Part 17
"Craig?"
"Craig come on man, wake up and tell me what that crazy bitch did to you!"
I awoke and saw my brother and sister leaning above me.
"Where's Rachel?" I asked.
"She's in the house with Beth and Mom. Now tell me whats going on here. Last time we saw her was when she fought your annulment and tried to out you publicly." Scott fumed.
Meanwhile Sel stood there clenching her fists.
"Just say when Craig and her ass is mine." she said with fire in her eyes.
I sat up and felt a little dizzy. But other than that and the shocking revealtion I had just heard I was fine.
"Come inside guys. We all need to sit down and talk." I said and led them into the house where I saw my mom trying to be nice to Rachel.
We all sat around the table and before anyone could say anything I spoke up.
"Okay I know we all some strong feelings here. But I want to hear Rachel out you guys. So out of respect for me, please be cool."
They all grudgingly agreed. I motioned to Rachel to speak.
"Well, okay. Its like I was telling Craig. I need his help. You see......I'm pregnant."
You could hear a pin drop.
"You lie! This is just some trick to get my brothers money and it ain't going to work!" Sel yelled and jumped up.
I brought her back down, but then Scott started.
"How Rachel? How?"
Rachel's face started getting red and her eyes got watery and she wheezed.
"STOP!" my mom yelled. She jumped up and dug into the purse next to Rachel until she found an inhaler. She shoved it into her mouth and made her puff on it. After her breathing got back to normal my mom took her seat.
"Now, explain to us what exactly is going on. I dont want to hear anything out of you two or you can go to your rooms. If this is true and this is your brothers child then we need to ........."
"NO! You all dont understand." Rachel cut her off.
"What do you mean we dont understand?" I asked." Are you pregnant with my kid or not?"
"Yes I am pregnant. But not with your child."
"Then why are you coming to him?" my sister asked.
"Because when I found out and told my parents they kicked me out. I have no where to go. And Craig always told me he wanted to be friends."
"So you figured that the guy you tried to screw over would just help you out?" Scott said hostiley.
"Yes she did. And I am glad she did. Rachel come with me." I said and led her out of the room.
Scott jumped up but my mom brought him down.
"This is Craig's call you two."
"BUt mom, she's gonna sucker him..YOU know how much of a sucker he is." Sel said.
"Yes, but this is HIS decision to make. Now help me start dinner. And you go help your wife with those babies." she ordered and got everyone moving.
Outside I took Rachel and sat down on a bench.
"Okay Rach, now tell me what is happening." I said as I held her hand.
"After we seperated, I found a boyfriend. We went out and he told me he loved me. ANd I loved him. We....we had sex. Alot of sex. Then he left. And I missed my period. Oh god Craig its been so rough the past nine months. My parents kicked me out after Alex. And I have been staying in shelters. This is not how I want my baby brought into the world."
"Rachel, how far along are you?"
"Can't you tell? Im gonna pop anyday now."
"What are you asking me Rachel?"
"I want you to be the father Craig. You don't even have to have me in the picture. Just please, when I give birth take this child and raise it as your own." she said.
I was blown away. I had always wanted children. Howie and I had talked about it but that was way off in the future. Howie. Soon he would be part of my life too. Before I could decide I had to talk to him.
"Listen Rachel, this is a lot right now. Here is what we are going to do. I am going to think about what you are offering me. But I am NOT going to make a quick decision like I did with the marriage."
She giggled and I smiled.
"I know you leery and maybe think that I may take it back or try to get you for something, but Craig any papers you fill out and have me sign,I will do. I don't want this baby. But I want it to have a good home and a loving parent." she said.
"What will happen with you in the meantime is this: you are going to stay here. I want you to be taken care of ok?" I asked.
She looked at me and her face was filled with dread.
"Dont worry I will talk to Sel and Scott. They will be no problem. Just wait here." I said and squeezed her hand.
I walked into the house and saw Sel helping Mom make dinner.
"So what happened?" Sel asked.
"She is pregnant and homeless. And well......she wants me to have her child."
"WHAT?!" Sel, Mom and Scott all said at once.
I turned and saw Scott in the door.
"Simple as this guys. She doesnt' want to bring her child into the world living off the street. She wants me to take it as my own and raise it. And I for one see no problem with that."
