Chanelle, the health care provider, puts the wand in the holder on the side of the ultrasound machine. The small, gray and yellow exam room is even smaller with all the imaging equipment off to one side.
“Are you sure, Doc?” Hector asks again. Elena smiles.
“I’m sure you’re a father,” Chanelle says. “And now, you have the pictures to prove it.” She gives the black and white photo to Hector. “The question is, what do you two want to do?”
Elena stares intently at Hector. “I’m having my baby,” she tells them.
“Okay,” Chanelle starts. “So what about your baby? Are we chipping it?”
“She can decide that on her own when she’s old enough,” Elena says. Hector looks up at Elena.
“Do you really want him to live like us, Lena? Come on,” Hector pleads. “If he wants to take the chip out later, he can.”
“What’s wrong with the way we live, Hector? We eat, we have a place to sleep.”
“We have no way to make real money,”
“So you go get a chip then, see who’s going to hire you. You have no skills, you have no insider sponsoring you.”
“Oh, and you do? You clean people’s garbage for a living, Elena. How are you going to take care of the baby and smell all those fumes from the chemicals and stuff?”
“Are you saying you don’t want this baby, Hector?”
“I’m saying we need to think about the baby’s future.”
“And I am, too. It’s bad enough we have to wear identity bracelets. I don’t want her growing up in an artificial world, being tracked by some punk in a government lab. Who’s to say they wouldn’t track her to us and take us in for being outsiders? What if they take her away from us, say that we’re bad parents?”
“Nobody cares about us, Lena.”
“And I don’t want them caring about my child, either.”
“Well,” Chanelle cuts in, “you have about seven months to decide. We’ll have some genetic testing done; just to be on the safe side; and we’ll go from there. Elena, you should think about getting transferred from the chemical wash room as soon as possible.”
“My boss said I can go to the rinse room whenever I needed a break, so I guess this is as good a time as any.”
“And make sure you wear your protective equipment,” Chanelle continues. Elena rolls her eyes. “This is important, Elena, especially as the baby’s heart and brain are developing.”
“Okay, okay,” Elena sighs.
“Do you even know where your mask is?” Hector asks.
“Yes, I do, actually. And I have the cartridges for it, too.”
Chanelle smiles. “That’s great. I can write you a note if you need one for work.”
“Don’t take me out just yet, Chanelle,” Elena says. “They won’t let me work at all if I bring in a note from you.”
“Well,” Hector tries, “maybe you shouldn’t work while you’re pregnant.”
“How are we going to support this baby if I don’t work?”
“Just think about it. I can get extra shifts at the security post, and I can find something else to do. Please, Elena, just think about it.”
“Fine. Okay.” Hector is a little suspicious, but he says nothing.
“Then it’s settled,” Chanelle says. “I’ll see you in another two weeks, and in the meantime, I’ll give you some prenatal vitamins to take, make sure you’re getting all the nutrients the baby and mom need. If anything happens, or if you have any questions, please call me immediately.”
“Okay.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Hector shakes Chanelle’s hand.
“See you in two weeks.” Chanelle shakes Elena’s hand then heads out the door. Hector gives Elena a towel, and she wipes the gel from her belly.
*^*^*^*
“Dear Mrs. Susan Becker:
We are pleased to inform you that you have successfully passed your genetic testing. The next step would be to forward your eggs to our growth lab and for you to set up a meeting to select the sperm you will use to create your child. If you are using your partner’s sperm, your partner will have to undergo psychological, genetic, and compatibility testing before his sperm will be used to create your child. If your partner has already passed his screening, please forward his results to your provider. Please contact your provider, Geraldine Finch, for further instructions. We will be happy to assist you in any way.
Yours,
CryoGen Birthing Services”
Michael is pretty sure this email brings good news. Susan usually doesn’t cry unless it’s good news now. At least she’s sitting at her desk now. He won’t have to re-clean the glass coffee table or conference table after he finishes vacuuming the office. The white vertical blinds that cover the huge window between Susan’s office and the work area are open.
“Michael, can you come here for a second?” He stops wiping down the end table and stands at Susan’s desk. “Here. I need you to see this.” Michael doesn’t read so well, but what he sees is really good news for Susan.
“Congratulations, Miss,” he says.
“This means I can have a baby.”
“That’s great. You’ll make a great mother.”
“Do you think so? I try to be a good aunt and all,” but she can’t finish her sentence.
“You’re going to be all right, Miss Susan.” Michael checks his watch then steps back. “It’s almost quarter to five, Miss.” Susan hits the PRINT button on her screen, puts two computer tablets in her briefcase, then shuts down her desktop computer.
“Oh, God, I can’t be late. I hate it when the kids have to wait for me.”
