Shan paced around in her studio and paint smeared her fingers. Her many sculptures and past masterpieces scattered the floor from the moving men not placing them back to their spots and she muttered,
"Blue....blue or white....."
She ran her thumb across her chin and the smell of oil based paint nearly made her gag, but she loved the way it made her think. She tried to focus on something more productive than the shooting pain in her arm as it made it's way freely from her sling.
She didn't care to go against the doctors orders if it meant creating something new and exciting.
She brought her hand back to the canvas and she dotted her fingers in the shape of the line she wanted.
She feels the half dry hair fall out of her bandana and she kept her eyes glued for Michael. No one could see her work until it was finished and the door clicked being opened. She rushed to throw a sheet over the top and she turned innocently after slipping back on her arm sling.
Faith stepped in quiet and she asks,
"Hello artsy fartsy.."
Shan snickered and she fixed her hair back into her red bandana,
"What's up?"
Faith rolled her eyes answering,
"Its a long story."
Shania started to giggle but Faith asks,
"You seen Dee?"
Shania struggles one handed with her hair and answers,
"She's downstairs waiting by the phone. The clinic said they'd call with her results soon. She's pretty on edge."
Faith winced and she tsks,
"Come on. While we wait with her, I'll braid your hair back, cripple."
Shania laughs and they both headed downstairs.
~~
Dee paced infront the side table where the phone sat. She chewed her manicure to bits. Faith and Shania turned the corner seeing their sister in such distress and they cooed.
"Dee..."
Dee frowned and she took the nail bits from her mouth.
"They said they'd call at three."
The girls join her side and Dee crouched next to the side table. She leaned her head against the wall and she says,
"I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was too worried. If I have a baby, I'll have no choice but to go back home. Mom is gonna kill me."
Shan and Faith crinkle their noses to that note and say confused,
"Why would you have to go back?"
Dee looks to them coldy and spits,
"I can't help you guys run the Inn and bounce a baby on my hip. I'll be dead weight."
Faith checks her lip and she says fierce,
"How about hell no?"
Shan laughs and says,
"How about we'll plan the baby shower and you have this kid to live right here with us. And Michael."
Faith and Shan sit beside her and they both cheer,
"You know he'd be so giddy. He loves a baby."
Dee smiles slowly and her grin grows ear to ear. She felt better by the second and Shan mentions,
"Ya gonna name it Michael if it's a boy?"
Faith held Dee's arm excited for this answer and Dee spouted,
"You already know that one."
They all giggle and Dee feels a cold chill go down her spine. Michael appeared from a mist infront of them and his apparition crouched. Indian style he sat and they all perked up happy to see him. He smiled proudly and he says low,
"You know what ever happens, you'll have someone to lean on."
Michael opened his arms and he casted his illusion. His form became full and she leaned in for a hug. She held his neck and said vulnerable,
"I'm really scared of being alone, Michael."
Michael half smiled and he reminds her,
"You won't be alone. Not in my house."
They all giggled and sat hand in hand. The phone on the side table rang suddenly making them all jump from their skin and Dee sighed. Before answering Michael held her hand and said true,
"Whatever they say. You won't be alone. We will support you."
She nodded and answered quick to get it over with.
"Hello?.....this is her..."
She listened with her eyes shut and muttering is heard through the receiver. Dee nodded and pursed her lips to the results. Her head drops and her shoulders droop.
"Yes...thank you.." she says with tears rolling and the girls fear the worst. Dee slammed the phone back down and Michael brushed her hair back. Dee wipes her face and sighs before saying,
"No one ever let me eat burritos again okay?"
They all cheer and Dee finally exhales relieved,
"I'm not pregnant!"
"So....what did I say about one night stands, hm?" Michael says to tease her and she pushed him away laughing.
He kids but brings up curious,
"Would you have really named your son after me?"
Dee pulls her hoodie closer and nods still serious,
"Yes." She blinks unsure of how to continue and she blurts,
"And if I ever do, someday...he will be named Michael."
Michael is left without words and he only asks, "But why me?"
Dee giggles to his obliviousness and she spat,
"Because I love you, Michael! You've taught me everything."
She goes further and she shrugs,
"You've taught me so much and one day I hope he can remind me of you."
Shan smiled and stared at the floor saying,
"I'll tell them him that he was named after an angel."
Michael laughed now blushing and the girls all joked together,
"I feel like there's gonna be a lot of rug rats named Michael in our mothering future."
Faith perked up and she says,
"And won't we have a story to tell them?"
They all bursted in to laughter but they stayed there in the hall. They crouched there for hours in the loving thoughts of future children.