Page 75 of The Dragon's Perfect Omega
Taking a deep breath, I answered the call. "Hey there."
"Hey, stranger," she said softly. "I haven't heard from you in a while."
"I'm doing okay," I guess. Actually I was pretty tired, but she didn't have to hear about that. Especially now that Lowen was so close to fixing our problem. "Have you talked to Derick recently?"
"Just the other day," she confirmed.
I nodded to myself, knowing now why she'd called.
"Is it true?" she asked. "You're an omega? And you're pregnant?"
"Yes, it's all true."
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be," I said, surprising myself a little with how easily the words flowed from my lips. I didn't feel sorry that I was an omega, or that I was pregnant. If I wasn't an omega, I wouldn't be with the man of my dreams now, and if I wasn't pregnant... well... I was a bit apprehensive at the thought of becoming a parent in just a few weeks, but I couldn't say that there wasn't a part of me that looked forward to it. Every time I felt the babies kick, I fell in love with them a little more. I wondered if they were going to take after me or Lowen. Nerds or music enthusiasts? It didn't matter, of course. Lowen and I would embrace them whichever way they turned. We were going to be a family. We'd be a way better family than the one I'd left.
"If you're sure," Kathy said after a moment. "But I understand now why we didn't work out. I wasn't the only one being lied to. You didn't know the full truth either. You must have been under a lot of pressure."
"Yeah, honestly, I feel like I've lost at least twenty pounds of weight since leaving there and that's while growing twins. I guess the babies aren't as heavy to carry around as my parents' expectations." I exhaled, studying the white wall opposite the bed, even though there was nothing to see there. "I know things are going to be better in the future. I hope they will be for you too. You wouldn't have been happy marrying me. Not in the long run."
"No, I guess you're right about that. Your parents have been asking about you, you know?"
Her words nearly made me wince. They werestillasking around about me? "I know. They sent me a box recently but I haven't been able to think of a good response. Or any response at all, really."
"Don't overthink it," Kathy advised. She'd always been a good friend in times of trouble. Keeping a clear head where I couldn't. "I think any sign of life will be enough to get them off your back for a while. They're just worried and driving everyone around them crazy. Did you know your mom cancelled all her events for the rest of the year?"
I swallowed and climbed out of bed. "I didn't know that." Mom lived for those events. Planning them was her biggest passion.
Planning events and planning her son's life.
"It's pretty bad," Kathy said. I hardly listened to her.
Lowen and I had discarded the box my parents sent in a corner of the room, squished into the empty space between the dresser and the wall. I took another look at it now, and noticed something I hadn't before. There was a letter hiding underneath the pink onesie. I fished it out with my thumb and forefinger, as if not quite sure that I wanted to touch it.
"Zim? Are you still on the phone?"
"Yeah. I just... I'll call you back later, okay?" With that, I ended the call and climbed back on the bed, letter still in hand and feeling like the babies were doing somersaults in my belly.
Did I want to read this?
Slowly, before I'd even fully made up my mind, I unfolded the sheet of paper. It was that slightly yellow paper my dad kept in his office. I remembered stealing a bunch of it and drawing on it when I was a small child, sneaking into the office because its off-limits nature made it interesting. My father scolded me when he caught me, but after that, he always made sure I had enough drawing paper.
Thinking back now, all of that seemed like it had happened to someone else, in another lifetime.
Focus, Zim.
I let my eyes skim the letter. It wasn't long. Written in my mom's beautiful long-hand—a skill she'd perfected to make her party invitations look good.
Dear Maximilian,
Please call us when you get this. I hope you can appreciate that we're not asking for much. All we want is to know that you're okay. Your father and I know we have made a mistake. We should have been more open with you rather than trying to shield you from the burden you were born with.
We hope someday you might be able to forgive us.
Love,
Mom and Dad
