Chapter 4
�So is that okay? Is that okay? Hello! I asked if that was okay?� Kevin asked as AJ sat looking over at the phone.
�Hu?� He answered, looking up. �I asked you if tomorrow would be okay with you for the meeting with Jive.� Kevin stared.
�Oh, yeah, that�s cool.�
�You okay? You look like you�ve been somewhere else the whole day?�
Kevin had dropped by AJ�s place just to straighten the meeting out with him Jive had planned and just make sure that AJ was okay with the time. Howie had just dropped by to say hi. AJ had filled them all in on what happened after he got home from the meeting at the clinic. What happened to the girl�s mother and how she had no family. All of it. And even though yesterday he seemed so sure she wasn�t his, today the expression on his face read different.
�Yeah, I�m fine. Just waiting for this phone call. Just want to get this whole thing over with ya know?� AJ said glancing up at Kevin and Howie then looking at the ground.
�So what, Mr. Smooth and suave getting nervous all of a sudden? Weren�t you the same guy yesterday that was making jokes about this whole thing?� Howie gave a sly smile.
�No, I�m cool. I mean I�m positive this kid is not mine. It�s just that after I got all the information about this yesterday, I guess it just started me to thinking. I mean, I just wish I knew who the mother was. Why would she do something like that? Why would she put my name on the birth certificate? And then I think... maybe it was a joke or something, ya know? Because they said it was a copy of the birth certificate not the actual one. And then there�s this girl...I mean she�s all alone. She has no family what so ever. I�m like her last hope for a real relative, for a real family home.� AJ put his elbows on his knees and rested his face in between his hands as he started forward.
� So many thoughts...just breath. So you do think that there is a slight possibility that she could be yours?� Howie asked as Kevin got a look of interest on his face.
�Well she�s 9, so if she were mine that would have made me about 16 when I had her. That�s just about the time we were making it big. She couldn�t be mine, but anything is possible, right?� He then sighed. �I don�t know.�
�So there is a possibility? AJ, this could be something big? You know that right? What are you going to do if she is yours?� Kevin asked.
�Well Kev, for now I was thinking I�ll just cross that bridge when I come to it. I�m almost positive she�s not mine though...it�s just that little voice that�s in the back of my head that�s giving me doubts.� He then glanced over at the phone again.
�Well dawg, I have to go. I have to drop by Brian�s and pick up some papers I left over there. Then I have to drop by the bank. I�ll see you tomorrow, 8:30 sharp at Jive okay?� Kevin stood.
�K, Kev.� AJ answered.
�Now don�t forget AJ, I know how your mind seems to wonder. It�s very important that you go tomorrow.� Kevin replied sternly as he walked towards the door.
�Yeah Kevin, I know. I won�t forget, I�ll be there alright.� AJ told him.
�Okay, see you tomorrow Howie, and AJ call me if you get the results of this DNA test today. Either bad or good, I want to know.� Kevin said as he opened the front door.
�Yeah, see ya Kev.� AJ called to him.
�Bye Kevin.� Howie replied right before the door shut.
There was a moment of silence that followed, but then the loud ringing of a phone broke through it.
�Hello?� AJ answered quickly. �Yeah, un hu, yeah, okay, okay, bye.�He said, then hung the phone up.
�Was it them?� Howie asked.
�Yeah, they want me to come down there. They don�t ask you to come down unless it�s positive do they? I mean if she wasn�t mine wouldn�t they just say it over the phone?� AJ asked slightly nervous.
�AJ I don�t think there allowed to give information like that over the phone. I think they have to see you in person. I think it�s just procedure, you know. I don�t think it has anything to do with if the test is positive or not.� Howie answered back.
�Okay, yeah your right. Can�t blow this thing out of proportion. This is part of a police investigation, of course they need to talk to me in person.� He reached for his keys. �I�ll see you tomorrow D.�
�Hey, you want me to go with you?�
�Naw, I mean I know your busy and all that. You don�t have to come.�
�No, my schedules all clear today. I have a dinner to go to at 7 but that�s a long time from now. I�m all yours.� He smiled.
�Well, I mean...only if you want to. I don�t want to drag you down there to sit in an office and be all bored when you could be doing something fun.� AJ responded sort of looking at the ground and slightly shuffling his foot.
Howie knew this game very well. AJ and him had been playing it since they met. Whenever he really wanted Howie to come with him or do something with him he would say he�d be okay by himself. But then the tone of his voice would make it sound as if he�d be really sad if he didn�t come with him. Then AJ would tell him he should come only if he really wanted to.
�J, come on lets go already.� Howie said as he took the keys out of his hand and headed for the door. AJ just gave a smile as he followed Howie.
They didn�t talk very much in the car on there way there. This told Howie that AJ was a little more nervous then he was letting on. He was never quiet, especially in the car.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
�You can sit in here and wait for me D, I don�t think they�ll let you go in the back with me.� AJ told him when they entered in the building.
The front room was a waiting room. �Hi, I was here yesterday. I was just called to come back today for my results. My name is AJ.� He said looking at the same women he saw the day before at the front desk.
�Oh yes, I remember you, just go through the door, officer Gracen is already on the other side waiting for you.� The lady said with a warm smile.
�Thanks.� AJ replied. �Be back in a second D.� AJ said to Howie as he disappeared into the doors.
�Hello Mr. McLean, we meet again.� Officer Gracen said as he smiled. Today he was actually wearing a policeman uniform.
�Yeah, here we are.� AJ said not really in the mood for jokes or meaningless chatter.
�Just follow me to the back here again, if you will Mr. McLean.� They started for the same room they had gone in the day before. When they reached it the same doctor awaited them.
�Hello, nice to see you again. Well here�s the results.� Dr. Sykes said waving a big envelope in the air.
�Okay, well...I�m ready.� AJ said with a slightly irritated look on his face.
�Mr. McLean you understand that if this child is yours it doesn�t mean you will have complete custody of her until your 40 day monitoring period is over. This also means, you don�t even have to take her in at all if you don�t want to. You can leave this office the same way you came in if you like, and she�ll be given to a nice family. If she turns out not to be yours then you will have no other ties with this case and you may leave.� Officer Gracen explained one last time.
�Yes, I understand.� AJ said getting anxious.
�Yes, um, okay. Here we go.� The doctor opened the envelope. AJ shifted as his eyes stared intensely on the envelope. His eyes stayed glued as it seemed as though the doctor was pulling the papers out in slow motion. The doctor�s eyebrows went up as he looked over the papers.
�So? What does it say?� AJ blurted, not able to wait anymore.
�Mr McLean...� And with four words AJ saw his whole life change in an instant. �You are the father.