Part 8
LITTLE THINGS
The past holds the truth like a lost and found
There's no need to worry, no need to be scared
Cause little things will come along
And life's never fair
-Chantal Kreviazuk-
The rest of the evening would've seemed uneventful to the average bystander. To
me, however, it was pure torture. All through pie, Isabel kept shooting me
questioning looks making me very uncomfortable. I spent most of dessert studying
the details of the tablecloth. Of course, it was only a matter of time for Max
and Liz to pick up on Isabel's death rays aimed at Michael. I could tell Max was
anxious to interrogate Isabel about what her beef was with Michael and Liz was
just concerned that something alien-related was going down.
Me, well, I just tried to ignore Scott's annoyed expressions at my silence and
avoid the four pairs of curious eyes on me. Every once in a while I knew Michael
was looking at me, checking to make sure I was holding up okay which, in turn,
caused Isabel, Max, and Liz to stare at me too. Thankfully, everyone finally
decided to call it a night.
As everyone bustles about gathering coats, leftovers, and family members, I rub
my hand over my stomach. Do I really want to do this? Telling Liz would be the
point of no return. Taking a deep breath, I nod at Michael, signaling I'm going
to take the plunge and talk to Liz. I have to know. I need to know.
"Ready to go, sweetie?" Scott sidles up to me, rubbing his hand on my arm.
Unable to handle being touched by him right now, I reflexively jerk back. I know
it's harsh, but I can't really help it. Scott gives me a hurt look and drops his
hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm just tired, okay?" I give Scott a genuinely apologetic smile and
he sighs in defeat. "Listen. There are a few things I need to discuss with Liz.
Would you mind catching a ride home with my mom and Jim? I'll be home in a
little while."
"We need to talk, Maria." Profoundly etched on his face are lines of impatience
and annoyance at my continued behavior towards him. If Liz doesn't find what I
want her to tonight, I'm going to be majorly screwed. I'm going to destroy Scott
all because I can't let go of my alien ex-boyfriend.
"I know. But, I need some time to go over some things with Liz first okay? Just
give me that. I promise we'll talk tonight." I try to give Scott a reassuring
smile even though no matter what news I come to him with, it won't be good.
Defeated, Scott hands me the keys to his car and drops a light kiss on my
forehead. "I'll hold you to it."
Turning away from him, I have to wonder how much he'll regret saying that
tomorrow.
Next step: Liz. I spy her and Max saying goodbye to Isabel and Jesse at the
door, their arms loaded with their baby, baby paraphernalia, and leftovers. It's
rather amusing to see Max Evans, alien king, struggling with about four bags of
baby toys.
"Liz, I need to ask you a huge favor." Concern immediately washes over the
features of the happy couple.
"Of course, Maria. What can I do?" She juggles their son on her hip. I smile at
my godson, awed at how he is the perfect blend of his parents at such a young
age with Liz's brown doe-eyes and Max's protruding ears. He's a cutie.
"Um, " I glance at Max, not wanting to alarm him with anything. That's the last
thing I need right now. "I need you to check out something for me at your
clinic."
"Is everything alright? What's wrong?" Liz transforms into doctor mode and
starts inspecting my face for signs of trauma.
"Nothing major. I just need you to do this for me." I plead, my eyes turning to
Max to help convince Liz not to overreact.
"It's okay, Liz. I'll be fine putting him to bed."
"Thank you, Max." I reach up and kiss Max on the cheek and pull Liz out the door
by her free hand. I help them organize their load in their Explorer and quickly
steal Liz away to Scott's car, hoping to avoid more inquisitive looks from Max.
Alone in the car at last, Liz takes the opportunity to drill me.
"What the hell is going on with you, Maria?"
"What do you mean?" I try to sound calm, collected, and innocent. Obviously, my
best friend knows something is up with me.
"Don't give me that. What I mean is all this weird behavior from you. You
avoided Scott like the plague all night and now you're dragging me off to my
office at eight o'clock at night on Thanksgiving without an obvious medical
emergency. Tell me what's going on!"
Shit. Liz noticed that I've been avoiding Scott? Well, at least maybe she won't
be as shocked by my news. However, I hope my actions weren't as obvious to
everyone else.
"You noticed about Scott?"
Liz looks at me as if I've gone insane, which I really don't blame her for
thinking. You ain't heard nothing yet, girlfriend. "Of course! Everyone,
including you husband, noticed!" Her voice softens, "Is everything okay with you
guys?"
