“You gonna win?”
“Unless a miracle happens between now and then.”
“Just remember what I said, Sus, that wouldn’t be the end of the world, nor does it have to be the end of the line for this boy. Something may come up.”
“I hope so.”
“Bobbie Jayne called me today.”
“She knows you’re in California?” Last she knew, he hadn’t even told his parents about his promotion.
“She left a message for me in Chicago. I pulled it off my machine.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Good...great.” He paused. “She was in a play this semester in school—a musical, actually, Oklahoma—and she had to tell me about every scene.”
Grinning, Susan gazed up at the ceiling, making mental shapes out of the shadows. “That must’ve been entertaining.”
“Yeah, well, it got even better when she started working me over.”
“What’s she want?”
“Drama camp this summer.”
A little uncomfortable, Susan turned onto her side. “She wants you to spring for it?”
“More, she wants me to convince Bob and her mom to let her go.” He was grumbling, but Susan knew he enjoyed Bobbie Jayne’s antics. And Bobbie Jayne’s faith in him.
“She talk you into it?”
“What do you think?”
“Good girl—oh!” She sat straight up in bed.
“What?” Michael asked, and then, more urgently, “Susan, what’s wrong?”
Stunned, she was afraid to move, to speak, afraid she’d miss a replay. “Nothing. I think I just got kicked.” she whispered, staring down at her belly.
“You...what?”
“There!” she said more loudly. “It happened again.”
Silence hung on the other end of the line and Susan suddenly remembered who she was talking to—not Michael, she knew that—but the reluctant father of her babies.
“What’s it feel like?” His question came softly.
“Um...” She took a deep breath. “Like a bubble popping, I guess.”
“Did it hurt?”
“No.” Then she added, “Not at all.”
“Well, I guess you better get some sleep.”
“Yeah.” Tears burned the backs of her eyes.
“Good night.”