~~
All through dinner, as India and her parents kept the conversation going, Nick kept looking semi-suspiciously at India’s parents, wondering how extremely driven, get-it-all-done India had managed to come from these two extremely laid-back, borderline hippies. It really made him wonder what their child would be like- if he or she would be more like himself or India, be a combination of the two of them, or leave everyone wondering how they’d turned out the way they did, given their parents.
~~
As India cleared off the dinner plates and took them over to the sink to rinse them off, she began to think about the best way to deliver the news. She knew it would get a good reception, she wasn’t worried about that… it was just more how to tell them. Telling her parents and sister she was pregnant for the first time was an experience she’d only get once, and felt like she should have done something more memorable to tell them. But what else should she have done? It was already going to be a surprise… they were going to remember it, no matter what.
She pulled the key lime pie out of the refrigerator and sliced it up, putting a sliver of pie on each dessert plate and drizzling lime sauce over it. She took the plates over to her parents, then her sister, and Nick, then finally sat down with her own piece, well aware of Chasity’s eyes on her. “What??”
“Something’s going on.” Chasity said.
“Why do you say that?”
“You’re acting very… domestic.”
India laughed, “Just because I’m being a good hostess means something is up?”
“It’s just not you.” Chasity remarked.
India exchanged a quick glance with Nick, who gave her a nod, might as well tell them now, since the door was wide open. “Actually, you’re right, Chas… something is going on.”
Chasity’s eyes immediately went to India’s left hand, checking to see if she’d somehow missed seeing a new piece of jewelry.
“What is it, honey?” her mom, Olivia, asked.
India couldn’t stop the smile that immediately lit up her face, just preparing to tell them. “I’m pregnant.”
Nick looked around the table to watch the reactions- Chasity’s jaw dropping, and Olivia and Lincoln both jumping up out of their chairs and practically running to give India a hug.
“Oh sweetie! That’s so exciting!!” Olivia squealed, grabbing India’s shoulders and pulling her up out of her chair to hug her.
As Lincoln realized Olivia wouldn’t be letting go of India just yet, he extended his hand to Nick, “Congratulations, son.”
Nick was a little surprised at being called ‘son’, but didn’t mind, he’d already decided that he liked India’s parents, he just still couldn’t figure out how’d they’d managed to raise a daughter that turned out like India had. “Thanks.”
“It’s a very big change, having a baby… but it’s also the most important thing you can ever do with your life. Those two girls are my pride and joy… you think you know what love is when you find the right woman… but when you have a baby… then you know what love is really all about.” Lincoln told him.
Before Nick had a chance to respond, Olivia was throwing her arms around him, nearly knocking him over and hugging him tightly.
India smiled at her dad as he opened his arms to her, and she leaned into his embrace.
“I’m happy for you, Indi, you’re going to make a great mother.” he said, stroking her hair.
“Thank you, daddy.” she whispered back to him, suddenly a little emotional at being called ‘Indi’, something she hadn’t heard since she was much younger.
When Olivia let him go, Nick glanced over to Chasity, who appeared to have the same expression she did immediately after hearing the news. “Chas?”
She shook her head in apparent disbelief, “I guess with you two fucking like bunnies it was bound to happen… but… whoa…”
Everyone turned to look at Chasity, surprised at the only comment she had for her sister.
Olivia went back over to her seat, ignoring her oldest daughter, “So how far are you, India? When is the baby due?”
They all sat back down, Chasity silently eating her pie as the others discussed the baby details.
“Just over two months, now. I’m due mid-October, according to the doctor.” India said.
“October’s a good month.” Lincoln said, smiling and thinking a grandbaby would be the perfect birthday gift.
India nodded, “Yes, it is, dad.”
Olivia sighed happily, “You two remind me so much of Linc and I when we were your age. Young and starry-eyed… so in love. We were so excited when we found out I was pregnant… Chasity was a surprised, but the most pleasant kind. I’m so lucky to have both of my girls… I’m so proud of you, India.”
India smiled at her mother, very aware of Chasity scowling at her from the end of the table.
~~
About an hour later, as Nick was clearing the table and Lincoln and Olivia were gathering their things to leave, India pulled Chasity aside.
“What crawled up your ass?” India asked her.
Chasity glared at her for a moment. “Nothing, Indi.” she said, emphasizing her use of their father’s nickname.
“Liar. Just tell me what it is.” India insisted.
“It’s ALWAYS you. Everything. Always you. All the school shit and everything else… they’re always proud of you. This was supposed to be MINE, India. I was supposed to be the first one for something… this I could do… I could fall in love, make a baby… but now, you’ve got that, too. I guess my one and only claim to fame in this family is being the firstborn… a “pleasant surprise”.” Chasity said, keeping her voice low so no one else would hear her.
India stared at her sister, completely caught off-guard by her display of hatefulness and jealousy. She had no idea what to say to her, and didn’t have a chance, as Chasity called ‘good-bye’ to Nick and walked out the door.
~~~
“That went well.” Nick said, wrapping his arms around India’s waist and kissing her temple, after they’d shut the door from her parents leaving.
“Yeah, I guess.” she mumbled, not returning his affection, simply because she was aggravated at Chasity.
Nick let go of her, and held her at arm’s length, curious as to her mood. “What’s wrong?”
India shook her head, not really wanting to talk about it, and answered him, vaguely. “Chas had a few words for me on the way out.”