They all were silent and then my mom spoke.
"This is all true Craig. But there are two things to think about. 1) Will she be totally out of the picture and STAY out and 2) What will Howie think about this?"
"I dont know if I want her totally out of it. And I need to talk to Howie."
"You never told him about Rachel did you?" Scott asked.
"No because it never came up."
"When your talkin to your boyfriend you dont just happen to throw in, 'by the way i was once married as an attempt at straightness'." Sel said sarcastically.
"How could he not have seen the news though?" Mom asked
"Simple, he was out of the country so he didnt see it. Jeff kept it all close in Monterey. No one really got the national coverage of it. And the annullment was the same. Now lets drop my past. I want her to stay here. But if that is a problem with ya'll I will put her up in a hotel. So let me know what you want."
Before anyone could say anything my mom spoke
"This is my house so I decide. I always like Rachel BEFORE she tried to screw you over. I can let byones be bygones because I will not see a child on the street. Now I know that you guys may not live easily so I will make this simple, you have a problem with Rachel, then avoid her. No arguments or physical violence." she said looking at my sister.
"Oh ok. But dont expect me to be nice either." she sulked.
"Ill do it mom. But like Sel said, dont expect niceness." Scott said.
"I thought I raised you better than that, but if thats the way you want to behave fine. Just remember what you are doing and think of how you would feel if you were in her position." she snapped.
"Now Craig call her in here and let her rest."
I went out and got Rachel and heard my mom giving my sibs a tongue lashing. I found Beth was sitting with Rachel and that they were talking. Beth saw me and smiled.
"I was just talking and we were comparing morning sickness."
Beth would make Rachel feel welcome I knew. She was once in this same situation.
"Thanks Beth. Well Rachel its set. You'll be staying here. You can have the guest room. My mom wants you to come in and relax."
We helped her up and into the house. She went into the kitchen and I heard my mom talking to her. That was my mom. She is a great person. She looks beyond what someone has done and still sees the true them. I sighed and walked up the stairs to my room . I laid on the bed and though about what Rachel was asking. I would love to have a child. But it wouldnt be just mine. It would be Howie's also. And did he want one so soon? Especially after I told him about Rachel? I picked up the phone and dialed his cell. He picked up on the third ring.
"Hello?"
"Howie, its me"
"Baby, I was just thinking about you. Did you know Entertainment Tonight is running something on you?"
"No is it good?"
"Anything with you is. Now whats up?"
"How did you know something was up?"
"Cause your voice sounds like something is so spill."
"Well, Howie, do you remember me telling you about my friend in high school? Rachel?"
"Yeah the girl who was in love with you and even though she knew you were gay thought she could one day change you?"
"Haha, yeah thats the one. Okay well there was more about her that I forgot to tell you."
"OK."
"When I left to LA she came with me. It was great having a friend and all. But she was always depressed. One day we talked about it and she wanted to have children. Well so did I but you know I couldnt. She suggested we have one together. After two weeks of arguments she convinced me it would be good. I would have a child, my career would be solid cause I would firmly be looked at as straight. SO we got married."
"WHAT?!" he said.
"Calm down. We got married in October of last year. We didnt do anythin. I couldn't bring myself to have sex. Finally I got drunk and did it. It was the first and last time. That was in November. We got the marriage annulled and I was free and clear in December."
"Okay. Why the hell are you telling me all this?"
"Cause I love you and when I remember something that may affect us I like to bring it up. And Rachel is back."
"Oh shit."
"And she's pregnant."
"OHSHIT!"
"Its not mine Howie."
"How do you know? How far is she?"
"Its not Howie. she is in her final month and that makes her concieve in January."
"Aight, well I guess. Now what is she back for?"
"Oh boy. Brace yourself. She is homeless. Shes also myfriend. She wants me to take her baby when it is born."
"babe, serious?"
"Yeah. I told her that I didnt know yet. Right now she is staying with us. IF I decide to do it then she will sign papers making the child mine and mine alone. She doesn't want anything to do with it."
"Wow, well guess what?"
"What?"
"I have a break this weekend. You want me?"
I laughed,"You know I want you."
"Then how about I get in tomorrow night and we can work on this together?"
"That would be great."
"Aight, Kev says hi and that I need to go."
"I say hi back and I love you Howie."
"I love you to Craig."