“Okay,” Hailey raised her eyebrow. She walked Leah over to her parents, who were sitting on the small couch next to the window. Nora and Randy sat in folding chairs next to the bed. Hailey stared at Grant. “Are you okay?”
“Well, there’s one,” Grant shrugged coldly.
“Grant,” David sighed. “Please…”
“What is wrong?” Hailey gulped, her eyes fixed on Grant.
“That’s two,” Grant rolled his eyes, “but, you want to talk? Let’s talk! I’m not okay because, as you might be aware, I’m dying. But, that aside, guess what…bad news…even if I do luck up and live…you might want to find you a man who can live up to the most basic definition of the word.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow you,” Hailey shook her head, looking around for anyone willing to explain the outburst to her.
“Grant, maybe this is a conversation you would like to have in private,” David suggested.
“Can you keep your mouth shut over there?” Grant practically yelled. “Or, I’m sorry, have you and your super sperm not already gotten enough attention?” Grant turned back to Hailey, who stared back at him in shock. “By the way, congratulate David and Melissa…apparently there’s more news…he knocked her up with twins.”
“Grant…” David groaned. “Language…”
“You’re having twins?” Hailey gasped.
“We are,” Melissa nodded with a smile, but Hailey couldn’t help but notice her lack of willingness to offer much more on the subject of baby talk.
“You sound excited about the twins?” Grant practically accused Hailey.
“Of course,” Hailey smiled. “I’m thrilled for them; aren’t you?”
“Of course,” Grant scoffed. “I’m happy for them, but it’s not what you want, right? I mean, you told me you don’t want kids, right?”
“No, I don’t want kids,” Hailey shook her head confused. “I mean, not now, maybe not ever, but…not now, not soon…I don’t know…maybe one day…”
“Well, make up your mind, Hailey,” Grant threw up his arms. “My gosh! Just make up your mind! Because if you have some repressed maternal desire that is going to surface at some point, you need to keep an open mind about finding someone else, because, this guy, is pretty much guaranteed a life of sterility in return for survival.”
“That’s what this is about?” Hailey gulped. “Grant, why would you think that matters to me?”
“It matters to me!” Grant exclaimed.
“I thought you didn’t want kids?” Hailey replied slowly.
“Well, at eighteen, I would like to know I had the option, Hailey,” Grant snapped.
The way he said her name …the bitterness in his tone…it stung, even as Hailey tried to put it in perspective. “There’s always adoption if we ever wanted a baby,” Hailey said sternly.
“I don’t want a baby!” Grant exclaimed. “I would, however, like to know that the fear of knocking you up is a real one and that precautions would have to be taken.”
“You are being ridiculous!” Hailey insisted, looking around, embarrassed.
“Am I?” Grant shrugged. “Or is it you who is not exhibiting the appropriate reaction? Why do you have to take everything so well? Why does nothing matter to you anymore except me getting well?”
“Because that is all that matters right now!” Hailey snapped, trying to control her voice and not further upset Leah, whose face was buried between her parents.
“Maybe to you,” Grant shook his head. “Just get out of here. I don’t want to look at you right now.”
“Grant,” Randy exhaled. “Come-on, Son…”
“It’s okay,” Hailey shook her head as she walked for the door. “I need to take a walk.”
“Grant,” David rose. “You are acting like an absolute…”
“David,” Nora interrupted. “He is acting sick. It is all part of this process.”
Nora went to follow Hailey outside, but David stopped her. “If you don’t mind…I think I’ll take this one.”
Nora reluctantly conceded.
Hailey wasn’t hard to find. She was standing right next to the door, her back to the wall, tears rolling unhindered down her cheeks. She smiled when she saw David, but she let her tears flow. David offered her a kiss on the forehead that said he was sorry…and that Grant was sorry too.
Hailey lay in bed next to Grant, his face resting easily against her shoulder as he slept. She gently kissed him, and he opened his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Hailey whispered. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I don’t want to go to sleep,” Grant managed weakly.
Hailey frowned. It wasn’t the first time she had heard this, but it rattled her every time. “Close your eyes and rest,” she whispered as she stroked Grant’s arm. “You need your rest; it’s important.”
“You’ll be here when I wake up?” Grant asked.
“I promise,” Hailey nodded, hoping he would accept the easy answer but knowing he wouldn’t.
