“I know, baby. I love you just as much…if not more. ”
Lying there with her in my arms, I listened as her breathing become more and more relaxed as she finally drifted off to sleep. I rolled her over and pulled the sheets up over her. I sat there for a few minutes, just watching her sleep. She seemed so at peace. I wished that she was that way when she was awake.
Then, I heard my phone chirp. I knew that who-ever had called before had left a message because my notification alert kept going off. There was no way I would have told Ari we needed to stop, so I could check my phone. I already knew who had been calling.
I quietly moved off the bed and reached into my jeans pocket to get my phone. Sure enough, there was one missed call and one voice mail message from Rebecca.
I walked through the living room and stepped out onto the front porch. Rebecca had sounded panicked in her voicemail. She’d said she needed to know if I was alright because she had been trying to get a hold of me all day. No shit.
I looked at the time. It was close to 1 a. m. I guess I better call her.
“Jeff! Oh my god! I’ve been worried sick. I’ve been calling for hours,” Rebecca said.
“Well, Rebecca, I’m fine. I told you that I was coming out to Mason and that I didn’t get very good cell phone coverage here. If it was important, you could have left a message. ”
“I remember that now. Gesh, it must be pregnancy mind. I tend to forget things a lot lately. I was wondering what you were doing this weekend. I really need to get the baby’s room ready, and I’m afraid that I’m running out of time. Is there any way you can help with painting and setting up the crib and such? I can’t get anyone to help me. ”
“You have until the middle of August. Why are you in such a rush to get the baby’s room done this weekend?”
“Jeff, please. You never know. What if something happens and the baby comes early? Please. If I have to beg and plead, I will. I really need help. My parents have pretty much disowned me. I have no one. ”
Motherfucker! Ari’s going to be pissed. “Fine. I’ll be there sometime tomorrow morning. It’ll probably be closer to lunch-time. ”
“Oh, thank you so much, Jeff! You don’t know how relieved I am. I’ll plan on making us lunch. ”
“Okay. I’ll be there around eleven. ”
“See you then Daddy!”
I ended the call and almost felt sick to my stomach. I turned around to see Ari standing in the doorway. Fuck.
“So, now, you feel like you have to go outside and talk to your baby mama at 1a. m. ”
“Ari, it’s not like that. I just didn’t. ”
“I have a doctor’s appointment on Monday with Dr. Wyatt. ”
“Why? Is something wrong?”
“Only the fact that Rebecca and I share the same doctor. No, nothing is wrong. My mother asked me to get tested for Fragile X, so I am. ”
“Shit, baby. Do you want me to go with you?”
She shook her head. “Sounds like you have a busy weekend planned. You better get to bed,”
Ari turned and walked away from me, leaving the front door open.
Fuck me! Why the hell did she have to wake up and over hear my conversation? I followed her into the bedroom and tried to get her to talk to me.
“Jeff, I’m tired. I don’t feel good, and I have a lot on my mind. I’m not really in the mood to talk to you about how you’re going to play Daddy and fix up a fucking baby room!” Ari shouted.
“What the hell do you want me to do, Ari? Leave her to fend for herself? She needs help, and her family has abandoned her. You really want me to be that cruel to her?”
Ari glared at me before she grabbed a pillow and a blanket.
“I’m sleeping on the sofa. I might need to get up in the middle of the night. My stomach is feeling sick again. ”
“Ari, please don’t sleep out in the