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UNEXPECTED - Chapter 05

Maxie dried her eyes. “Thanks, Lu Lu. I needed to hear that. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“I completely understand. Believe me I went around and around with my decision for a long time. Intellectually, I thought it was the right thing to do at the time. I was still in school. Dillon was following his dreams. The Quartermaines were totally crazy. Still are.” She laughed. “But emotionally, I was not ready for everything that followed. I didn’t realize how empty I would feel. I can’t even look at other kids without thinking about my baby. I feel guilty and depressed a lot. Being at Shadybrooke was actually good for me. I got to talk about it with Dr. Winters.”

“That’s good. And I swear I’m not judging you at all, but I don’t think I could’ve gone through with it even if I tried. “

“So what are you going to do?”

Maxie shrugged. “I guess I’m going to be a mommy.”

Lu Lu smiled. “You can do it, Maxie. You’re in such a different place than I was. You have a good job, a good family, a real support system… Hey, what about the baby’s father? I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”

“I’m not. This was something totally unexpected.”

Lu Lu gasped and covered her mouth for a second. “Oh, Maxie, it’s not Logan’s, is it? I know he attacked you, but I thought he didn’t—“

“NO! God, no! Honestly, if it was Logan’s spawn I was carrying, there would be no hesitation. I would be down at that clinic so fast your head would spin.”

Lu Lu sighed in relief. “Okay. That’s good. So who’s the guy?”

“Um.” Maxie hesitated.

“You do know who the father is?”

“Yes, of course I do!”

“I’m sorry! You just looked unsure for a minute there. I thought maybe you didn’t know.”

What was Lu Lu going to think when she found out she was carrying Spinelli’s child? Why did she even care what Lu Lu thought? “He’s a friend, but that’s all.”

“Sounds like more than a friend to me or you wouldn’t be in this situation.”

“It was comfort sex, okay? I needed to feel safe and he was there and one thing led to another.”

“So does this friend know he’s going to be a father?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why you were asking about the abortion? Did he tell you to get rid of it? Maxie, that’s horrible! What sort of friend is he?”

“It wasn’t like that! He said he would support whatever decision I made.” She sniffled.

“That’s a good thing, right?”

As if on cue the elevator rang and Spinelli walked in. He was wearing a casual black suit and holding a bouquet of pink roses.

“Spinelli?”

He looked at Lu Lu in surprise. “Blonde One!” He smiled and greeted his old friend with a hug.

“I almost didn’t recognize you! You look so… I dunno. Mature! Doesn’t he, Maxie?” She glanced over at her, but Maxie quickly turned away. Lu Lu gave her an odd stare before turning back to Spinelli. “So how did you know I was back already? Are those for me?” She gestured to the flowers.

Spinelli was caught off guard. “Um, no. But… here.” He pulled out one rose and handed it to her. “Welcome home.”

“Thanks. And thank you so much for the books and the flowers and that little tree and everything.”

“You are most welcome. The Jackal only regrets he could not be there in person. He has an aversion to such institutions.”

“It’s okay. You were there in spirit.”

He nodded, but his attention was on Maxie, who was obviously avoiding him. He could tell she had been crying. He frowned.

“Hey, are you okay?” Lu Lu noticed the way he was looking at Maxie. “Oh. Did she tell you?”

Spinelli looked at Lu Lu in surprise. “Tell me… what?”

“It’s okay, Spinelli. I told her about the baby.” Maxie turned around. “I needed to ask her about the abortion she had.”

Spinelli began to panic. He went to her and dropped to his knee, setting the flowers on the desk. “Please don’t do it. I implore you. I know I said I would stand by your decision, but I can’t. Although I may not be the ideal father, I am willing to give it my best effort. Please give me a chance?”

Lu Lu watched the scene with awe. “That is so sweet, Spinelli. You want to be there for Maxie and her baby.” Spinelli and Maxie turned to her with guilty expressions on their faces. Lu Lu’s smile faded and her mouth dropped open. She pointed at him. “You... You’re the friend! You’re the father?”

He grinned sheepishly. “Guilty as charged.”

“If anybody’s guilty, it’s me,” Maxie defended. “This was not your fault.” She turned his face towards her. “You are not responsible for this.”

“The Jackal begs to differ.”

“You know what I mean. I pretty much forced myself on you that night. I know it’s not what you wanted.”

“You forced yourself on him?”

“No!” Spinelli argued.

“Yes, I did! It was wrong.”

“Please stop saying that!” He shouted.

Both Lu Lu and Maxie were shocked by his outburst.

“I know The Jackal is not the pinnacle of manly prowess, far from it, but must you make it sound as though I could not have stopped you if I wanted to?”

Lu Lu backed away. “I’m uh… gonna go make some copies.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Maximista has nothing to be sorry for. That night created a memory I will long cherish. And it created something else.”

“Our baby,” she whispered.

“Can we keep it? Please?” He gave her a hopeful grin.

Maxie laughed sadly. “You make it sound as if we found a lost puppy.”

“I know it’s more than that and I have no right to tell you what to do, but…” He rested his hand lightly over her belly. “I can’t help thinking this was meant to be.”

Maxie was overcome with emotion. This was the reaction she had hoped for earlier today. “I thought you didn’t care,” she said brokenly. “When I told you before, you had no reaction.”

“I was in shock. Besides, you never gave me a chance to reply before you suggested terminating the pregnancy. I figured you had made up your mind.”

“So what made you come over here?

“Stone Cold. He said I should to tell you how I really felt.”

“I’m glad you did. But I had already decided to keep the baby.”

“Really?” He smiled brightly. She nodded and he jumped up, pulling her with him into a warm embrace. “You will not regret this. You and I make a formidable team. We can handle anything as long as we’re together.”

“Together,” she repeated. She believed him. They had always been great partners. Now they would be partners in the scariest adventure of all. Parenthood.

Lu Lu walked back in and was stunned by what she saw. To any onlooker they appeared to be a couple in love. She wondered if there was more going on than either of them realized.