“Their mom’s in jail again?”
“I think rehab this time.” She hurries to get her coat on. “It doesn’t matter. The point is I told her I could watch them tonight, and they need to be picked up by 5:30. Michael, you’ll take care of things for me?”
“Yes, ma’am. Don’t forget your letter.” Susan takes the paper from the printer.
“You’re the best, Michael, thank you.”
“Good night, Miss Susan.” She waves goodbye to him through the glass doors to the work area. Michael waves back, but he’s pretty sure she doesn’t see him. When she makes the turn to go to the executives' elevators, he starts his vacuuming.
*^*^*^*
The rumble of the machinery sorting the trash reaches even the dank locker rooms. The sorter is working on a particularly smelly garbage collection. Hardly anyone else is in here while Elena puts on her white barrier suit. Josie comes around the end of the row and gets into her suit, too.
“Hey,” Elena says, grabbing her mask from her locker. “It sure stinks tonight, doesn’t it?”
“I think they’re sending us the stuff from the fish market, too,” Josie says.
“If that’s true,” Elena answers, “I think I’ll be taking some of that time off I should be getting.”
“What are you smoking, thinking you’re getting a vacation?” Josie laughs.
“I’m under 18, so I get time and a half off,” Elena responds.
“You keep dreaming, little girl. So, what’s with the get-up?”
“What do you mean?” Elena asks. The cartridges for her mask are hard to screw in.
“First you’re transferred, now you’re actually wearing a mask, are you ....?”
“What?”
“Really, Lena? You’re going to make me say it?”
“What? That? No. No way. Come on.”
“You come on, girl. All you use in the rinse room is water. You don’t need a mask for that.”
“Well, according to regulations, we do.”
“And you’re following regulations because ....? Is it Hector’s?”
Elena looks around, making sure they’re the only ones left in the locker room. “Are you crazy?” Elena hisses. “They’re going to fire me for sure if anyone finds out.”
“Well, they won’t find out from me,” Josie whispers. “And congratulations. Right?” Elena smiles. “Good. Hector’s a good man.”
“I know. And thanks.”
“Let’s go before someone really starts asking questions.” Josie hugs Elena quickly. They close their lockers then head out to their posts at the center.
*^*^*^*
Michael gets off the bus at the back exit and turns left at the corner. The brown brick building where he lives is almost half way down the block, his apartment on the fourth floor. Eddie’s bike is hanging behind the wooden front door. The only lights on in the apartment are over the dining table and in the bathroom. The blackout curtains and windows are open a little to let in what little fresh air there is.
“Hi, Uncle Papi, you’re late.” 14-year-old Eddie is reading a science book at the dining table. His other school books are piled neatly next to his science notebook on the table. Michael’s dinner is in a pot on the old, electric stove.
“Hi, Eddie.” Michael hugs his nephew. “The bus broke down half way home, and it took a while to get a replacement. Where’s the rest of them?”
“Watching a movie.” Michael stirs the stew in the pot then turns the burner on under the food. “Before you say anything, Papi, I got paid extra today, okay?”
“What did you do extra to get movie money?”
“I rode my bike to the North Gate. They gave me twenty credits plus my regular fifteen credit delivery charge.”
“Just be careful at that North Gate, Eddie, please.”
“I’m almost grown, Uncle.”
“I didn’t mean you can’t take care of yourself, but just be careful, okay?”
“Okay. And Elena called. She said it was good news.”
“That’s great. Thanks, Eddie.”
“Are you going to be an uncle again?”
“It looks that way.”
“I didn’t know she and Hector were still together.”
“You never know with her, Eddie. This may settle her down after all, though.” 6-year-old Maddy runs in and wraps her arms around Michael’s legs.
“Papi! It’s SO good to see you!” Michael wraps his arms around her.
“And it’s good to see you, too, my darling. How was school?”
“It’s stupid, Papi. Why do I have to go if I already know what the teacher is going to say?”
“There will come a time when you won’t know what the teacher is saying, and you’ll need to be able to talk to them and ask them questions.”
“When, Papi? When will the teacher be smarter than me?”
“Soon, my butterfly. Soon. In the meantime, keep reading James’s books, and keep practicing your writing.” 9-year-old James and 11-year-old Philip come in from the living room. Philip is watching the end of the movie on a computer tablet. “Hi, guys.” The boys hug Michael.
“Uncle Papi, Eddie paid for the movie tonight,” Philip says.
“Did you thank him for thinking of you?” Philip pauses the movie.
“Thanks, Eddie,” the younger boys say together.
“Papi, did you eat already?” James asks.
“Yes,” Michael lies. “Did you eat tonight?”
