more than just pancakes

Kyle got up early to make pancakes before his mother could start breakfast. He made the coffee to. He remembered. It might be the last good thing he ever did.

No Amanda to help him out here. No, just him and the news of what to come. It was going to be freaky. Maybe she wouldn't even want to tell Ellie's Dad. Maybe she'd kick him out of the house and he'd be left on the street. He guess he could go to Amanda's. Maybe that would be the thing to do. That easy.

Nothing was ever easy when it came to his mother.

"What's this?" She acted as if she knew something was up. The bacon was crispy perfect, too. She took a crunch.

They sat down at the kitchen table.

"I didn't tell you I saw Dr. Foster other day," Kyle said matter of fact.

"He's an OB doctor, where would you see him?"

"The women's clinic." Kyle didn't look away. Perhaps she could do the math. She just looked at him as if she needed another clue.

"I didn't know he asked you to come work for him when I was being born," Kyle said. "You never told me."

"I think he just felt sorry for me," she acted as if she didn't want to talk about that. That perhaps it was a rather miserable time in her life.

"Yeah, well, he probably feels sorry for you again," Kyle sighed wishing he could dig into the pancakes and push a forkful in his mouth.

"Why would he do that?"

"I'm just surprised he didn't call you about it." Kyle nodded. "You're gonna be a grandmother."

"I hope we're talking about your brother." His mother looked concerned.

"Sorry." He was pretty sure she didn't think he meant it.

"What? Is this an early April Fools joke?" She squinted.

"No joke." Kyle felt as if he were losing air. And fast. He kept staring at her wondering what he should say next. "I tried not to let it happen. I did. I thought I could keep something like that from happening."

"You," she snapped. "Shouldn't even be having sex, first of all. And..and are you really sure it's even yours?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." He nodded.

She didn't say anything.

"I really hope I can figure out the right thing to do," he frowned. "I know you think the worst is gonna happen. But maybe it won't. Maybe we can figure something out."

"What do you think the best thing would be, to do?" She looked at him.

"Maybe you could adopt it since I'm not exactly, you know, a rocket scientist," he cringed. "But you might have to adopt Amanda too. And I don't think she'd come here if she didn't have Derrick with her."

"That's asking a lot, Kyle." Her mother told him.

"I know." Kyle shook his head, his stomach didn't feel like eating. "But I wish you could. At least for a little while."

"You want Amanda to be here with you?"

"Not exactly. She could be in the guest room. Derrick could share my room. I just want her to be OK. I'm not sure its like that at home. She has to do so much, you know. And when I see her like that, I just want her to be happy. She needs that right now." Kyle doubted his Mom would see it that way.