Epiphany (14 page)

“After you came home, it slipped my mind.” Melissa finds the perfect moment to come
back into the room. Maybe if Danny wasn’t so preoccupied with her, he would have
remembered to tell me about everything.

“Slipped your mind that you had a baby living in my body, and it died?” I yell, anger
pouring out with every word. Skylar’s hands slip down my back and start massaging,
trying his hardest to get me to calm down. I know him. He’s not going to let me
go too much longer like this.

“It’s not like that, Mira. He was confused and didn’t know what to do,” Melissa chimes
in. My head whips in her direction at her sudden intrusion.

“Oh. Thank you for your contribution to this very sensitive topic, Melissa. I wasn’t
aware you knew something about my body that I didn’t. I’m very pleased to know that
Danny had the balls to tell you and not me. It’s actually very comforting,” I spit,
rolling my eyes. If I weren’t pregnant, I’d try to whoop her ass again. This bitch
really grates my nerves most of the time.

“Mira, stop,” Danny says harshly. Me? Stop? Oh, fucker, I’ve just gotten started.

“You have some …” I start, but am quickly interrupted by Skylar’s who’s none too happy.

“No, Danny. You fucking stop. Apparently, this is something all of us knew and didn’t
think to tell her. But you’re not gonna sit here and be a dick to her.
That won’t fly,” Skylar pipes in, taking the stress off me for a moment, allowing
me to catch my breath.

“This is a fucked up situation. Mira, I’m sorry. I really am. It wasn’t that I
forgot,
I just didn’t want to add more to your plate. I thought I was helping. I’m glad
Skylar told you, though,” Danny says, back peddling, contradicting
himself. One second it slipped his mind and the other he didn’t want to add more
stress. I know him and Sky had words the other night, but Danny at least held his
ground. Now, he’s acting out of character. Intimidation is a weird emotion, I guess.

“He shouldn’t have had to do it. It wasn’t his baby. That was
your
job,” I mumble, wrapping my arms around my stomach, praying that I don’t lose this
one, too.

“Skylar, can we get out of here?” I’m done with this. Nothing he says is going to
make it any better or easier to deal with. I’d rather just go home and get in bed
… where I’m supposed to be anyway.

“While you guys are here, I have some news,” Danny says, catching us before we’re
out of the living room. At the same time, Skylar and I turn around to acknowledge
his announcement. “I got the job in New York. I start in a week. My manager, Carrie,
said that I’m not needed here anymore and would make a great contribution somewhere
else.”

“Congrats, Danny.
I’m happy for you.” I reach out, pulling him into my embrace which he returns.
I let him go, then walk toward Melissa while Danny and Skylar shake hands. “You’ll
love New York. I was there once a few years ago. It’s amazing.”

“Oh, I’m not going,” Melissa says, backing away.

“I just assumed you’d be going with him. I’m sorry,” I softly say, feeling incredibly
awkward.

“No reason to be sorry. We talked about it and right now isn’t the right time for
me to leave. We’re not breaking up or anything, but for now, he’s going by himself.”
I’m not sure I would be okay with that—my man being ten hours away—but
to each their own, I guess.

“We should get together before you leave.
Maybe a small party at the apartment or something?”
Skylar asks, trying to bridge the gap. He really is such a sweet guy who always
thinks about
everyone and everything. All this understanding when he should just punch Danny in
the nose. I know that’s what I want to do, even if I’m putting on this little front
for them right now.

“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m just gonna spend the time with Mel. We don’t
have that much time before I leave and I’m not sure when she can make it out. I appreciate
the offer, though.”

“No problem. Okay, Sweets, let’s get you home.
Doctor’s orders.”

“Doctor?
Are you okay?” Danny turns his attention back to me, and if I’ve never felt like
I was under a microscope, I do now.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I mutter, not wanting to elaborate.

“She’s pregnant and needs to be in bed,” Skylar says. I instinctually slap him in
the gut, wishing he would have just kept his damn mouth shut. I try laughing it off,
but the prying eyes don’t lose their focus.

“Congrats, guys,” Danny says, kind of gloomy and without emotion.

