Theon
I left the house determined to get that matter over with. My mother's house was not too far away, so I arrived within ten minutes.
The first thing I heard as I passed through the front door was the sound of the loud crying of Daphne, Lara's daughter. Right away Evangeline, my younger sister, came towards me with an exasperated expression on her face.
" For the sake of your sanity, you better get out of here now," she raised her voice, "this girl hasn't stopped yelling for at least an hour!”
I didn't have time to answer her, she simply ran towards the stairs, disappearing upstairs, while my niece's screams, if possible, became even louder.
" She's hungry! " my mother's voice sounded muffled from the living room.
" I told you, it's not time," my sister whined, "she just had a feed!”
I walked over to where they were standing, watching my sister standing near the large glass door that led to the back yard, cradling her daughter in an attempt to somehow comfort her. My mother seemed irritated by the situation, so much so that she didn't even notice me standing there watching them.
"For God's sake, you don't have to set the time for everything! "she changed her voice" you woke her up so she could feed, she fed a little because she was sleepy, and you decided she was satisfied!
" I can take care of my daughter, she must be sick! " my sister retorted angrily.
" Or hungry! " my mother really screamed this time.
That seemed to be the last straw for my sister, who literally marched toward me with her daughter in her arms and tears in her eyes.
"Since you consider me incapable of knowing what my own daughter needs, then take care of it yourself," she shouted over her shoulder to my mother, handing the little girl to me, before running to the stairs, leaving me behind with a baby in my arms.
What's going on here?
" Since you refuse to listen to simple advice just to follow your timetable, I really reckon," my mother shouted back, ignoring my presence, "the girl has been crying for at least half an hour!”
Daphne squirmed in my arms, getting redder and redder as she cried, leaving me not knowing what to do. I had never had this much contact with her, she was four months old, and it had been three months since Lara had come home with her in her arms. I liked the girl, but I was never one to take care of her, especially while she was crying!
I was about to hand her over to my mother, when Delphine came from the kitchen, carrying a baby bottle. She handed it to me, expecting me to handle the situation.
" Mom, can you…”
I interrupted my sentence as I watched the girl slow down her screaming, opening her mouth as soon as she saw the bottle. I put it in her mouth, enjoying the silence for the first time since I entered that house.
" Finally," my mother sighed, as my grandmother made her way to the backyard, "do you want to give her to me, Theon?”
" No, it's okay," I stammered, watching my niece in my arms, "I can handle this.”
And I'd better get some practice. I thought.
Soon I'll have one of these in my arms, and it will cry like this and be just as dependent as she is. That thought scared me a little, but I couldn't run away!
I will be a father in a few months!
" I swear sometimes I feel like hitting your sister for being so hard headed," she sighed, coming closer, "You were hungry, weren't you, kitten?”
" I've finally gone deaf? " Liny questioned, coming down the stairs and finding the room silent.
"Why did you disappear instead of coming to help? " scolded my mother.
" I was enjoying the fact that I wasn't the clumsy one who got pregnant by some random guy," she shrugged, throwing herself onto the couch.
That comment hit me with a punch, but what could I do? She was right. Getting someone I practically didn't know pregnant was crazy!
" Don't talk about your sister like that," my mother sighed, "it happened, it's gone now.”
" It happened? How does something like that happen? " she laughed, "It was pure stupidity, wasn't it, Theon?
I frowned at that new comment. Irresponsible? yes. But stupid?
I decided to devote my attention to my niece, who had finished her bottle and seemed satisfied.
" You better not judge," my mother rolled her eyes, taking the baby bottle from my hand, "or you might be next.
" God forbid," she made the sign of the cross amidst her laughter, "No one deserves a situation like this, right Theon?
" What do I do with her? " I ignored my sister.
" Let her stand for a while," my mother instructed.
I obeyed, straightening the little girl in the best position, feeling a sort of pride come over me. γιαγιά entered the house once more, watching me as I gave my attention to the little one, who looked pleased.
" I haven't come home in months and when I do you're having fun in Vegas," Liny insisted, following me.
" Months? You came for Gregor's wedding," I contradicted her.
" That doesn't count, I only stayed for two days. This time I'll get to spend the week.
" Why?”
" There was a problem at college and we'll be out of class for a week," she shrugged, "so I decided to visit you.”
" Great," I sighed, thinking about what I would have to tell my sister in her presence.
