Chicago Chapter 9

Her sweatshirt felt like it had been baked by the sun, and her eyes lacked the usually luster they held for him when they met.

“I told you, while we are at home and not touring, we can't see each other. I have a family to protect, a reputation to uphold. I know you're young and don't understand these things, but you will one day,” Gary said quietly, through clenched teeth.

He watched her for her reply, but instead just felt her exhale a breath as cold as the dew in the morning grass. Her complexion was pasty; her hair strung around her shoulders, and the black circles under her eyes exuded all the exhaustion Gary usually felt after six months out on tour.

“So... what is this all about? What was so urgent?” Gary folded his hands together in his lap and stared into her honey green eyes.

“Gary...” Tiffany whispered and swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Did your boyfriend find out? Did he hurt you?” Gary felt angry flood into his ears and cheeks.

Trying to grab her hand, he flinched and retracted. If someone did see them, Gary had to act like they were just meeting as friends. They couldn't hold hands. The silence seemed to wrap around them and suffocate the life out of any necessary conversation, until Gary watched two tears stream down Tiffany's cheeks, and as bad as he wanted to deny it, his heart broke for her.

“Wait, wait. Please don't cry.” He handed her a napkin, as she swatted it away and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

“Tiffany, I only have about thirty minutes before I actually do have to go into work. What's wrong sweetheart?” Maybe this isn't about us. Maybe she just needed a friend to talk to. Are we friends? Can you be friends with someone and have casual sex, then go home to your wife and love her too? Gary rubbed his eyebrows in frustration, lost in his thoughts.

“Gary.” Tiffany sniffled and blew her nose into a napkin.

Gary straightened in his seat, causing the leather to make an unattractive noise, and leaned in closer to hear her almost inaudible words, “I'm pregnant.”

“What?”

“I'm pregnant.” The tears streaming down Tiffany's face came faster and faster, as the frustration of the last twelve weeks cascaded down her face.

The only other times Gary had heard a woman say that was his wife. He had spun her around each time and kissed her with enough passion and force to power a city. This time, Gary's face looked similarly to a clowns, white face, red ears and nose.

“You said you were on the pill!” Gary nearly shouted, as John looked over at them from the counter and a few customers around them began to get nosey.

“Please... please don't get mad, don't cause a scene.” Tiffany lowered her head and tightened her grip on the novel she had been reading.

Gary felt hot air blow full speed out of his nose, as he counted to ten, “What happened?”

“I didn't know what the pill was. I've never... I've never used... anything like that.” Her whisper could have knocked Gary on his ass, had he not already been sitting down.

Looking into each other's eyes, the silence counted down until Gary could remember how to formulate thoughts and move his tongue, “A baby?” he whispered.

He lowered the ball cap around his head. Feeling like the adult in this situation, Gary knew he had to act fast and help make decision when she couldn't.

“Have you looked into... the free woman's clinic downtown?”

“It's too late for that.” Tiffany's eyes widened, did he really just suggest an abortion? Ruthless.

“Have you started looking into adoption? That's a long process. I could have my attorney help you.” Gary rummaged his brain for any other solutions, ones that didn't involve him telling his wife.

The tears that had slowed to a stop, started picking up speed. “Oh, come on, come on, please don't cry,” but instead of listening to Gary, Tiffany buried her head into the crook of her arm and sobbed. Gary had no choice but to slide into the booth with her and wrap his burly arm around her petite shoulders. The heat radiating from her, the perfume flowing through the air towards him, and the unrelenting urge to protect her overwhelmed Gary, as he allowed her to rest her head on her shoulder, canceling all of his plans for the day.