“Thanks,” I say, turning back to walk out the door. Skylar stays behind a few minutes
while I wait for him in the car.

I can’t believe he would say something. After I told him how scared I was, he’s running
around telling everyone in the free world. Well, not everyone, but still. This isn’t
Danny’s business and Skylar should have respected my feelings. I know he’s excited.
I know he wants to shout from the mountain tops. I do, too. What happens if I lose
this baby, though? Then what? We have to call all these people he wants to share
the news with and tell them. No.

“Sorry, I didn’t think he would talk my ear off,” Skylar says, angling into the driver’s
seat. Nodding to confirm that I’m listening, I keep my eyes forward, not wanting
to get into another fight.

“Mira, talk to me,” he pleads.

“About what?
I told you I didn’t want to tell people and what do you do? Tell Danny. Not cool,”
I say, exasperated.

“I can’t help it. I’m excited. You’re carrying my baby and I want everyone to know
… especially him,” Skylar admits. How could I have not seen this coming from a mile
away? He’s marking his damn territory like a fucking dog. Two pissing matches in
one week—what a lucky girl I must be.

“You’re gonna have to calm down your caveman antics sometime, Sky. I’m with you.
I chose you. My heart chose you. It’s over.” I try to make him understand that
my not wanting to talk about it has nothing to do with him. But he ignores me all
together.

The remainder of the ride home’s uncomfortably silent—Skylar’s deliberate refusal
to speak to me, the absence of even the radio, making the silence feel deafening.

By the time we make it home, I’m ready to just crawl in bed and sleep the rest of
the day away. It’s crazy how fast these hormones start to affect you. Once second,
I’m full of energy, ready to take on the world and then the next, I’m dying for a
nap. Unfortunately, I promised Kylee I’d call her once I was home, so that’s just
what has to be done.

ME – Hey.
I’m home.
Kinda tired.
Can we hang tomorrow?

KYLEE – u ok?

ME
– yea, just tired. Call u later?

KYLEE – uh huh, yea, later.

ME – Ky, plz don’t be mad.

KYLEE – I’m not, just worried bout u.

ME – I’m good, I swear. Sky’s takin good care of me.

KYLEE – he better. Ok. Love u

ME – Love u 2

Now that all that business is settled, I can finally just relax. Fluffing a pillow
behind my back and pulling out my tablet, I put my feet up on a stack of pillows and
rest back into my haven. Opening a book I started a few days ago, I’m just starting
to get drawn back into the story when Skylar comes into the bedroom.

“What time is Kylee coming? I need to take off in the next twenty minutes or so.”

“She isn’t. I just wanna relax. You can take off now if you want,” I say, not taking
my eyes off the words on the screen.

“Let me call Prowler and ask him to check in on Maddie tonight then. No use in me
leaving if you’re gonna be here alone.” Skylar pulls his phone out of his front pocket,
kicks off his shoes and starts to dial a number.

“No. It’s fine. I’m just gonna lie here and read anyway. I don’t need a babysitter,
babe. I’m a big girl.”

“I know, I just worry.
What if you need me and I’m not here?” I can’t help but giggle. Apparently, in
Skylar’s eyes, we no longer live in the twenty-first century.

“Babe.
It’s called a phone. I pick it up, dial a number and call you. Then you come home.
It’s pretty simple and doesn’t sound very difficult.”

“Okay, smartass. I’ll take off then, but you call me for anything.
Anything, Mira.
I mean it.”

“Promise,” I say as he leans over, giving me a sweet kiss and rubbing my belly lightly.

Ten minutes goes by and I assume he’s gone since I don’t hear anything from the living
room or kitchen. I’m about to go run a shower when Skylar saunters back through the
door, carrying a plate of food and a few bottles of orange juice.

“Figured you’d want to snack later and I didn’t want you to have to get out of bed,”
he says, setting everything down on my nightstand.

Looking at the assortment he’s brought me, my heart swells and stomach growls. A
bunch of sliced up vegetables—celery, broccoli, tomatoes and cucumbers—adorn the platter
with a small bowl of Ranch dressing in the middle. Regardless of anything stupid
Skylar’s ever done, or will do, this just proves yet again that he’s the man for me.