I sigh. "No. It's not."
Placing a reassuring hand over mine, Liz attempts to comfort me, "Maria. It's
okay. Every couple goes through tough times. It'll work out."
Shaking my head, I fight to keep the waterworks under control. "I've messed it
all up, Liz. There's no way we're going to get through it. I don't know if I
want to."
"Oh, Maria." Thankfully, we've reached Liz's small office. I put the car in park
and Liz immediately pulls me into a hug. She whispers soothing words in my ear
and I can't hold back the sobs any longer. It feels good to actually
acknowledge, out loud, that there's trouble in paradise. I only hope she'll be
so supportive when I really spill my guts.
I pull back and move to get out of the car. Liz leads me up to her office,
swiftly going through all the security measures for the tiny building. Couldn't
have any burglars getting in to steal the alien health information.
We're silent until I maneuver onto one of the beds in the exam room. Liz takes
her position on the rolling doctor stool and waits for me to elaborate on
whatever it is I have to say.
"Scott wants to move to Boston." Okay, so that's really not the problem but
maybe if I start off small…
Nodding slowly, Liz leans towards me, ready to hear the full story. She's always
been such a good listener, waiting for all the details to pass judgment. It's
the scientist in her, I guess. "Right. And you don't want to?"
"No. Because I can't leave here, I can't be so far from my family and friends…"
I take a deep breath and shudder, wondering if I'll be able to explain to Liz my
current situation. I decide rather than to pour out my soul first and ask my
question later I should switch up the process. Maybe it'll be easier that way.
"Would you mind taking a look at my blood?"
Liz looks utterly confused. "Why?"
"Please. Then I'll tell you everything." Rolling up the sleeve to my blouse, I
offer my arm out to Liz hoping she'll just trust me. I don't claim to know
anything about medicine, especially of the extraterrestrial variety, but I do
know that they can tell if you're pregnant by a blood sample so she should be
able to tell if it's an alien baby through a blood sample, right?
"I'll be right back." Liz slowly walks out of the exam room, flipping on a few
more lights as she goes to track down the appropriate supplies. Returning
minutes later, she's donned her lab coat and rubber gloves. Methodically, she
goes through the familiar procedure of taking blood. I watch without flinching
as the needle stabs into my arm and my dark blood comes oozing out. Normally,
I'd be squeamish but the pain is welcome tonight.
"All done!" Liz announces proudly as she carefully seals the vial of my blood
and presses a cotton swab to my arm. Her grin fades when she notices my
emotionless face. I try to form my lips into a smile, but it's no use. I'm way
too nervous, I eye the vial and wonder if all the truth I need right now is
floating in my red blood. "Um, let's go over to the lab." Liz is obviously
puzzled by me but is not swayed from her original order.
I dutifully follow her into the crowded closet space with a bunch of
scientific-looking machines scattered about which serves as the lab. I study a
poster on the wall which is apparently satellite photos of a galaxy or something
while Liz does her doctor thing. I don't look back at her until I hear her gasp
in the microscope. Bingo.
"Maria? What exactly did you want me to look at your blood for?" Her voice is
measured but her eyes are wide indicating she's found something. Hopefully, it's
the something I wanted her to find because I can't imagine what else would cause
her to go so crazed.
"What did you find?" I play it cool, wanting to hear her say it first. Come on
Liz, tell me there are alien cells or whatever floating around in my blood.
Shaking her head, Liz begins to frantically pace the tiny lab making her way to
the back corner. "Nothing, I mean, just let me check something okay? It's
probably nothing." She opens a small cupboard hidden by various medical junk
revealing a small safe. Touching her thumb to the safe, the door quietly swings
open. She pulls out a slide tray and hurries back to the microscope.
I take a deep breath and lean against the counter waiting for Dr. Evans to come
to a conclusion. Finally, the moment of truth arrives as Liz looks up at me, her
brown eyes swirling with excitement and panic.
"What?" The butterflies are having a party in my stomach and apparently invited
my baby too because it starts kicking up a storm. I rub my belly attempting to
calm the excitement.
"I don't understand, Maria. I compared your blood to the samples I had of my
blood when I was pregnant and they're the same."
"The same?"
"Well, not exactly the same, obviously. The thing is that, unlike with our
normal pre-pregnancy blood, there are some extra cells which are, so I thought,
indicators of the baby's alien genetics."
