NEW YORK CITY, NY – RESTAURANT – FEB. 15TH, 2002 – Tuesday

     “Excuse me, what?” Tom looked and sounded surprised. He wasn’t sure he had heard right “I didn’t…”

     “She’s pregnant.” Ashley decided to answer for Kirstin “Unfortunately, with your baby.” Kirstin looked down. So Ashley wasn’t still ok about that.

     “Is that true, Kirstin?” Tom tried to make eye contact with Kirstin. He still couldn’t believe the news. He didn’t know how to feel about that.

     “Yes.” Kirstin looked up into his eyes “We’re gonna have a baby.” Kirstin half-smiled.

     “Oh, my God, Kirstin!” Tom rubbed his forehead “This is… huge! I mean, this changes…”

     “Everything.” Kirstin finished for him.

     “Right. Yeah! I mean… it’s a baby! Our baby!” Tom smiled and took her hand. So, he was happy about it. He was gonna have a baby with Kirstin. He imagined it happening after they were married and all. But that didn’t matter at that particular moment. All that mattered was that Kirstin was carrying his baby! He couldn’t help but to feel thrilled.

     Ashley had to make a huge effort not to ruin that moment. He knew that if he did, Kirstin would be mad at him. But he didn’t like the idea of her holding hands with Tom. Especially during that conversation. What if that touch brought back some feelings?

     And that was kind of what Kirstin had on her mind when Tom took her hand in his. She didn’t want to get rid of his touch. ‘Wow.’ she thought for a second before she heard Ashley clearing his throat. She instantly removed her hand from Tom’s.

     “Actually, Tom, we…” Ashley indicated him and Kirstin “Are gonna raise this baby.”

     “Like hell you will!” Tom raised his voice “It’s my child, not yours!”

     “Well, you should have thought better than to cheat on Kirstin then.” Ashley also raised his tone. Now some people at the bar were staring at them.

     “Please, you two…” Kirstin warned “Stop that. People are starting to stare. Stop it!”

     “No, Kirstin. I’m sorry, but…” Tom stopped and got his mood back in track “I can’t let my baby be raised by pretty boy over here. I’m sorry, but it’s my child, I think I have the right to raise it.” Tom took her hand again. Kirstin looked tenderly at their hands together. Ashley picked up on that.

     “Listen, you gave your right up when you decided to take that other chick back to Kirstin’s apartment. I’m sorry, waiter boy, but you gave your right up a few weeks ago.” Ashley looked down at Kirstin for some support. Somehow, that didn’t happen.

     “Kirstin, listen.” Tom started, looking deeply into Kirstin’s eyes and still holding her hand “I’m not gonna give up on my baby. I wanna be part of its life. I won’t let only you and whoever is with you raise it. I wanna be there too! It is my baby too! God… I can’t believe I’m having this conversation!” Tom threw his hands up in disbelief “I’m the baby’s father! I shouldn’t be having this conversation! It’s my right to raise it! It’s my flesh and blood! It’s mine! Not… his!” Tom pointed at Ashley.

     “Ok, now… If it wasn’t for this baby, you would have never seen Kirstin again. So I don’t think…” Ashley started, pointing his finger at Tom, but got cut off by Kirstin.

     “Just… shut up you two!” Kirstin got up from her seat and placed both her hands on her face “I can’t listen to you two arguing like that. Just…” and just like that, she took off, trailing to the lady’s restroom.

     “Now, see what you’ve done!” Tom looked disgusted at Ashley.

     “Oh, yeah! What I’ve done! Can’t you see this is entirely your fault? You got her pregnant and then cheated on her!” Ashley defended himself.

     “I wouldn’t have cheated on her if I knew she was pregnant!”

     “Oh, yeah! That was sweet to say! Really nice going!” Ashley shook his head.

     Kirst in got into a stall and closed the door. She sat on the toilet and brought her knees to her chest. She didn’t cry though. She thought she would, but she was too confused and too mad at the same time to even cry.

     ‘What were they thinking? Fighting like that… Pathetic!’ she thought while shaking her head ‘Oh, man. Now what do I do? Tom’s reaction was just so… not what I expected. He was just so… sweet. Sweet? Tom?’ Kirstin frowned and continued on her trail of thoughts ‘So, yeah… Maybe sweet. He really is happy with the baby. I thought he’d freak out! But… he wants to be there. He wants to be a father. And it would be so much easier with him than with Ashley.’ Kirstin stopped, regretting what she had just thought ‘No, Kirstin! Don’t start! You can’t! Ashley is the right one for this baby. Tom, of course, he’s the father, he will be around, that’s his right as he totally made that clear, but Ashley is the one that’s gotta be by your side. He is the right choice. Right?’ Kirstin nodded ‘Yeah… He’s the right choice.’ she continued nodding, but somehow, things weren’t exactly clear for her ‘So… Ok. Ashley. Right. But… What was that when Tom touched me? Was that… No, no, no. He made you suffer. Too much. And you don’t wanna go that way again. He doesn’t deserve you. You don’t like him. Not really. You’re just confused with all that’s going on. So, ok. You’re gonna be with Tom then.’ Kirstin smiled and then shook that smile off ‘Not Tom! Ashley! God…’

     Kirstin spent another 10 minutes in the restroom, going through everything, every detail over and over.

     She then collected her thoughts and decided to tell the boys her decision. Was that the right one?

       

     When she got out off the restroom and looked at the bar, the picture was somehow funny, but she was way too nervous to smile. There, sitting at the bar, on one stool, was Tom. On the other stool right beside him, was Ashley. They had their backs to each other and both had their arms crossed over their chest.

     Kirstin shook her head, took a deep breath and stepped forward them.