day, I really knew. It was a glimpse of the future, you know?”

“Uhh, no.”

“Jay!” Gavin laughed.

“Sorry, but babies aren’t appealing to me. I’m happy for you though.”

“And Jay, she wanted to know about how it was for me after Elise and all, and she told me she would be there if it ever happened again. Jay, that was my number one fear; that it would happen again.”

“I know.”

“I told her she wouldn’t have to do that but it made me feel so much lighter. Now I’m not afraid of it anymore because I know that, no matter what, it’ll be okay. I don’t even think I have to worry about my depression anymore because she makes me so happy. Oh, there she is!”

“Hey, Gavin,” she beamed. Gavin stood up from the booth and hugged her. Sydney smiled and waved at Jason over Gavin’s shoulder. He gave an insincere smile back. Gavin held Sydney’s hand as she slid into the booth and then he slid in next to her.

“So you’re
the
Sydney,” Jay said giving her a sharp look with his hazel eyes.

“And you’re
the
Jay,” Sydney smiled coolly.

“How old are you again?”

Sydney could see Gavin glaring at Jay out of the corner of her eye but she kept her eyes on Jay. What Jay didn’t know was that, although she was young, she could handle herself. She wasn’t a stranger to defending herself and she wasn’t going to run away crying or look helplessly to Gavin to stand up for her. She was just about to say something snippy when she realized she didn’t need to. She wasn’t even that pissed and what good would it do? It would make Jay annoyed and hurt Gavin. She smiled a little because she was proud of herself for thinking of a better way to handle it.

“Yes. I am the nineteen-year-old girl that Gavin won’t shut up about.” At that Jay gave her a blank look. She knew she’d hit the issue on the head. Then she saw his jaw tighten and he leaned back against his chair. For the first time Sydney noticed that Jason was actually a handsome guy. His brown hair was out in a wavy fro and his hazel eyes with his caramel skin were striking. She was sure he had the ladies lined up. From what Gavin had told her, she knew that was true, but she was also sure it was fear that was keeping him a member of the player’s club. The waitress came and they gave her the orders. “So I hear they have really good food here. I’m sure you’ve brought a few dates here yourself.”

Jason smirked. “I sure have.”

“One, two, three dates and their out,” Gavin said under his breath.

“Really? Three dates is the longest you’ve seen a girl?” Sydney questioned Jay.

“No. It’s the maximum amount of money I’ll spend on one.”

For a moment Sydney was taken aback. This jerk was Gavin’s best friend? Why was Gavin still talking to this fool?

“So I guess it never gets challenging for you in a relationship. Can I even call them relationships?”

“Guess not.” Jay shrugged.

“Gavin and I have had our issues, most of them mine.” Gavin gave her a shocked look and shook his head saying ‘no’. “But we got through them and that’s what makes our relationship better. Stronger. Gavin and I have to be strong, especially because we’re an interracial couple. You understand that of course.”

Sincerity flickered in his hazel eyes. “Yeah, I do. My mom and dad have been together for thirty-two years. I know how it is first hand.” Finally the waitress arrived with the food and they all began eating. The mood felt lighter now between the three.

“As I was saying Jay, good relationships have their challenges. For example, you and Gavin have been friends for a long time. You don’t always agree and you’ve had your challenges. You stuck by him through his depression.” Jay nodded. “Getting past that initial fear and being there for him through it all wasn’t for nothing.”

“You’re right,” Jay said. He looked at Gavin thoughtfully. “We’ll always be best friends, man. Even when you grow up and I’m still juvenile and jealous.”

“I knew you loved me!” Gavin smiled

“No sir!”

Gavin frowned. “Well, at least Sydney loves me.”

“Whoa there tiger!” Sydney joked. Gavin gave them both a fake hurt look.

“Man, he’s so needy isn’t he?” Jason complained.

“I know!” Sydney agreed. “And so anal retentive! Always primping and fixing and combing his luxurious locks!”

Jason did a goofy impression of Gavin looking in a mirror and running his hand through his hair like a Greaser. Jason pretended to see a hair out of place. “Cazzo!” he cursed and smacked the imaginary hair down. Sydney burst out laughing.

“Cazzo!” She repeated laughing.

“Yah know what?” Gavin protested “You people get on my nerves.“

 “You people?!” Jay and Sydney said in unison giving him a dirty look.

“You mean, you
black
people, don’t you?” Sydney pretended to be offended. Jay stuck out his chin and gave Gavin a menacing look. The subsequent laughter from all three caused nearby diners to look over at them curiously.

“Yo, Gavin. Your girl ain’t half bad.”

“Emphasis on
my
girl. Stop ogling her!” Gavin wrapped an arm around her waist protectively and kissed her on the cheek. Jay smiled and gave a friendly wink to Sydney. She winked back.

"Um, I have to go boys. I gotta get to work."

"Aw man!" Jay and Gavin said. The three stood up from the booth and Sydney gave the two men a hug and hurried off to work. Gavin and Jay sat back down.

"Do you plan on apologizing or do I have to kick your ass?" Gavin said flippantly before popping one of the peppermints the waitress had given them into his mouth. Jason gave him an angry astonished look as Gavin rolled the peppermint around in his mouth.

“I’m not going to apologize for looking out for you!”

Gavin crunched down hard on his peppermint. “Are you kidding me? Even though in the end you warmed up to the idea of Sydney, the moment you met her you didn’t show her any respect whatsoever. You shouldn’t have grilled her like that.”

Jason leaned forward and pointed at Gavin. “I’m trying to look out for
you
. That’s all I’ve ever been trying to do. At first I got the sense that Sydney was another Elise, some pretty girl looking for a free ride out of you.”