“Babe, you’re the best.” I sit up and wrap my arms around his neck, splattering wet,
messy kisses all over his face.

“I try,” he jokes, rubbing his fingernails on his shirt.
Never one for modesty.

“I’m really leaving this time, though. Do you need anything else?”

“Nope.
This is fantastic. I’m just gonna hop in the shower and lie in bed the rest of
the night. Thank you for all this. You’re amazing.”

I stand, grab a towel out of the linen closet and am ready to shut the door. Skylar
sneaks up behind me, circles my waist with his arms and lifts me, hugging me tighter
than he ever has before. “You are the amazing one,” he murmurs, giving one last squeeze
before he puts me down.

“I love you, babe,” I call after him.

“Not as much as I love you, Sweets.” With that last statement he’s out the door and
I’m headed for the shower.

Adjusting the temperature to heavenly, I step under the flow of the water. Letting
it rush over me, I begin to wash my body, the pear soap leaving silky smooth skin
in its wake. As my hands graze over my still flat stomach, I take a little extra
time massaging the area. It’s hard to imagine what I’ll look like fat with this baby.
Of course, all of the scary relationship details enter my mind, making my heart beat
a little faster and my mouth become dry. Will Skylar love me when my hips are wider?
Am I going to look like a damn tiger
who
finally got her stripes? Is my body going to be too grotesque for him to want to
make love to me? Will he stray because of it? What if I have a C-Section? Will
the scar gross him out?

Before I can let myself attempt to answer any of those questions, I try to push them
aside and focus on the positive. He’s going to love this baby, be an exceptional
father and never make this little person question his love. Those things outweigh
the negative; I just have to keep reminding myself of that every day.

In a low, soft voice, I speak to my unborn baby. “You’re already so loved. No matter
what happens, you just know that you have a mommy and a daddy that love you more than
anything. You stay strong in there baby. I’m out here fighting for you.”

I rinse my body, wrap myself in a towel and walk into the bedroom. Sneaky Skylar
strikes yet again. I thought he left and I was wrong. Sometime after I went in the
bathroom, he came back in and laid out a pair of comfortable PJ’s for me, as well
as a glass of ice for my orange juice, plugged my tablet in so it wouldn’t die and
pushed all his pillows to my side of the bed.

Climbing onto the huge California king, I take a few bites of the veggies, open a
good book, turn the TV on for background noise and try not to fall asleep with all
the comfort surrounding me. If this is what pregnancy is going to be like, I’m sold.

A little after ten, Skylar comes through the door, carrying an extra large cheese
pizza. The rest of the night is spent in bed together. I know it’s going to sound
corny, but there’s no other way I would have liked to ring in the New Year. Just
Skylar, me and the baby makes it absolutely perfect.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Mira

The last two weeks has gone by smoother than I would have ever imagined. Still very
much pregnant, the doctor says I’m able to resume light activity in short intervals.
Between Skylar, Kylee and my mother, I’m never alone and it’s starting to wear on
me. Seriously, can’t a girl just have a few hours to herself?

Danny moved away last week. We tried to convince him again to have a going away party;
he still refused, wanting to spend whatever time he had left with Melissa. I can’t
fault the guy, but we’ve been his friends for years and I’m going to miss him. He
called a few days ago to tell us about his new, swanky apartment in Manhattan. This
new company must really value him because I’m sure a view overlooking Central Park
can’t be cheap by any means. He also hasn’t mentioned the pregnancy since Skylar
spilled the beans, which I’m forever grateful for.

It seems like that’s all these people want to talk about—Skylar, Kylee and my mom,
that is. I can’t get away from it no matter how hard I try. Skylar left me alone
on that first night, but every night since then, Kylee’s been here, or my mom. Not
that I mind the company, but the constant need to entertain people is grating my last
nerve. I just want to … be.

“You okay in there?” Skylar asks on the other side of the bathroom door. See what
I mean? I can’t get away for more than five minutes without someone starting a search
party.