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“But you can say it, Gia? You’re not even supposed to know that word. This is your fault, Damien; I can’t believe you’d do this to us. You’re supposed to be my best friend. We were supposed to be brothers.” Tyler brushes his chest against Damien, effectively pushing him.
I watch the way Damien’s fists flex at his sides, but he doesn’t push back. Not yet.
Tyler’s a hot head, always has been. He’s fierce when it comes to guarding those he loves. Damien might be his best friend, but I’m his baby.
Where Tyler is loud and demanding, Damien is quiet and comforting. Damien has a silent strength, and I know he’s harnessing every ounce of it as Tyler tries to push him to react. When Damien doesn’t take the bait, Tyler shifts his focus to me.
I’m as ready for this as I’m going to get.
“I’m so disappointed in you, Gia.” Tyler shakes his head back and forth.
Or I thought I was ready, but his words of disappointment take me by surprise. I’ve worked so hard my entire life to live up to his standards. To not disappoint my mama. No ripples in the sea. His disappointment is a punch to the gut, and I can’t stop the tears as they come.
I should have known better. My hormones are unpredictable. My tears betray me as I begin to ugly cry in the doorway that connects the living room to the kitchen. I’ve almost fully retreated from the room, and now I want to turn and run. I want to run far away from here.
“You don’t get to say that to her.” Damien growls and the hair on my arms stand at attention.
His blatant defense on my behalf rekindles the fleeting strength inside of me. I know this is only because I’m carrying his child, but it gives me strength all the same, and I’m taking all of that I can get.
“Don’t you tell me what I can fucking say. You’re a traitor. The enemy. Why are you still here, anyway? Leave.” Spit flies from Tyler’s mouth as he yells at Damien, and my blood begins to boil. He has no right to speak to him that way.
“No.” I step back into the room.
“What? Gia?” Tyler turns his anger from Damien to me, momentarily surprised by my outburst.
Sure, I’ve sassed him before, but I’ve never stood up to him like this. I’ve never had a reason to. But I refuse to stand back and let him treat either one of us like this for a second longer. We’re a family, we always have been, but this is not how a family reacts to adversity. Instead of picking us up, he’s chosen to tear us down, and there’s only so much of that I’m willing to tolerate.
“I said no! You can back the fuck off right now. I’m legally an adult, Tyler. I can make my own decisions. If I am old enough to go to war and fight for this country, I can sure as hell make a decision about my own fucking body. I’m keeping this baby.” I hurl words at my brother I would never dare say before, unable to contain my anger at Tyler’s reaction to this entire situation any longer. He’s not the only one allowed to be mad.
I see Damien’s small smile from the corner of my eye, but it’s short-lived.
“Of course you’re keeping the baby. You can move home with Mom and Jeff. You’ll be able to finish your degree and credentials online.” Tyler suggests an alternative that completely cuts Damien out of our lives. The brief smile on Damien’s lips is gone, replaced with a sadness that breaks my heart.
“You don’t understand, Tyler. You aren’t listening!” I scream to be heard in a room where the emotions are deafening.
“Oh, I think I understand clearly. I think it’s you that isn’t thinking this through.” Tyler fires words back at me. He swings his wild eyes to Damien, pointing toward the front door. “And you, Damien, leave. If I have to tell you again, I’ll remove you myself.”
Damien takes a step toward Tyler, and I see the fire light in his eyes.
“Damien and I are getting married.” The words burst from my lips.
“The fuck you are.” Tyler booms.
There it is - the explosion.
I knew it was coming, but I won’t stop now. I couldn’t if I wanted to.
“We’re getting married, and we’re raising this baby together. I know it doesn’t fit into your great big plan, but it’s our plan and it’s happening whether you like it or not.” I stand my ground. I won’t allow Damien to shoulder this alone; we’re a team.
“I refuse to stand by and watch the two of you make one of the biggest mistakes of your lives, because that’s what this is. You’re making a huge fucking mistake.” Tyler enunciates every word. He puts a voice to some of my biggest fears, but I won’t allow his negativity to deter me.
I will not allow him to change my mind about decisions I’ve already made. This isn’t about what’s best for me anymore. I can’t afford to only think about myself, that thought process went out the window the minute that test turned positive.
This isn’t about Damien. This isn’t about me. This is about this baby. Our daughter.
Damien and I have an opportunity to give this baby something neither one of us ever had. That can’t be a mistake. It just can’t.
“I think you need to leave, Tyler,” I say already knowing I have no authority in this house to kick him out. My words are a wasted threat.