“Okay…” He realized the conversation was over when she walked away from him, and figured he’d find out more later on.
****
“How do you think they’re going to take this?” India asked, on the drive to Bob and Jane’s house, speaking her first words of the morning. Up until just moments ago, she hadn’t wanted to say anything for fear that she’d be sick again, just from the extra energy required from opening her mouth to talk.
Nick shrugged, “I don’t know… and really, I don’t even care. I want them to know and I’d love for them to be excited, but if they’re not… it’s okay. I’m old enough I don’t need their approval on things anymore… it’s my life.”
India considered his answer, then turned to look out the window, silent for the rest of the ride, her nausea having returned.
Nick didn’t like the silence between them, but assumed it was because of her apprehension about giving his parents the news. He’d finally gotten the scoop on what Chasity had said a few days later, when India was done seething over it. Her mood had improved drastically, until today, when Nick had announced it was time to tell his parents. So it was either seeing his parents or another mood swing that had turned India into a woman of very few words for the morning.
~~
“What???” Jane asked, looking alarmed after Nick had just told them they were going to be grandparents.
Bob cast a wary look in Jane’s direction and turned to India, “That’s great, India, congratulations.”
“Thanks.” she replied, quickly, more interested in what Jane was about to say to Nick as she unsubtly motioned for him to follow her into the next room.
Nick joined his mother and asked, “What’s the problem?”
“Nickolas! What are you thinking??” Jane asked.
“That I’m excited about this and I want you to feel the same way,” he replied.
“You’re young… you have too much going on for this! What are you going to do with a baby??”
“Mom… you had me by the time you were this age…” he pointed out.
“I didn’t have your life, either! I could stay home and take care of you… I wasn’t traveling all over the world.” she said, obviously distressed.
Nick sighed, knowing he should have seen this coming. “ It’s okay, mom. India will travel with me… we’ll still be together… it’s not that big of a deal. We’ll work it out.”
“You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into.” Jane asserted.
“No, I don’t have a clue… just like you didn’t… but you survived, all the kids managed to grow up… pretty well… “ he mumbled, suddenly thinking of a lot of things he wanted to be sure he and India did differently for their children than his parents had for him.
Jane paced back and forth in front of Nick, “Are you at least going to get married?”
Nick shrugged, “We haven’t talked about it.”
“You’re having a baby and you haven’t even discussed marriage??” she asked, that ‘I can’t believe you’ tone sneaking back into her voice.
“No, we haven’t… I’d gladly marry her…but it’s not a priority right now. I know I’ll spend the rest of my life with her… raise our kids together, married or not.” Nick explained, calmly.
“You can say all that now, because everything is still perfect.. you haven’t been together that long… you don’t know what it takes to sustain a relationship, the strain having a baby will put on both of you…”
Nick interrupted her, “Thanks for your support, mom, we appreciate it.”
Jane tried to protest as he walked away from her, but didn’t get much of a chance as Nick grabbed India’s hand, told his father good-bye and they walked out the door.
~~
“What do you think about getting married?” Nick asked, as they drove back to his house.
India turned to look at him, “Is that what your mom was on your case about?”
“That was one of several things,” he said.
“Well, if she asks again, you can tell her that we’ll think about getting married when the baby is old enough to be the ring-bearer or the flower-girl.” she told him.
Nick stopped at a red light and leaned over to kiss her. “Okay.”
After returning his kiss, she said, “I’d marry you tomorrow if that was what we both really wanted… but I don’t think it is… You know I’m not going anywhere… I don’t think we need a big, crazy ceremony to tell the world that we intend to stay together.”
****
“So, what’s this big news you got for us?” Chris asked, slamming down his now-empty beer bottle.
“You single again??” David asked, hopefully, still bitter about the giant periods of time that Nick had been spending away from them- India was seriously fucking up their male bonding time.
“Nope.” Nick replied.
“Well, what is it?” James asked, thinking he had a pretty good idea what the news might be.
“India’s pregnant.” Nick told them, a wide smile on his face.
“WHAT?!?” David howled, spitting the drink he’d just taken back out across the table.
Nick had to wait until he stopped laughing and could breathe again, before he repeated himself. “She’s pregnant.”
“Aw, shit. We’re never going to see you now.” Chris muttered.
“That’s cool, man.” James said, slapping Nick on the back. “Congrats.”
“Thank you.”
“Hell, now you’re gonna go get married…” David started, and was interrupted by Chris gleefully yelling about a bachelor party.
“We’re not getting married.” Nick said, loudly.
David and Chris turned to him, startled.
“What? That wasn’t the next thing she said? Like, ‘I’m pregnant, marry me’?” David asked.
“No… she doesn’t want to right now.” Nick told him.
“Whoa…”
“But still, dude, you’re gonna have a BABY… ya gotta change diapers and feed it all the time… you’re never gonna have sex again.” Chris said.
“How do you feel about this?” James asked.
“I love it… I was excited when she told me and I still am. I think it’s awesome.”
The startled looks returned to Chris and David’s faces. “Huh?”
“I love her… and I want this. I KNOW I found the right girl… I’m ready for this.” Nick said.
“Damn.” Chris muttered, disappointed in Nick’s resignation to family life.
“Yeah… damn.” David echoed.
James gave Nick a smile, “Good for you, man.”
Nick returned the smile, at least someone was on his side.