Thank God. I let out a deep breath and can't help the smile that curves on my
lips. "So, you're saying that my baby is part alien?"
Liz runs a hand through her hair, clearly still perplexed. "It would appear so.
But maybe I was wrong, I mean, this would mean that Scott is an…" Her voice
drops off.
"No, that's not what it means." The walls are suddenly closing in on me and
Liz's eyes are too inquisitive for me to bear, so I walk out into the dark
waiting area, taking a seat near the small fish tank which glows neon green in
the dim room. Better.
Liz follows me out, dropping in the chair next to me. "Maria? What does it
mean?"
Here goes nothing. "Remember that weekend I came to town and you told me you
were pregnant with Max's baby and that it appeared healthy?" Liz nods. "Well,
that upset me because one of the reasons Michael and I broke up was because he
was convinced he could never give me that. Your news upset Michael too. That
night he came to me in my room and we spent the night together."
Letting out a pained sigh, Liz falls back in her chair, digesting what I just
said. I become very interested in the carpet pattern.
"But Maria, if that happened over a year ago then there's no way it could be
Michael's baby now."
"That was just the first time, Liz." Oh boy, here we go.
"The first time? You mean you've been sleeping with Michael for OVER A YEAR!?"
She screeches so loud that I move to cover my ears. As she jumps out of her
chair to pace the waiting room, I reach up and yank her back down.
"No need to let the world know." I hiss. Liz is now looking at me as if I've
sprouted a third head.
"You really think your baby is Michael's?"
I shrug, "You just proved it for me."
"No! No. I did not. It's not an exact science here, Maria. The only way to know
for sure is to take a paternity test."
I knew this wasn't going to be easy with Liz, Mrs. Married Happily Ever After.
"Today, in the kitchen, Michael, whom I haven't seen since I found out about the
baby by the way, touched my stomach and it glowed and the baby kicked for the
first time. That's all the proof I need, Liz."
Liz just stares at me, clearly stunned. So, I continue, "God, Liz. You don't
understand. I don't think for one day I've ever really loved Scott. Not like I
love Michael. When I found out about the baby, it nearly killed me. I thought I
would be trapped with Scott forever- because that's how I feel with Scott,
trapped. There's no way I can spend the rest of my life with him and be happy.
I've tried, Liz. I've tried so hard. But I don't love Scott and that's not fair,
to me, or to him, or to the baby."
After my tirade, Liz turns to me, her expression unreadable even to me who's
known her for so long. "Do you just want this baby to be Michael's so it'll be
easier to leave?"
Well, yes. But that's not the only reason. "It will be easier, but that's not
the point. The only man I can imagine as the father of my baby is Michael. I
can't pretend with Scott anymore, no matter how much it hurts him, because I
can't live like that. Besides, I don't think Scott wants to be married to a
woman that cheats on him."
"You probably have a point there." Liz laughs mirthfully, apparently finally
accepting the situation.
"Right." I smile a little. Then, turning to Liz, I have to ask, "Do you think
I'm a horrible person?" I can't help the slight quiver in my voice. Hell, I
already have innumerable tearstains on my face from today what's a few more?
"Oh, God! Maria, you're my best friend, I would never think that!" Liz leaps to
hug me and I believe her. Relieved, I allow myself to shed a few more tears.
Pulling back, Liz searches my face, "You really love Michael, don't you?"
"Yeah." I manage out amidst all the crying. Then, I laugh. Because really, in
this absurd situation, what else can I do?
"It'll all work out, okay?" Liz smiles at me, understanding my hysterical
hormonal state.
"I hope so."
"And, for the record, I think that blood test back there is pretty solid proof.
I mean, what else could explain it?" Winking at me, Liz offers me a tissue from
a nearby box. "The blood test and the Tabasco craving? No way that's a
coincidence."
"Thanks. For everything." Smiling, I blow my nose very ungracefully but I don't
care. I feel like I'm finally, truly free. I can't wait to tell Michael the good
news. As my hand drifts down to my bulging stomach, I finally understand what I
was supposed to feel when I found out about the baby over four months ago. Joy,
pure bliss. I laugh giddily. "I'm having Michael's baby. Oh my God!"
Liz laughs too and hands me another tissue. "It's good to see you finally happy,
Maria."
Things are finally starting to look up for me. Now I just have to survive
telling Scott.