Free Against the Odds by Brenda Kennedy Page B

Pink or Team Blue. Everyone was asked what they thought the gender
would be and Mom and Sue had shirts made for them to wear. I am
surprised to see how many people of the guys are wearing pink. Jo,
Carl, Bethany, Kyle, Dove, Gus, Mason, Angel, Emma, Alec, Sara,
Donovan, Brea, Vincent, Brooke, Brice, Molly, and Adam are all
here, wearing pink or blue shirts. I greet them with a smile as
they make their way over to Leah, who is still lying on the couch.
Looking over at Leah I am happy to see the she is smiling. Our
attorney, Bruce, and his wife, Mason’s mom, Lilly also show up
wearing matching Team Blue shirts. I have never seen him wear
anything but a suit. He seems a little out of place in a tee
shirt.  
    The house is bustling with
people and food. Mom and Sue arrange the food on the table and Leah
sits up further on the couch with her legs elevated. Good girl. I walk around
the room and do the things that Leah would normally be doing. I
think I’m doing it correctly. I’m making sure drinks are full and
engaging in conversation where it seems to be lacking. Leah smiles
at me and gives me a wave, as she talks to our guests. For the
first time, I notice a table full of gifts. I walk over and pick up
a wrapped item. The gift is wrapped in baby bottles and baby
booties of all colors. A baby shower? I
thought this was a gender reveal party.  
    When I see Sue, I say, “I thought we were
doing the baby’s gender reveal.” 
    “ We are.” 
    “ There’s a table covered
with gifts.” 
    “ I know. Molly thought it
would be nice to turn this into a baby shower, too. I thought it
was an excellent idea, so we did.” 
    “ Molly’s idea, huh?” I say
looking around the room for her. 
    “ Yes. She’s over there
talking to Leah.” 
    Molly and I have a history together. After
the accident that killed Jamie, I left Leah out of guilt and turned
to drugs. I met Molly when some guys tried to proposition her and
we started hanging out together after that. She was also on drugs
and we ultimately became lovers. It was an unorthodox relationship.
When two people are running away from something and turn to drugs,
nothing makes sense. I have a lot of guilt for leaving Leah and a
lot of shame from being with Molly. We both overdosed on drugs, we
both got help, and lucky for me, Leah took me back. She knows about
my and Molly’s past and I think in a way, Leah is grateful that I
had Molly while living on the streets. Molly met an ex-drug user
named Adam who turned preacher and they have recently married. Leah
and I and Molly and Adam remain friends and for that, I am
grateful. I am also happy for Molly that she found such an amazing
person.  
    I walk over to where Molly and Leah are and
Molly stands up and hugs me. I hug her back and look at Leah over
Molly’s shoulder. Leah smiles at me. I say to Molly, “Doll, you
look incredible.” 
    “ Thank you, Bobby. You do,
too. Leah was just filling me in on everything. What a week,
huh?” 
    I know that Leah didn’t
hold anything back from Molly. She also considers Molly, a close
friend. “Yeah, it’s been a crazy week.” I look at Molly who is now
sitting down and she is wearing a pink tee shirt that says Team Pink across it. “I
hear that you’re responsible for turning the gender reveal party
into a baby shower/ gender reveal combo.” 
    “ Responsible? No, but I
did think it was a good idea.” 
    Leah smiles and says, “It
was a great idea.
I’m so happy to have everyone here tonight. I’ve missed them
terribly.” 
    “ Bobby, this is a very
nice party,” Molly says, looking around the crowded room. “You
should go into party planning.” Molly pinches her tee shirt at the
shoulders and lifts it slightly. “This was a great
idea.” 
    At that time, Mom claps her hand and gather
everyone near her. The girls play a few baby shower games and the
guys have a beer or two. I sit at the bar behind Leah and watch
her. She smiles and laughs and it makes me happy.