Jacob came into Perri's room. "Here. I could only find chocolate chip cookies, no oatmeal raisin like you asked for. My guess is that no one but you like oatmeal raisin, so that's why they don't have them."
"Haha. Very funny. Please give me the cookies. I need the sugar." She took the cookies from him and took a giant bite. "Did you call Bodhi?" she asked with her mouth full.
"Yes. I called and left a message. He was unavailable, but I'm sure he will call soon. I told him it was about you, and it was important."
"Oh," she swallowed her cookie and put the rest on the side table.
He could see how hurt she was that I had yet to hear back from him.
"I guess we'll see exactly how much he cares. I just..."
"You just what?" he asked, his voice sounding slightly annoyed. He knew she was about to say something that would defend Bodhi.
"I don't know if I want him to know, but I am scared that when he does, he'll do something dumb."
"He's already done something dumb," he said.
"I mean, like, run back to Kentucky and give up his career just so he could--"
"Take care of his kids and the mother of his children? Isn't that exactly what he should be doing? He's a selfish prick. You deserve better. There is better out there." Like me. I would love a shot with you, Persephone.
"Jacob, that's not fair. I should have told him and given him the choice."
"He doesn't deserve to be in your or the boy's lives."
"He's their father."
"He's a guy you slept with and accidentally got pregnant by. He's a guy who screwed his publicist."
Perri started to tear up. "He's... but..."
"Persephone, I am so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." I am such an asshole."
"He did, though, and I should have told him. I feel horrible for keeping it from him, no matter how angry I was or am."
He took her hand in his. "Please don't do this to yourself. You can't get upset. You have to take care of these two beautiful boys. Jacob and Jacob."
She let out a laugh. "Nice try, but no."
He swiped a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. It was an intimate gesture. "Have you decided on the names?
I have. I have been thinking about it since I saw the two little heartbeats fluttering on the ultrasound.
"Don't keep in suspense."
"Patrick Holden James and Bodhi O'Neill James."
What! You're basically naming them after Bodhi?"
"I'm naming them after their father," she said with a touch of defense in her tone.
"Fine. I guess it's your decision. But if I have a baby, the name Persephone or Perri will not be involved. Wait! Holden gets to represent, but I don't. I delivered that one."
He pointed to the baby on the left. She moved his arm so that his finger now pointed to the one on the right.
"If you can't tell them apart..." She shrugged.
"All babies look the same. Don't judge me. Plus, I really didn't get a close look because I was trying not to look directly at your... umm..."
"Vagina Jacob. It's called a vagina.
"Fine, I was trying not to look directly at your vagina. So, who is who?"
"Well, the one that you, as you so nicely put it earlier, caught as it fell out of my vagina is Bodhi, and the one that came in the ambulance is Patrick."
"Are you sure I can't change your mind about the name? I mean, Jacob Bodhi doesn't sound too bad."
"Jacob, I am forever in your debt for what you have done for me, but be like Elsa and let it go."
"If you insist. Can I hold one?"
"You can hold both, Uncle Jake." She smiled.
"Uncle Jake? I like the sound of that, but I think Uncle Jake will start with one." He went over and picked up Bodhi as Patrick was sleeping peacefully, so he didn't want to disturb him. He took the little boy and sat down next to Perri.
Jake ran the back of his finger along Bodhi's cheek. "He really is pretty fucking cute, and his skin is so soft."
"Watch your mouth, new ears," she said sarcastically.
"Hey, don't throw my words back at me!" He smiled.
Perri looked at him. She was seeing him in a way that she hadn't before. He was playing with Bodhi's hand with his finger, trying to get the little boy to grip it.
"Hey, Jacob?"
He looked up. "Yeah?"
"Would you like to be Bodhi's godfather? I am going to ask Holden to be both of their godfathers, but I would like to be Bodhi's. You will forever have a special connection to him."
"Really? Well, I guess if you won't name him after me, I have to take what I can get."
The corner of her mouth curled. "Is that a yes?"
"You've given me an offer I can't refuse," he said, trying to do his best Brando impression.
"First off, don't ever do that again. Second, Good. I'm going to ask Joanna and Ashley to be the godmothers. I wouldn't have gotten through these last nine months without them. Especially Jo."
"I think they will be honored. Here, that kid? I'm your godfather. If you ever need anything, you come to me. Candy, food, video games, cool shoes, advice about the ladies." he lowered his voice. "Helping a dead body to disappear."
"Jacob!" She laughed.
"What? Okay, fine. No shoes, then."
Bodhi started to cry. "Shit. Okay, you can have the shoes. Did I break him?"
"No, he's hungry, you moron."
"Hey, that's godfather moron to you."
She lifted her gown.
"You know what? I am going to go get something to drink. I will be back when your boobs are covered."
"Jacob, you don't have to leave. It's a natural part of life."
"I'm good. For a boob guy, it's not--"
"I get it. Can you at least give me my phone before you go? I want to play Farmville before my barn gets turned into a Brothel."
He laughed and got her phone out of her bag.
"Text me when you're done." He kissed Bodhi on the forehead and handed him to Perri. Then, without even thinking, he did the same to Perri.
"Oh. Umm. I'm just going to go get that drink."
"I'm going to do something really stupid," she said to the hungry baby. "I hope he's awake. It's kind of late over there. Then again I think nine o'clock is late nowadays.
Taking a deep breath, she pulled up her contacts.
Bodhi was in the kitchen, elbow-deep in ground beef. He was making his dad's meatloaf recipe. He missed his dad's cooking, home, Periwinkle, and his friends.
Janessa was sitting in the kitchen eating a salad because meatloaf was poor people's food and she didn't do poor people anything.
Bodhi's phone started to vibrate. It was sitting on the coffee table. Janessa was about to call to let him know until she saw who it was. Perri's picture popped up. She grabbed the phone, ran down the hall, and ducked into the bathroom.
"Mrs. Bodhi O'Neill. How can I help you?"
Yeah, I was right. This was the dumbest thing I have ever done.
"Hello? Is anyone there? I can hear you breathing."
Perri felt her hand start to shape. She wasn't sure if it was from nerves or anger. "Is Bodhi there, Janessa?" Just saying her name was like acid in her mouth.
"Who is this? His caller ID said, unimportant caller. He's so funny sometimes."
He has me in his phone as an unimportant caller? "This is Perri. I'm--"
"Oh, I know who you are."
"Ok. His friend Jake called earlier and left a message to have him call him."
"Yeah, I took the message. I gave it to Bodhi and I am going to tell you the same thing Bodhi has told me that I relayed to Jake. Bodhi wants absolutely nothing to do with his friends from the States, and he said if he never talked to you for the rest of his life, it would be too soon. So, if he didn't call back then get the joint he really doesn't care. You and everyone else are his old life, and he doesn't want his old life. He wants his new life, so you and your friends need to read the room and let him. I will do you a favor and tell him you called, but if he doesn't call you back, you need to stop harassing him... and me! Understand?"
Perri swallowed hard. The tears had started to cry quietly. "I understand. Don't bother with the message. If that is how he wants it, that will be how he gets it."
"Oh, no. I'll tell him. Just in case. But Larry."
Janessa hung up, and Perri stared at Bodhi's contact picture on the screen, smiling back at her. She hit the three dots in the corner and deleted his contact information. She was done. She tried.
"Well, little guy, I guess it's you, me, and your brother makes three."
After Janessa deleted Perri's number from the call log, she returned to the living room, put the phone back, picked up her salad, and Bodhi was none the wiser.
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