everyday troubles

 Casey felt a bitter woe ready to emerge. How could Lynsey do this to him?

Well, he had done his part. The last few months were a certain kind of limbo. Had he ever thought it would come to this? 

A baby? During a pandemic?

Oh, his mother had told him about his cousin's wife in the Philippines was finally having a girl. That didn't bother him much. That was another world away, but right here, right now he was going to be a father.

This kind of thing didn't happen to a remote person like him. He was the solo type. He worked from home. He had an imaginary friend to deal with. Of course, the Linsey he knew had showed up in a while since the other Lynsey showed up and she was very real.

Casey went on to invite the company in for their rather informal dinner which was out on the patio. It was nothing more than grilled burgers and cold salads. They didn't even drink alcohol. 

Effy and Duffy had their own set of problems. Duffy was worried about his school year. This was the worst possible future, he said. He went on to give examples about how singing might spread the virus faster. What was an elementary music teacher to do?

Casey didn't want to think about Duffy's worries. After all, they mainly talked about cutting grass for the most part and other boring neighborhood things.

Casey was quiet, like he might be coming down with something. Perhaps, he didn't feel human at all.

Oh, he wanted to love the idea of having a family with Lynsey. After all, she did make him feel normal. He no longer felt the guilt of losing his best friend so long ago.

Even then, he couldn't be who his old college mate wanted him to be. Casey, just needed to sit quietly away from everyone and absorb the situation. But what if the ghost from his past haunted him?

Casey went to pour himself some lemonade and Duffy too.

"Did Lyn already tell you two the news?" Casey asked. For all he knew he was the last to know. It hurt that she hadn't told him sooner. Oh, there was that news she'd gotten on at the library. Old news now.

"What?" Duffy smiled.

"We're going to have a baby," even when he said it, it felt something got caught in his throat. Suddenly, he was a nervous wreck. Gardening was the calmest thing he'd ever made time for. How could he raise a child in times like these?

But Duffy had a little one that would almost four and three of those years had been a progression of potty training and the boy still pooed his pants on occasion. Someone like Duffy took it in stride. He listened to kids all the time. He was kid friendly.

Before he knew it, Duffy was giving him a hug. Casey backed away. This was no time for such caring.

Lynsey only smiled at his awkwardness. After all, she was the one who knew him best. She told him she would be having the baby next Febuary.