Thirty-Eight


      Taylor watched Lindsey walk away. He was about to run after her when his cell phone started vibrating. He retrieved it from his pants pocket and looked at the Caller ID. It was his father calling from the hotel. It was still early, so he was confused as to why his father was calling.
      "Hello?" Taylor answered.
      "Tay, you and your brother need to get back to the hotel right now. We're going home," Mr. Hanson said.
      "Wait, what are you talking about? Can you please tell me what's going on?"
      "You and Zac need to get here immediately. Isaac is almost done packing already. I'll talk to you then," Mr. Hanson demanded. "'Bye."
      Taylor closed the phone and pondered why his father could have been so angry. The only thought that ran through his head was that they had found out about him getting Page pregnant. If that was it, why would they have to go back to Tulsa? It didn't make sense to him.
      He made his way back into the party and found his brother where he had left him. "Zac, we have to go."
      "Why?"
      "I don't know. Dad said we're going home. We have to go," Taylor repeated.
      "Okay, I'm coming," Zac sighed before saying good-bye to his friends.
        Zac and Taylor made their way to the door hastily. Taylor almost forgot about Lindsey until she confronted him again.
       "You don't even care about me, do you? I'm nothing to you, right?"
      "Who is she?" Zac muttered under his breath.
       Taylor ignored his brother and answered Lindsey. "I never begged you to get an abortion. You were the one who said I wasn't ready to be a father and it would ruin your modeling career.  I just agreed. How is that begging you to get an abortion?"
       Zac's jaw dropped.
       "Good thing I never listened to you," she said, sending icicles through Taylor's spine.
      "Excuse me? You slept with every guy you met.  I called you afterwards anyway, but you never picked up. Is that my fault? I'm so over you, Lindsey. I got over you before I even fucked you."
        "Is that the way you talk to the mother of your child? Damn, I know you're only seventeen, but you could be a little more responsible. I'm nineteen, Taylor. You think I'm old enough to be raising a seven-month-old baby?"
      "Oh, my God. . ."  Taylor and Zac exclaimed at the same time.
      "Don't worry about being a part of my baby's life because he doesn't need you and neither do I." She was on the verge of tears.
     "Come on, Zac. We have to go. Lindsey, you know my number," Taylor replied idiotically, not fathoming the importance of her words.
     "Are you just going to walk away?"
      Taylor ignored her. He felt betrayed and he just wanted to get away from the party. Nothing made sense to him.
     In the car, Taylor didn't say a word to Zac. He was engulfed in his own thoughts.
     "So, what just happened?" Zac inquired.
     "You heard everything. I don't know anymore than you do."
     "What are you going to do?"
     "I don't fucking know, Zac. I have other things to think about right now. I can't think about her or. . . her baby."
     "It's your baby, too," Zac reminded him.
     "Whatever," Taylor remarked as he pulled into the hotel parking lot.
     "You don't have to, like, be with Lindsey in order to be a father to your kid," Zac reasoned.
      "You know what, I've heard all that shit before. I don't want to hear it. I don't want you telling anything that happened tonight to anyone, not even your little girlfriend Kathy and especially not Page. Got it?"
      "Fine," Zac agreed. "They'll find out anyhow."
     Zac thought it seemed like he was always the one who found out things he shouldn't or wouldn't want to know about his older, fucked-up brother. The more he was around Taylor, the more he realized how confused and wrong he often was. It drove him crazy that he couldn't do anything to help his older brother. All he could do was try to talk sense into him.
       In fact, Zac pretty much knew that the reason they had to leave the party over was probably due to something regarding Taylor. Taylor was never the troublemaker growing up. Ironically, it used to always be Zac who was getting them into trouble.
       "What's up, Dad? Why'd you want us back so early?" Taylor said cheerfully once they were back at the hotel.
       "We're going back home a little early," their father explained. Then he turned to Zac and said, "Go get your things."
        Zac obeyed his father and headed to the room in which his things were located.
        Mr. Hanson then shifted his attention to Taylor. "Page's dad suffered from a heart attack and unfortunately, he passed away," he despondently informed his son.
       "Oh, no. . ." Taylor said softly. "I have to talk to Page. Is she okay?"
       "I don't know, son. Her mother is distraught, obviously, but she was able to call your mother to tell her about Page being pregnant," Mr. Hanson relayed. He gave Taylor a serious, stern look.
       "So, you guys know now?"
       "Yes, we know. I'm extremely disappointed with you. I can't find the word to describe how angry I am with myself for allowing you to do this."
       "I'm sorry. . ."
       "You should be. Your mother and I agreed that we should go to the funeral. We know it's going to be hard to talk to Page and her mother about the baby, but we have to do that also. Get your things so we can be on our way."
       Taylor nodded and sluggishly made his way. Guilt and anxiety began to overcome him.