“Everyone ate except you, Michael,” Eddie reports. Michael stirs the pot again.
“Well, there’s just enough for seconds.” James gets four bowls from the shelves next to the sink and four spoons from the top drawer under the sink then sits at the table with the other kids. Michael turns the stove off and gets the pot of food. “Maddy, darling, are you still hungry, too?”
“No, Papi. I ate a big lunch at school, and Eddie gave me a bigger bowl for dinner.”
“Did you eat it all?”
“Even the stringy beans that got all smushy.”
“That’s good to hear.” He splits the remaining food into four portions.
“And everyone finished their homework before we started the movie,” James says between mouthfuls. Eddie is careful not to get stew on his school books.
“Thank you, James and Philip and Eddie and Maddy,” Michael smiles. “You make me very proud of you.” He finishes his dinner in five spoonfuls.
“Papi, can you tell us a story?” Maddy asks.
“What kind of story would you like tonight?” Michael puts his dirty dish in the sink. Philip does the same.
“Pirate ships and discovering new lands,” James suggests.
“Big beautiful horses running wild in the old country,” Maddy requests instead.
“Well, Philip? Which one do you want to hear tonight?”
Philip smiles. “Let’s hear them both, Papi.”
“Two stories! Well, let’s see who stays up for the second one. Eddie,”
“I’ll go to sleep soon. I promise.” Michael hugs Eddie then puts all the remaining dirty dishes in the sink. The three younger kids all head to the two bedrooms to get ready for bed.
*^*^*^*
Elena is hot and sweaty getting home from the recycling plant. She comes into the apartment to find Hector asleep on the couch and the television on mute. The blackout shades are closed, and the window air conditioner is working overtime tonight. She leaves her bag next to the shelves under the TV. Elena tries to get the remote from Hector’s hand, but he wakes up and keeps the remote away from her.
“I was watching that,” he says, still mostly asleep.
“Of course you were.” She kisses him. “When did you get home?”
“What time is it?”
“Three.”
“We had to stay ‘til 9, writing reports. Did you go out after work?”
“No, but the bus I was on broke down just past the plant, and the last bus wouldn’t come out to Exit Street, so we had to walk ten extra blocks.” Hector sits up. Elena sits next to him.
“You could’ve called me,” he tells her.
“And make you stay up all night? It’s fine, Hecki. It was good to exercise a little.”
“I know you can take care of yourself, Lena, but please, just let us help you.”
“Fine,” she grumbles. “You and Isabel can take turns staying up ‘til all hours just so I don’t have to walk fifteen blocks after work.”
“Twenty five blocks, and thank you.”
“Did you tell your mom about us yet?”
“Yes,” he responds.
“And?”
“And she’s very happy.”
“What a lie. She hasn’t liked me since we moved in together.”
“She thought you were after my money.”
“What money?” Elena laughs. “All you had was a pretty face and a gorgeous smile.”
“At least I still have my looks,” Hector says.
“Well, I’d go more with the smile.”
“Well, she knows now that you’re madly in love with me and aren’t trying to get me to pay for everything.”
“That’s true. I am madly in love with you,” she says. He kisses her softly. “I’m going to take another shower, and then I’m going to bed.”
“I’ll meet you there.” She kisses him and heads for the bathroom. He turns the television off and heads for their bedroom.
*^*^*^*
Susan finishes her workout at the gym on the 40th floor then walks down the 5 flights of stairs to get back to her apartment. Her tablets and work lie untouched since last night on the coffee table between the two couches. She throws her dirty towel and headband onto the bathroom floor, takes off her earphones, and goes into the kitchen. Douglas, already in a suit and tie, is standing at the counter, eating his fried eggs and drinking his vitamin smoothie.
“I’m sorry, Douglas. I didn’t realize it was that late,”
“No, it’s fine. It’s early, actually. I just have to be at work by seven.”
“A conference call with the Easterners?”
“We’re being assigned more pro bono work so the courts won’t be so backlogged this month.”
“More outsiders trying to get inside?”
“Probably. I left you some eggs in the pan.”
“Thanks.” She turns the stove on under the food. Susan’s phone beeps – a message from her sister. “Alice needs us to watch the kids tonight.”
“All night, or is she coming by late again?"
“She didn’t say. She just asked if I could pick the kids up after school.”
“How long do you think this business will go on this time?”
“We’ll have to see. I’ll call you if anything changes with them.”
“What else, Susan?”
“What do you mean?” Susan turns off the gas and puts the eggs on a plate. She uses a fork from the dish drain on the counter.
“What are you thinking about? Are we going to discuss children at” he checks his watch “530 in the morning?”
“I’m always thinking about kids, Douglas. You said you wanted a family, too, when we got married.”