HOLLY
“Open up,” the nurse says in a singsong voice to Matty, and she pops open her mouth trying to encourage my little boy to do the same.
Matty covers his mouth with his little hand and shakes his head, flat out refusing to do so. We've been at the Woodfield clinic for ten minutes trying to get Matty to open his mouth so the nurse can swab his cheek, but he's not having it. Liam was supposed to meet us here to do the test together, but he's MIA.
“Come on, baby. Let this nice lady do her job.” I nudge him. “Then we can go home and play.”
“No,” he cries and hides his head in my chest.
The nurse drops her arms and sighs.
“I’m sorry.” I frown at the nurse and put my fingers through his messy curls. “He got up early and he’s shy around strangers.” Except for one particular CEO.
“It’s alright. It happens all the time.” She gives me a tiny smile and lays down the test.
The door creaks open and the smell of crisp apples whisks through the air. Liam steps into the room looking sharp in a navy-blue suit.
"Li-um." Matty jumps off my lap and charges for him. He hardly has time to react as Matty lunges.
"Whoa, bub, hi to you too."
Matty slings his arms around his neck. I'm sure thinking Liam is going to protect him from the nurse and the cotton swab.
“Sorry I’m late. My last meeting ran long,” he tells me but avoids eye contact.
I haven’t seen Liam in two days since I walked out of his office with Matty. All our communication has been through email. My anxiety has been through the roof waiting for this, but also from his sudden cold shoulder. I don’t know if it’s his nerves of the what if, or if this is something that will be permanent once he finds out he’s the father.
“It’s okay. Matty isn’t exactly thrilled about getting swabbed at the moment. Hence why he's hiding in your neck.”
"Oh, so he's not just happy to see me?" He pats Matty’s back. “Hey, bub. Would it help if I go first?"
"You do it?" Matty asks, sticking his finger in Liam's mouth.
“Yes, I have to get it done too." Liam asks if he can get his test done first. The nurse agrees and comes over with a new swab and rubs the inside of Liam's cheek. “See. It wasn't so bad was it?”
Matty shakes his head but hides his face behind his little hands. Liam laughs and pushes away his hands away.
“Come on now, can you do like I did? Open up? Big like a dinosaur?"
Matty opens his mouth wide. “Roarrr.”
“Yes, just like that. Can you do it again?” Liam shifts his body and waves the nurse over. She comes in quickly sticking the swab in his mouth as he roars again. His little face twists at the intrusion.
"Yucky," Matty says and sticks out his tongue.
“It’s not fair.” I giggle softly, watching the pair.
"What?"
"How easy he did that for you. He wasn’t having it with me."
“I guess I have some magic charm.” A small grin lifts Liam’s face and it’s the first time since he walked into this room he makes eye contact with me. Though, it doesn’t last. He turns away from me and picks up one of the random brochures on the wall. “How long will it take for the results?” he asks the nurse roughly.
“We should have the results in about twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Now would you like a lemon-raspberry lollipop little guy?”
Liam and Matty twist their brows, looking disgusted at the odd flavor choice. Matty shakes his head with his tongue hanging out. He hates—no despises—lemons. From beside me, I hear the nurse gently aww.
“What an odd mix.” Liam glances at me and shakes his head, as well, confused.
“They’re Organic.” The nurse shrugs. “We get them from the local farmer’s market.”
“I think we will pass. We will meet you outside. I’ll find him a sticker,” Liam tells me, and I giggle.
“Good choice.”
I grab my bag and stand from the bench when the nurse grabs my arm. “I know I shouldn’t say anything, and I should be saying it to him, but after seeing those two together and making the exact sour face at the same time.” She presses her hand to her chest and her eyes doe. “I don’t think you’ll have any worries with these results.”
“Thanks,” I say unsure of how to respond.
I step out of the room and head for the lobby. Matty is cradled in Liam's arms. His head rests on his shoulder and he plays with his tie. I take a moment to absorb the scene in front of me. A picture-perfect moment of a father and son I hope will not be sealed in time, but I’ll hopefully see again.
Liam is talking to the receptionist as I approach.
“Hey.” I rub Matty's back.
“Can you believe they don’t have any stickers in this place?” Liam huffs, pushing away from the reception desk.
“Did you find better tasting lollipops?”
“No,” he grumbles, and I know his attitude isn’t about the disappointment about the lack of good lollipops in this office. It’s me.
"Shall we go?" I slap my hands to my legs. Eager to get out of this awkward situation.
"Yes. I need to get back to the office."
“Come on, baby, it's time to go.” I reach out to grab Matty from Liam's arms, but he tightens his hold around Liam's neck.
“No. Li-um carry.”
“I can carry him down to the garage.”
Matty babbles away to Liam as we take the short walk down to the garage. The two are lost in their own little world as I’m walking feet behind feeling like an outsider. I
