Chapter Twenty-three

"Jodi's pains are starting," Lois said. "Fifteen minutes apart."

"That's a good sign?"

"It's a sign the baby's on its way. How soon depends on how fast they escalate."

"I'll be right there!"

"We don't have any time to waste, Michael."

Chapter Twenty-three

The next day when I called—surprise!—Jodi's mom answered the phone.

"Your phone voice sounds just like Jodi's," I told her. "I can't tell the difference." Then my palms felt moist. I hadn't talked to Jodi's mom since we'd said good-bye at Ghost Bay. She hadn't had her shot at chewing me out about Jodi's pregnancy. I expected a total pounding; I decided all I could do was to man up and take it. "When did you get here?" I asked.

"I flew in this morning. I decided last night I couldn't stand this waiting."

"I know...waiting is terrible."

"I shouldn't have left Travis. Spring's our busy season. But I told him I had to go, and I was going to stay till I could take Jodi and the baby home with me."

"Do you think everything's going to be all right?"

"All right?"

"With Jodi, I mean."

"She's tiny, but she'll be fine."

I massaged my forehead, right above my eyes, with my thumb and forefinger. "I hope you don't hate me, Mrs. Jackson"

A second dragged by. "You can call me Lois, Michael."

Did that me we were, like, buddies? I didn't think so. "Um...all right."

"No, I don't hate you, Michael. I was mad as hell at first, though. This isn't the senior year Jodi had planned for herself. No homecoming. No prom—"

"No cross-country scholarship." I threw that out before Lois could sack me with it. "I'm sorry I ruined Jodi's chances, I really am."

"But you have your scholarship, don't you, Michael? Picture in the paper Jodi told me. Full ride—books, board, tuition, I understand. Probably some perks. Pocket money? Cars? Girls?"

Her words crushed me. "Nothing like that," I said. "I wish..." But my thought trailed off helplessly.

"Wish what? That you could trade places with Jodi. I don't think so. At Eagle River High she was in the band. She played flute. Did you know that?"

"She didn't tell me."

"She missed the band trip to Disney World. I hated to see her miss all those things. To see her life changed so drastically. So fast."

"I know she's gotten the worst of this."

"What were you two thinking?"

"My mom asked me that. I have to give you the same answer. We weren't—at least I wasn't."

Silence. I felt sweat beading on my forehead.

"After you left Wisconsin last summer," Lois said, "we could tell Jodi was terribly upset. She finally told us why. We begged her to call you right away. But she wouldn't. She’s awfully stubborn. She was waiting for you to call or write."

"I know."

"I wanted to call," Lois said. "But Travis said it wasn't my place, and we knew your dad was getting worse. We wondered how he'd take the news. Did you ever tell him?"

"No. I don't know what he would've said. He would have been...disappointed with me, I know." Pissed is what I really wanted to say. But I didn't.

"Travis and I felt so sorry for you and your mother... No, Michael, we don't hate you. But we think you and Jodi did a very foolish thing."

"I know." I grabbed the bottom of my T-shirt and wiped my forehead. "I'm sorry to have caused so much difficulty, I really am. I can't say it enough times."

"For most girls, perhaps adoption is the best choice. But in this case—well, we love Jodi, we'll love the baby, and we'll be able to provide a wonderful environment for a baby to grow up in. The wilderness and a loving household."

"I'll help."

"Whatever you can do, Michael, "will be appreciated."

"I wish..." I started again. What? What did I wish?

"There's no point in brooding about the past," she said, "and wishing you could change it. You can't."

"I realize that."

"What we have to do now is work on the future."

"I agree."

"Sometimes things have a way of turning out for the best."

"We'll see," I said, and our conversation ended with Lois wishing me luck with my college and football career. As if she accepted the thought Jodi and I had no future together at all.

                   

At school the next day, another surprise awaited me. Coach Flynn called me into his office and said he'd been named head coach for the South in the Shriners All-star high school football game. The game is played the second Saturday in June at the University of Northern Iowa in its dome stadium—the UNI Dome—where we Falcons had won our state championship.

The Shriners sponsor the game, featuring the best senior prep football players in the state in a North-South match up. The real surprise came when he said I'd been selected to be on the team. I'd given neither the game nor the honor a thought.

"Great!" I said.

"You should get an official letter from the selection committee soon. Practice doesn't start officially till two weeks before the game, but I figure I might get some of the other area players together and start some 'unofficial' workouts. You going to be in town?"

"Sure."

"Conditioning, you know—unofficially."

"I understand."

"We'll start the second day after graduation." He smiled. "Figure I'd give you a day to rest up. Honey and Oz will be playing, too. Plus five other players who live close by."

"Cool! I'll be ready." I smiled and pointed at his head of newly grown hair. "You going to shave your head?"

"No way. My wife won't allow it."

"Just thought I'd ask."

He smiled back. "The game's a big opportunity, Mike. Lots of college and pro scouts there."

"Pro scouts? I didn't know that."

"They spot tough high school kids who look like they might have what it takes in the pros, then follow their development through college. They'll have an eye on you, I'm sure."

"You think so?"

"Take my word for it. You've got a cannon for a leg. Everyone needs a kicker."

         

Jodi's the "pains-are-starting" call came a week later, which meant she was a week late. It was a muggy Wednesday with threatening skies, the afternoon of graduation for Grandview seniors. Mom was pressuring me to go to dinner with Feldman and her after graduation. They'd made reservations at Jumers Castle Lodge for seven o'clock. Graduation was at four. After dinner, I could go party all I wanted. Did I want to party? Hell, yes I did, but I also wanted to be ready for Jodi's call.

When my cell rang after I'd finished taking a shower, I grabbed it off my dresser and flipped it open. "Hello?"

"You doing anything important, Michael?"

"Jodi?"

"Lois."

"Nothing. Why?" I held my breath.

"Jodi's pains are starting," Lois said. "Fifteen minutes apart."

"That's a good sign?"

"It's a sign the baby's on its way. How soon depends on how fast they escalate."

"I'll be right there!"

"We don't have any time to waste, Michael."

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

I jumped into underwear, T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

When I dashed for the front door, Mom jerked up from watching TV. "Where are you going, Michael? There's a tornado watch out—they just said it on TV—till seven o'clock."

"I've got to go, Mom."

"Graduation will have to be inside instead of at the stadium. Where are you going?"

"I'm taking Jodi to Iowa City."

"Now?"

"Now!"

"What about graduation?"

"They can mail my diploma!" I said, and raced out the door, my heart knocking in my chest.

I'm going to be a dad!

Coming Friday—Chapter Twenty-four: A baby is born.