Part 4

Salem sat cross-legged on her bed, cell phone pressed tight to her ear. Her free hand smoothed the round bulge strapped to her stomach. “Yes, this is Salem Brody. I’m calling on behalf of Jessica Meyer,” she said, adopting the professional office demeanor. “I’m calling from her family physician’s office, Dr. Rowe in Oakwood. We haven’t seen the results from the ultrasound here and she is with the doctor right now and asking about the gender. She is hoping to know the baby’s gender today. Could you send the file like, right now?”

There was a pause and muffled voices on the other end. She rolled her eyes with impatience.

“It’s a girl,” sounded the voice.

A slow smile spread across Salem’s face. “A girl,” she repeated to the imaginary doctor in front of her while tasting the word. “Perfect. Thank you so much.”

She hung up, closed her eyes, and pressed both palms hard against her rubber belly. “My girl,” she whispered. “Our girl.”

* * *

The smell of coffee and sugar frosting filled Meyer family home. Streamers in pink and blue curled across the ceiling. Balloons bobbed near the door, and a banner hung crookedly above the living room: “Welcome Babies!”

Jessica stood in the center of it all: radiant, cheeks flushed with excitement, belly round beneath her floral dress. Her mother hovered in the kitchen, spreading out the catered food in aluminum trays. Her father wrestled with the balloon strings. People seemed to spill out of every room, laughing and calling Jessica’s name.

Salem entered the house.

“Jess!” she squealed, pushing through the crowd with arms outstretched. The two women hugged tightly. Jessica beamed. “Everyone, for those of you who don’t know, this is Salem. My bestie!”

The word rang new, but Jessica said it as if it were carved into stone.

Salem’s smile flickered with pride. “Best friend.” She liked the way it placed her at the center of this family’s joy. For a moment, she could almost forget the ache in her chest when she saw the Meyer family gathered around Jessica, with everyone fussing, everyone belonging. Salem had no one. No mother in the kitchen. No father cursing at balloons. No sisters fussing with her dress. Just Jonah, and Jonah wasn’t here.

She plastered on a smile and smoothed her hands over her belly.

“Look at you both!” an aunt cooed and her long, bent fingers reached for Salem’s stomach like a witch’s claws.

“Don’t,” Salem snapped and jerked back so sharply the woman froze. Salem’s tone softened and she forced a laugh. “Sorry, I’m… sensitive. Just not comfortable with everyone touching.”

The aunt withdrew, muttering an apology.

Another guest leaned in, “So what are you having?”

Salem stiffened, eyes darting to Jessica. “We’ll wait until Jessica shares. We wanted it to be special, together.”

Jessica laughed nervously, patting Salem’s lower back. “We’re kind of doing everything together. It’s been amazing having her.”

Everyone murmured their approval, but a few exchanged quick glances; and Salem felt the weight of their stares pressing down on her. Salem sat next to Jessica like a cuckoo bird in the Meyers’ nest. She stood up and raised her voice.

“Attention, everybody! As you know, Jessica is my best friend. We have just met outside the clinic on the day of our first appointment, and we have been inseparable ever since. Babe, you have been my rock and my soul, and I love you so much! But there are secrets between us, and I think it’s time we let these two secrets out. What do you say?” Salem extended her hand to Jessica, and Jessica stood up.

“Okay, let’s do this. Come everybody and count us on three…”

Everyone started counting with big smiles on their faces. “One, two, three!”

“It’s a girl!” the two shouted. In surprise, Jessica’s eyes flooded with tears, and they held one another, and laughed, and shouted. If just for a moment, just for an afternoon, Salem experienced what she has never had – a family.