My mother handed me some plates, while my grandmother sat down with difficulty in her seat. Liny went to call Lara, and I wondered whether it would be better if I revealed all at once about Samantha or not. Finally, I decided to wait for dinner.
Lara joined us, carrying the baby monitor through which she monitored Daphne's sleep.
" Where is Harper? " my grandmother asked, ignoring my mother's angry look at my sister.
" She couldn't make it," I looked away, not wanting to talk about our possible breakup.
" You should put a ring on that woman's finger right away," she complained.
" That won't happen so soon, we've only been together for a month," I took a deep breath.
" I don't know why. You've known each other for so long, and I bet she spends more time at your house than at hers," Lara interjected, "she may not be Greek, but she's a good woman.”
" You should do it soon. I'm going to die soon, and I won't be attending my grandchildren's wedding," my grandmother let out, "and your sister is right, Harper is a good woman.”
" You're not going to die anytime soon, and besides, I don't see anyone demanding a wedding from Callie, and she's the oldest.
" Don't even get me started on that, if it were my time, you'd all be married with kids," γιαγιά murmured.
Well, I'll soon sort out the children’s part.
" Times have changed, besides, the decision has to come from Adam " My mother entered the conversation, watching everyone settle down and start serving themselves.
" I bet Harper is pissed at Theon for partying all weekend with Gregor and leaving her behind," Liny teased as she passed me the potato salad.
" I don't know what you see in Las Vegas," Lara muttered, "I hated that city.”
" Only because that's where you got pregnant," Liny laughed, receiving a glare in return.
" I didn't got pregnant in Vegas," she growled.
" If you do the math, you'll see that it matches your trip," Liny insisted.
" Anyway, we didn't go to have fun," I replied grumpily, interrupting the nonsense.
" What were you doing then? I hope Gregor didn't do anything wrong. He's only recently married and I doubt that Myron would accept a divorce so soon," my mother looked at me suspiciously.
" Gregor has nothing to do with the matter. He was just accompanying me.”
" Accompany you for what? " my grandmother gave me a shrewd look, putting her food aside.
" Can we talk about this later? " I asked despondently.
" No, we're all here now," Liny smiled innocently.
I stared at her before observing each of the women at the table, and at that moment I knew for sure that they would not wait until after dinner.
" Do you really want to talk about this now? " I sighed.
" Come on, Theon," γιαγιά hurried me, "it would be better if you just told us what you need to talk about.”
" You've got us curious," Lara smiled encouragingly.
" Well, I got a call on Friday," I scratched my throat.
" What kind of call? Business? " Liny questioned, concentrating on her food.
" I'm going to be a father," I revealed bluntly, causing them all to freeze at the news.
Liny had stopped her fork halfway to her mouth, staring at me in shock, while the others seemed to have a similar reaction.
" What did you say? " my mother stammered.
" I found out on Friday and am still trying to assimilate," I explained.
" My God, Theon," Lara smiled, “How long has Harper been expecting?”
"That's all the more reason for you to propose to her! " my grandmother pointed out cheerfully.
" Harper is not pregnant," I corrected that misunderstanding.
" Now I don't get it," Liny frowned.
" I met a girl in Las Vegas during Gregor's bachelor party," I looked away to my almost untouched plate, "on Friday she called me to tell me that she is pregnant and that I am the father.”
" You got a stranger pregnant? " my mother lost her color.
" Yes.”
" My God, is there no sex education in Las Vegas? " Liny raised her voice laden with irony.
" Evangeline," my mother growled, while Lara still stared at me in shock.
" I'm telling you, somebody give me a banana and a condom and I'll solve the problem with these two!”
" I can't believe you slept with this girl without any protection, Theon! " my mother raised her voice as she realized the big issue.
" I always thought Lara was the only misfit in the family," my grandmother muttered discontentedly.
" γιαγιά! " Lara raised her voice.
" What? You don't even know who Daphne's father is " Delphine rolled her eyes.
" I know who the father is! " Lara stood up, looking offended that she had been involved in the whole situation. She stomped out of the dining room, leaving us behind.
" I wasn't clumsy, it was an oversight," I took a deep breath, returning to the subject even though I knew they were right, "anyway, it happened. Samantha and I are going to be parents.”
" Are you going to marry her? " Delphine looked at me suspiciously.
My God, for this woman everything is solved by marriage!
" Marrying a stranger just because of a child would be crazy, γιαγιά " I rolled my eyes.
