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“Well, of course not,” she said “Neither did I I was on the pill, for God’s sake I thought I ht before you first went up there, and then as I said, I thought I wasn’t And then, well, I had the sonogram yesterday I wouldn’t have an abortion now even if you tried to pushinto the world Truth is, Sunshine Boy, I don’toff
He put down the phone He was staring at nothing, and thinking over anow, iddy, and then he heard Felix’s voice, gentle and confiding
“Reuben, don’t you see? This is the only normal human child you will have”
He looked up at Felix He was s for pure happiness But he was speechless
The phone was ringing again, but he scarcely heard it Ih hisemotions a resolve had formed
Felix answered the phone and held the receiver out to him “Your mother”
“Darling, I hope you’re happy with this Listen, I’ve told her we’ll take care of everything We’ll take the baby I’ll take the baby I’ll care for this baby”
“Mom, I want my son,” he said “I’ure quite what to say I tried to tell Celeste, but she wouldn’t listen She didn’t want to listen Mom, I am so happy Dear God, I am so happy”
Celeste’s stinging words were co him What in the world had she meant by all that invective? It just didn’t matter, really What mattered was the baby
“I knew you would be, Reuben,” Grace was saying “I knew you wouldn’t let us down She had the appointment for the abortion when she told me! But I said, ‘Celeste, you can’t do this, please’ She didn’t want to do it, Reuben She wouldn’t have told anyone if she’d really wanted the abortion We would never have known She gave in right away Look, Reuben, she’s just angry right now”
“But Mom, I mean, I just don’t understand Celeste,” he said “Let’s just do whatever we can to make her happy”
“Well, ill, Reuben But having a baby’s painful She’s already requested a leave fro about relocating in Southern California after this is over Mort’s applying to UC Riverside for a job And it looks good And I’et settled there and start over again You know, a house, a condo, whatever we can do She’ll land on her feet, Reuben But she’s mad So let her be mad And let’s be happy”
“Mo off from work for a year,” Reuben said “You don’t have to” He looked up at Felix Felix nodded “This boy is going to grow up here with his father You’re not giving up your career for hi him down every weekend to see you, you understand? Why, the rooht next to mine, it’s Laura’s office, but we’ll turn that into a nursery There are plenty of roo to be excited when I tell her this”
His ratulations, son I’m so happy for you When you hold your firstborn in your arms, well, Reuben, that’s when you understand your own life for the first time I know that sounds trite, but it’s true You wait and see”