Page 9 of Matrimonial Merger

“Well, I don’t really have a choice. Daphne was busy.”

“Uh-huh. How is she?”

Jo didn’t buy my “Daphne is tired” excuse from the other night. She’d let it go until this moment. I had no time or energy and needed to cop to it, even if I didn’t want to.

“Pull the door closed, if you would,” I gestured. “Sit awhile.”

“Oh no,” Jo said, closing the door. “Trouble in paradise. Cal, I told you?—”

“No, no!” I shook my head. “We’re fine. There is no trouble in paradise. In fact, it’s the absolute opposite. Daphne truly is tired and she’s not well. The time I had you hold at four was actually for a doctor’s appointment.”

“Why? Oh, God! Is it cancer?”

My heart nearly stopped at the mere mention. “No, definitely not. Fuck cancer, but no. She’s in good health. It’s?—”

“Cal, did you… you didn’t. Did you?”

I winced.

Jo stood up, hand talking without words.

“Well, I don’t know more right now,” I said. “But hopefully I will later.”

“Were you two not aware of your current status? That there is a wedding planned forJune?”

“I know,” I agreed. “But Daphne is… well, it’s about the journey, right?”

“Cal, the journey and you making me pull my hair out! Can we ever just make thingseasy?”

“If they were easy, Jo, you’d be miserable.”

She crossed her arms. “Well, congratulations. We are fucked, but you seem happy. And Daphne?”

“She’s got terrible morning sickness and naps twice a day, but she’s excited. We both want this… even if the timing is shit.”

Jo shook my head. “Slow down.”

“Impossible. I’m not getting younger.”

“Take care of her. The entire city is going to go insane.”

“Well, we will see what the doctor says,” I said. “Daphne doesn’t want to people to know yet. But I needed to let you know what was going on for obvious reasons.”

“I am glad to hear it, no matter how much it fucks with your schedule. I will make sure to clear your August.”

“What?” I asked.

“Cal, if she’s having a baby in August—as I assume she is based on what you’re telling me—then you won’t be in, right?”

I hadn’t thought about it. “I guess that is true?”

“Get on board, buddy. You’re about to be a dad.”

“It’s fucking wild, isn’t it?” I chuckled.

Jo sighed,“It was always going to happen. You love kids. It would be a true waste if it didn’t. Tell Daphne congrats from me.”

4.IT’S SOMETHING

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