Chapter 15: Another Adult

          “So Mom, have you told Donny boy yet?”

“Frankie,” Finley said with a tired warning tone.

“Oh come on, he’s gotta suspect something. I mean, you haven’t seen him in how long?”

“I am not going to discuss this with you.”

“You can’t just keep running away from it. He has a right to know, you know.”

          Finley had not been avoiding telling Don about their upcoming child. She simply hadn’t had the time. Yes, she was far too busy to answer his calls, and whenever he came knocking, she always happened to be in her bedroom, usually hiding under her covers.

          You see, she really did have a lot to do. There was always something to fix, never mind the upgrades. Some might say that she was purposefully breaking things just so she could repair them. It was all just coincidence though. Really.

          Frankie was an annoying conscience. Always bringing up the problem when Finley just didn’t want to think about it anymore. She looked forward to the new arrival, all of her family did, and she’d been cleared to give birth again, as long as she went to the hospital for regular checks. If she could just skip the part where she, yet again, had to tell a man who didn’t want a relationship that she was pregnant. She didn’t need Don around for the baby anyways, so why did Frankie have to keep reminding her that he had rights too.

          There was one place where Finley could still escape for a break. She’d taken to running off to Sylvan Glade whenever Frankie was too much for her to handle. Still, there wasn’t a whole lot to do there. She did some light fishing, caught some frogs, and even collected samples of wild plants. It wasn’t the most fun, but it did pass the time.

          With their mother frequently out of the house, the Harper children did well enough on their own. After being accosted by some unfriendly girls at school, Frankie began working out. Quinn knew her reasoning for it, and did not like the idea that people could push his little sister around. “I think you look fine, Frankie,” he tried.

“No I don’t! Watcher, what is up with everyone and lying in this house?”

“I was simply attempting to say you should only begin exercising if it is what you want to do. You shouldn’t pay those girls any attention.”

“Well, it’s kinda hard to ignore those bitches and their squawky voices.” Frankie laughed. “So when are you going to tell Mom that you’re graduating early, Mr. I’m So Good at School That I’m Already on Honor Roll?”

Quinn shrugged. “I’m working on it. I don’t want to stress her out during her pregnancy though.”

“She’s not gonna care. If I could be done with school, I’d hop on that ASAP!”

          Quinn was no longer the only overachiever. Unrealized by the family, Sasha had been an A student for some time. She’d grown into the habit of taking naps during the day, and then using her late nights for skill building and extra credit work.

          She still had the slightest problem with emotions, and continued her therapy (or abuse as Quinn would call it) with Lala. Whenever she thought about entering high school, she felt terror claw at her and needed to retaliate against something. So, for the time, she planned to lay low and cling onto childhood.

          Quinn decided that it would be best to begin a career as soon as he possibly could. So, one day near the end of Finley’s second trimester, he sprung his news on her. “Mom, I know this is sudden, but I’m having a birthday tonight. My grades are high, and I really want to get out into the workforce. Don’t worry though, I’ll stay home for a while, unlike some people.”

Finley patted her round belly, considering the news that was forced onto her. “And it has to be tonight?”

“I’ve already invited Dad, Eddie, and even Brandon.”

“Well, what more can I say about it? You’re getting a simple cake this time though; that last one spoiled before we could finish it.”

Quinn smiled, releasing a breath of relief.

          However, none of the children had known that Finley’d spent the day at the glades, thinking over her options. She’d come to the decision to get it over with and tell Don. In fact, she’d already invited him over for dinner so that she couldn’t back out of it.

“I really wish you weren’t using my birthday as the time to drop a bomb on your boyfriend.”

“I really wish you had told me you wanted a birthday before planning it.” The son and mother shared an awkward chuckle. “He’s really going to be overwhelmed by all of this, isn’t he?”

          Don was the first to arrive. It was fairly obvious that she was with child, but Finley still took the time to actually tell him that they were expecting. “What?” he asked, voice cracking. “You can’t be serious!”

          Finley left him be to process the news. The man laughed crazily to himself. “No, no, this can’t be happening. I’m not gonna be a dad. This is all just a prank!”

          Quinn went for his candles as soon as all the guests had arrived. His mom had said the cake would be simple, but he still found it charming. Again, he felt bad that he was about to ruin it.

          Not only did Manu actually show up for his son’s birthday, but he was the first person to get the celebrating underway.

          “This is going to be my life from now on,” Don bemoaned throughout blasts of confetti. “Endless lame birthday parties. All because some crazy chick couldn’t stand the thought of losing me and actually managed to stick her claws in.”

Eddie defended, “Hey, that’s my mom you’re talking about.”

“And I don’t want my ‘claws’ in you. You’re free to go whenever you want. Now shush! My baby is growing up!”

          Manu was also the first person to approach the adult Quinn. “Hey son, looking good. Mind if we cut into this cake? I miss your mother’s cooking.”

          Don surprisingly stayed throughout the entire party. He did spend most of that time pointedly ignoring Finley though. She didn’t mind him, finding his passive aggressive anger easier to deal with than most other reactions he could have had. Besides, who was she to judge? If she was in his position, she’d probably be upset as well.

          Not having to entertain Don left Finley with plenty of time to visit her two adult children. Mostly they discussed what Quinn planned to do. From seemingly nowhere, he said that he wished to become an astronaut. Eddie laughed at that.

“At least my ambitions help society, not just whatever disgusting thing that lives in your pants.”

“When did you get so snarky? What happened to the little bro that worshipped me?”

Finley smiled during their brotherly spat. Maybe it was a good thing that Eddie went to live with Manu.

          Not having much luck with winning over Quinn, Manu moved onto his daughter. “Hey Kiddo, you look different.”

“Thanks for noticing, Dad” Frankie rolled her eyes.

          It was a busy night, full of relief for several attendees. Finley had to wonder if the busy little house was furthering to convince Don she was some sort of monster who wanted to steal his life. Maybe it was helping him to see the bright loving side of having a family though. Unlikely. They would have to talk later, alone, because she expected to at least know if he wanted any sort of contact with their child or not. The phone calls from Sasha’s father seemed to help her so much, and she wished for at least that for her newest child.

          When things began to wind down, Brandon excitedly made towards his friend. “Can I touch ‘em?” he asked. She giggled and nodded, amused by how interested he seemed to be in her pregnancies.

“Now if only I could find a man like that,” she thought to herself.

          “Oh that is just ice cold woman,” Don muttered to himself.

Manu, who’d overheard, dryly responded, “I know, brother. If you stick with her, you’d better get used to it. That punk is always around.”