*         *            *

        Page greeted all of Taylor's family as normally as she could. They all looked uncomfortable and unsure of what to say or do. She knew they were all looking at her differently. She was showing and her father was dead. She was a completely different person since the last time she saw them.
        They walked into her house and one by one, gave her solemn smiles. Even Taylor seemed uneasy being around her. She was excited to see Kathy, but pretended not to notice when Kathy's jaw dropped upon seeing the sweater that was wearing cling tightly to Page's stomach.
        "My mom is talking with some of my family in the living room," she said to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson.
        "Thanks, Page," they both said pleasantly as they walked passed her.
       "Are you doing any better?" Taylor whispered, hugging her for the second time. He had called her several times since he found out about her Dad and he kept asking her the same question each time.
        "I'm okay," she said again.
        "I'm really sorry," Ike said.
        "It's okay," Page answered. "Maribel is here. I know you guys didn't exactly leave off on the best terms."
        "Yeah. . ." Ike sighed.
        "You guys can go downstairs if you want. My brothers and sisters and some of my family are down there watching a movie," she informed them.
        "Okay," Ike, Zac and Kathy mumbled. Page walked them downstairs and introduced them to everyone. Once they were all settled in the basement, Taylor and Page made their way up to her bedroom.
         In the comfort of her bedroom, Taylor kissed her gently. "I love you so much, Page. If you want to talk, I'm here."
         "Thanks," she smiled. "I missed you."
         "I missed you, too. I'm so proud of you. You're handling everything very well."
         "I have to be strong or else I'd have a mental breakdown," Page said truthfully.
         "I'm glad you're being strong. How is the baby?"
         "Good, I guess. It's been moving a lot," she remarked, allowing Taylor to feel her stomach.
         "You're showing now," he smiled.
         "Yeah, I've noticed," Page smirked sarcastically. "Your family looks so surprised."
         "Well, my parents are the only ones who knew and I told them how far along you were."
          "Oh," she replied. "My family all knows. No one even remarks about it. They pretend like everything is normal. It's like a big secret that everyone knows, but won't admit it. A baby isn't something you can ignore."
         Taylor froze and his eyes got bigger.
         "What's wrong?" Page asked.
         "Nothing," he laughed nervously.
         "Well, I wanted to talk to you about something. I know that I've been acting distant lately and I'm sorry. I just figured that I shouldn't all of a sudden try to be how I used to be just because I was pregnant. Before my father died, we talked and I told him I was pregnant. He cried, Taylor. I never told anyone about that; not even my Mom knows he cried. I won't ever be able to talk to him again. I told him I loved him, but I didn't really show it. I took him for granted and it's a horrible lesson I've had to learn."
         By that time, tears were streaming down Page's face. Taylor grabbed a Kleenex from beside her bed and handed it to her. He hugged her again.
         "I don't want to lose you, Taylor. I couldn't bare the thought of you with another girl or having a baby with someone else. . ."
         "What?" Taylor exclaimed. He was sure she knew about Lindsey now.     
         "What I'm trying to say is, I love you. I need you in my life and I want you in my life again. I'm sorry for being such a bitch," Page said, looking into his eyes.
         Taylor sighed and kissed her. "Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?"
         Page giggled and replied, "Yes, I am."
         "Of course, Page. I love you so much," Taylor assured her.
          She pulled him closer to her and kissed him. "I've wanted to do this for so long, Taylor."
         "Hold on," Taylor said and ran over to the door to make sure it was locked. "Okay, I didn't want anyone to walk in on us."
          They continued kissing passionately and Page pushed him down on the bed. She climbed on top of him and slowly lifted his sweater over his head, kissing his chest at the same time. She laid kisses all the way up until she reached his mouth and then she took off her sweater. It was the first time Taylor had ever seen her bare, pregnant stomach. He immediately touched it and smiled.
          "Wow, I did that. . ." he said in awe.
          "I believe I had something to do with it also," Page joked, straddling him. She slowly took off her bra and threw it behind her. Taylor started fondling her breasts, obviously intrigued that they had gotten a full cup size bigger. They were tender, but she pretended to ignore it and let Taylor take pleasure in messing with them. "Oh," she moaned as he played with her left nipple.
          "Does that hurt?" he asked, concerned.
          "No. . . it feels really good," she said breathlessly.
          She then began trying to take his pants off. She first unbuckled his belt and then undid his jeans button and zipper. He pulled his pants off and threw them on the floor, leaving him in his boxer briefs.
           Taylor just lay there with his hands now behind his head, enjoying every second of everything.
           Page got up and took off her black dress pants and was left only in her panties, which she decided to leave for Taylor. She climbed back on top of him and they continued kissing, her unclothed body pressing against his. His hands wandered all over her body, up and down.
          Deciding they had to hurry because they were in a house full of people, Taylor switched positions, getting on top of Page. He slowly pulled her panties down, threw them behind his back and pulled down his boxers.
          "Will this be okay for the baby?"
          "Yeah, it's fine, Taylor. I asked the doctor," she made certain.
          "Were you anticipating seducing me?" He laughed.
          "No way, dude," she winked. "Just fuck me before we get caught."
           Taylor was turned on by her talking dirty to him. He spread her legs and slowly entered her.
           She let out a deep breath and moved her hips along with his. She let out low moans, trying not to be too loud.
           "Oh, yeah," Taylor moaned, breathing heavily.
           They moved together, their sounds of pleasure echoing the other's. Perspiration was starting to form on their naked bodies, both working hard to please the other.
           "How does is it feel?" Page asked, looking into Taylor's eyes.
           "Oh, my God. . ." he exclaimed, conveying to her that it obviously felt good to him.
        Realizing that he was almost to the point of orgasm, he asked her if she was anywhere close. He wanted her to feel as good as he was about to.
         "Yeah," she moaned. He smiled and got faster.
          Finally, they both started panting heavily, signaling that they had reached the climax. They both moaned powerfully.
          "Wow," they both replied as Taylor pulled out. They kissed passionately and Taylor held Page for a few minutes. Both of them silent, reflecting on the love they just made and how much they missed it.
          "The baby is moving! Look," Page grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach.
          "I can feel it," Taylor said excitedly. He moved his head down on top of her belly and started singing a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. "I don't know how I remember this."
          "I love you," Page announced. "I love you enough to marry you."
          Taylor smiled and kissed her forehead. "We'd better get dressed and pretend like we were just talking."
          "Just talking. . ." she echoed him.