Page 82 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
“Okay, ready.” Rebecca, lab coat gone, walks over to me, holding her arms out. “I’ll take him now.”
I frown at Ryan, wanting him to finish his thought. Thinking maybe what he says will make me understand why he’s so willing to risk hurting the ones he loves. But he’s focused on his wife now, his normal grin sliding back into place.
“Okay.” I shift the now-sleeping Charlie from my chest and hand him over, the loss of his tiny warm body leaving me with an unfamiliar longing in my chest.
At the same time, the appointment card in my pocket lies heavy against my leg.
Rose
“I heard your presentation was perfect.”For once, John is not tapping his fingers on the desk. He’s leaning back in his high back rolling chair, legs crossed, his tapping hand still on the shiny mahogany wood.
“That’s what they tell me.” I shift in my seat, my khaki pants sliding across the hard wood. Itwasperfect, but boring. Afterwards, one of the professors asked if I was feeling okay. I think she’d been expecting a laser light show and streamers, and was disappointed with my well-designed, but standard, PowerPoint.
“Have you given any more thought to what we discussed last time? About what you want to do next?” His stillness is more unnerving than his habitual tick. Or is it because I’m dressed like a young professional, having taken the time to de-Rose myself? No glitter, no stripper shoes. I even tamed my hair into a low chignon, sans sequined clips. My usual extra-ness dimmed by the rogue stowaway in my uterus.
I didn’t realize how much I cared about John’s opinion until I woke up this morning, our final meeting reminder glaring at me from my phone’s calendar app. I tug at my shirt collar.
Crossing my legs, I lay my hands on top of my knee and clear my throat. “I decidednotto enroll in the master’s program.” My voice is level and clear, ready to defend myself if needed. Just as I practiced.
“Okay.”
There’s a beat of silence.
“Okay?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything else. “Is that all?” His right hand is still not moving.
Both bushy, steel-gray caterpillar eyebrows arch. “You seem surprised. What did you think was going to happen?”
Smoothing out my khaki material on my top leg, I speak to my knee. “I thought you’d be disappointed.”
“Why?”
Exasperated at his calm tone, I sigh, my arms flying out to the side. “Becausewhenever I come in, you tell me about the program. You’re always saying how it will help me take over West Oil Industries.” I catch myself making wild hand gestures and still.
Meanwhile, John stays calm and collected, looking completely unfazed by this turn of events. “I mostly gave that speech because I knew it annoyed you.”
My mouth falls open.
John’s lips twitch. He leans forward in his chair conspiratorially. “It was my small form of payback for all the antics you enjoy bringing to my door.”
I snap my mouth closed.
John chuckles.
“Well played, John. Well played.” Then I laugh with him.
He smiles. “Thank you.”
Forgetting my pre-planned professional stature, I scoot my chair forward and lean both elbows on his desk. “You know, I might have given you a raft of shit the past few years, but you are, by far, the best counselor I could’ve asked for, Johnny-boy.”
“Again, thank you.” He nods. “For both acknowledging the, um,raft, and for the compliment.”
We bask in mutual admiration for a moment before he sits up, donning a more professional air. “Honestly, though, what can I help you with?” The right side of his smile lifts. “What’s next for the great Rose West?”
Swallowing, I remember my plan. I’m going to tell him that I’m still thinking about it. That I’ll be in touch. Then go home, send him a gift basket that includes a raffle ticket to a large sum of money that he’ll “win.”
“I’m pregnant.” Whelp. There goes that plan.
At first, John’s expression seems nonplussed. But I notice a small rise to his eyebrows. Not much, but enough for me to know I’ve surprised him. “I see.”