" Having sex with a stranger without protection is too, and that didn't stop you," Liny provoked me.
" Evangeline, this is serious business! " my mother scolded.
" I am serious," she retorted.
" That doesn't matter, the question is what he intends to do from now on " γιαγιά interrupted us.
I sighed thinking about how to start explaining my plan, but before I could speak, Liny interrupted again.
" He is going to have a child, what else could he do?
" Well, we both talked it over and came to the conclusion that Vegas is not an appropriate place for a child, so she is moving to Aspen " I ignored my sister.
" And Harper? Have you told her? " My mother asked apprehensively.
" Yes, I have. She's digesting all this and I don't know what she's going to decide about us.”
" And you intend to financially support this Samantha? " my grandmother asked seriously, "Are you sure the child is yours?”
" I had my doubts, but she offered to do the DNA test. If she wasn't sure that I was the father, she wouldn't do it. And about supporting her, she said that she would ask her parents for help and that she will get a job.”
" God, this is a nightmare," my mother groaned.
" What does she do for a living? " Delphine ignored her.
" She is a dancer.”
This information shocked everyone again. I think they expected something like this from my cousin, and not from me.
" You got a Las Vegas stripper pregnant? " Liny held back her laughter.
" She's not a stripper, she's just a showgirl," I tried to correct her.
I didn't want everyone to get the wrong idea about Samantha before she even arrived.
" And is there a difference? " My grandmother let out.
I rolled my eyes at this statement. Could my grandmother be any more prejudiced?
" Yes, there is a lot of difference, γιαγιά. And I hope that everyone will respect her when she arrives," I muttered.
" And when will she arrive? " My mother asked.
" Two weeks," I stood up, "look, I know you probably have a lot of questions, but I'm exhausted. I want to go home and rest before I start looking for a house for Samantha.”
I got up from the table, saying goodbye to my family before leaving the dining room. I left the house, finding Lara sitting on the front door step, holding the baby monitor in her hand with a lost look at the road.
" Hey, are you all right? " I questioned.
" They'll never stop throwing it in my face," she complained, "it was a stupid mistake and I'll be hearing it for the rest of my life.
" They care about you and the situation. Our situation," I added after a brief consideration, "well, it's complicated.”
" Tell me about it," she sighed and stood up, "but this girl was lucky to at least find a decent guy. You would never run away from your responsibility.”
" She was terrified of the possibility," I admitted, "she's your age.”
" I know how she must be feeling, and I hope you can handle it, Theon.” My Sister hug me.
I returned the hug, remaining in that position for a moment before pulling away.
" You know, it's not the best situation. But I'm proud of how you're doing," she smiled, turning back toward the door, "and congratulations on the baby.”
I nodded before getting into the car and driving back home, in less than half an hour I was lying on my bed staring at the ceiling.
I was stuck in my thoughts. I opened the pictures Samantha had sent of her scans, looking at the little shape stamped on the ultrasound.
I am going to be a father. Once again this realization hit me.
It seemed unreal. I didn't feel like a father, even after the moment I had earlier with Daphne.
I wondered if Samantha felt like a mother.
"How are you feeling today?"
I texted her, her reply didn't take long to arrive.
"Eating like an ostrich, how are you, Apollo?"
I couldn't help but smile at that reply. Samantha had a unique sense of humor, I noticed it from the beginning, it was not unusual for her to make me smile with her sarcastic comments and her unusual logic.
"You must eat well"
Was my response
"Have you talked to your girlfriend?"
I took a deep breath as I read that. Couldn't I just forget about it for a few hours?
"Yes."
" How was it?"
I thought for a moment about how to answer the question.
" It didn't go so well."
"I'm sorry."
I stared at the ceiling again leaving the cell phone on the bed without bothering to answer. I wished I could talk to Harper, but I didn't want to seem pushy or invasive, so I quickly dismissed the idea of calling her. I just remained motionless, wondering what to do next until the sound of a new notification caught my attention.
" How are you taking it all in?"
That's what Samantha asked in another message.
"I'm not sure, what about you? Has it sunk in that you are going to be a mother?"
I decided to satisfy my curiosity from before. I wondered if Samantha had gotten used to the idea.
"I think it happened when I heard his heart, but it's still weird"
She replied.
I opened the ultrasound images again, watching my son there. I guess I was supposed to get emotional or something, but it still didn't feel real, I didn't feel much other than wishing it was a nightmare.
Oh, shit!
When is everything going to start getting better?