Page 50 of Beautiful Small Things

Callan and Colby come barging into my house while I’m in mid-panic. I’m pacing, asking myself questions I can’t possibly know the answer to, while the baby on the table is also audibly panicking, likely set off by the realization that I’m the last person she should have been left with. Following closely behind them is James.

Great. She’s exactly who I need to deal with right now.

I haven’t seen James since the wedding. The last time I saw her was when we fucked like rabbits in the bathroom at the reception, and she proceeded to look horrified and embarrassed and ordered me never to tell anyone. I tried to talk to her, but she ignored me for the rest of the night and the following few days whenever I reached out.

The three of them come upon the scene and stare at me wide-eyed. “What’s going on, Marcus?” Colby says. “Whose baby is this?”

“It’s gotta be a mistake,” Callan adds.

“We should call the police,” Colby adds. “Someone abandoned this baby.” Their voices are getting louder to peak over the crying baby. They are coming at a rapid-fire pace, and I can’t comprehend anything anyone is saying.

“Marcus, do you have any idea what’s going on?” Callan gestures to the wailing baby.

“Who would do this?” Colby is shaking her head in disbelief.

“Can the baby be yours?” Callan is distraught.

“This is so fucked up.” Colby volleys back.

“Stop!” I yell. The entire room goes quiet. I realize then that the baby has stopped crying. The three of us turn to see James rocking her gently in her arms.

“How did you learn how to do that?” Callan asks her.

“What? Care for another human being? It’s kinda innate, Dork,” she shoots back.

Ignoring the dig, he turns to me. “Marcus, we should call your parents. They can tell us what to do,” Callan assures me.

“No,” I shake my head, sighing loudly. “I know who I need to call. I’ll be back.”

I walk into the other room and search for her number in my phone. It rings twice before I hear the cries on the other end of the line.

“Chelsea, what the fuck is going on?”

“I’m so sorry, Marcus. I thought I could do it, but I can’t.” Her voice is cracked with emotion, but it does nothing to ease the anger in my chest.

“You thought you could do what?” I demand.

More crying on the other end of the phone.

“Chelsea, answer me. What the fuck is going on?”

“She’s yours, Marcus,” she says quietly.

I knew. I knew as soon as I looked into her eyes, but hearing the words makes my world spin on its axis. I feel like I’m about to pass out.

I sit on the couch and drop my head in my hands. “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

“I found out after we broke up. I didn’t know what to do,” she whimpers.

“You have other children, Chelsea. How could you not know what to do?”

“You were so angry with me. I thought I’d take care of it. But I couldn’t.” My heart nearly cracks open at her admission.

“You lied to me. You never told me you were married. Of course, I was angry with you,” I state, standing up and beginning to pace again.

“I know. I made so many mistakes. But I can’t do this to my family, Marcus. My children are teenagers. I can’t be a new mother. My husband will never be able to accept her. He said he would try, but as soon as he saw her, he said he couldn’t do it. He said he would leave me and take the kids.” Her words are rushed and strung together as if saying it faster makes it less painful.

“So what? You just leave her on my doorstep? What the fuck is wrong with you?”