There's been a lot of Drama on TLF. Angry break-ups. Drunken one-night stands. Vicious murders staged in the parking lot of America's favorite dessert establishment. Prison sentences. And of course, life-changing pregnancy tests. It's about time we had some goshdarn happy news, don't you think?
I do, too.
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CHAPTER NINE - KAYLA (CONTINUED)
Security was called, and they rushed me to the prison's hospital wing. Mike was right next to me, giving me words of encouragement. "Everything's gonna be fine," he said. "Just relax."
How could I relax? I was about to give birth!
I was put in a room on a bed. A doctor and a nurse were fiddling around with some medical thingamajiggs [yes I wrote "thingamajigs," I swear to God]. The nurse took my pulse and poked me with a needle. "What did you do?" I cried. She smiled. "I just gave you something to help you relax." [Apparently jail-funded medical wings are on the cutting edge of technology with their ability to administer epidurals in your wrist.] She looked at Michael. "You'll have to leave, young man." [Because men aren't allowed to see vaginas outside of the bedroom?]
"Huh? Oh, sure." He waved. "I'll be right outside."
I shook my head. "No," I gasped. "G-go to Jenna and k-keep her com-p-p-any."
"If you say so. I'll be here first thing tomorrow." [Noble fight, Michael. Really. I'm touched.]
"You'd bet - Ow!!" Another contraction left me breathless.
[Look how self-sacrificing Kayla is, putting Jenna's emotional state over her own labor pains. Kinda makes you forget all about the killings, doesn't it?]
[It really does. I love you, Kayla!]
That shot the nurse gave me didn't do a thing to relax me. During the fourteen hours I was in labor, I had never been more tense. [Back to the drawing board, guys!]
I was tired, sweaty, and sick to death of being told to PUSH! I was about to give up when the doctor cried, "I see the head! Come on, Kayla - keep pushing!"
"I can't!" I cried, but I managed to give a few good pushes. A baby's cry filled the air.
At last. My daughter was in my reach! Shaking with exhaustion and delight, I held out my arms. The umbilical cord was cut, the nurse washed off my baby, wrapped her in a white blanket and then I was cradling my daughter in my arms.
Oh, she was beautiful. A patch of brown hair covered her head. Her fingers and toes were so tiny, so perfect. She stopped wailing long enough to peer at me through half-closed lids. A small yawn slipped through her lips. I smiled and cried happy tears as I hugged her to my chest. She was so small, like a baby doll! I couldn't take my eyes off her.
"Hi, there," I whispered. "I'm your mommy. You really don't know me, but you will. Because I love you so much, yes I do!"
She looked so much like David; I couldn't help thinking about the other little girl that he would have had. That's when I decided on a name.
"I name you Katherine, in honor of your dead half-sister, Mary Katherine Meddows. Katherine Marie, that's who you are," I told her. [Where does Kayla think she is, making grand pronouncements like that? Also, seems a tad crass to speak about death in front of your infant, yes?] [Also also, stealing Jenna's baby name won't piss her off at all!] [Also also also, BABIES! WAAAAANT ONE!] She started to cry again, and the nurse took her from me.
"Try to sleep," she said.
I was out like a light in 10 seconds.
* * *
I was in the [prison] hospital for 3 days, and during those days I spent every waking minute with Katherine. I could spend hours just staring at her with amazement. I couldn't believe that someone as undeserving as me gave birth to such an exquisite baby as Katherine.
The most magical times were when the nurse brought her in to be breastfed. She shivered next to me as her little mouth drank the milk from my breast. She needed me, and would soon love me like I loved and cherished her. Katherine made up for everything that had gone wrong in my life. If only David could have seen how wonderful his daughter turned out to be. At times I thought he was sneaking peeks at her from Heaven [and cursing your name, no doubt].
I had been back at jail for about a week when I received the phone call.
The guard tapped on the bar door. "Come on, Evans. Phone call for you."
Puzzled, I went with him. Who could it be? Michael? Nah. My parents? Probably not them, either. They had cut off all contact from me the day I was brought to prison. [And to think, hers were the most loving, attentive parents in the bunch!] "Hello?"
"Kayla. It's me."
"Jenna?" I almost dropped the phone. "Jenna, is that you?"
"Yeah. Kayla, we need to talk." Her voice sounded unsure.
"Oh Jenna! Yes, we do need to talk about...things." My eyes brimmed with happy tears. She wanted to talk to me! "I'm so glad you called!"
"You are?"
"Uh-huh. I'm so sorry about everything, Jenna. I want to make it all up to you." [Your next pedicure's on me!]
Her voice hardened a little. "I've lost too much, Kayla. You cant bring my boyfriend and little girl back to me."
I felt so stupid. She was still hurting. She had every right to be.
"So," Jenna said, her voice cracking a little, "Michael told me that you had your baby about a week or two ago."
I felt guilty as I talked about Katherine. "Yeah. A little girl. She's adorable." [Motherhood is so rewarding and fulfilling and I've never experienced such unselfish love in all of my life! Not that you would know anything about that. My bad.]
"I - I cant talk anymore, Kayla." Jenna sounded like she was fighting tears. "I'll visit you soon." The line went dead.
My heart was heavy [but not as heavy as her ankle bracelet] as the guard led me back to my cell. It had hurt too much for Jenna to hear me talk [incessantly] about my [wonderful, fabulous, so-glad-she's-not-dead-too] daughter.
One day, though, Jenna and I would work past our problems and become close again. Even during the time I hated her [and planned her exit from this world], I'd missed our closeness.
It would just take time to get our friendship back on track.
I sighed. Time was one thing I'd have a lot of for the next 6 years.
[The more you know, the more you kick yourself for not including a ski mask and unmarked car as must-have props in your deliciously murderous plan.]
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OMG, this whole thing reeks so much of All My Children and V.C. Andrews and 90210 I can hardly stand it. What do you think of Kayla? Can she be redeemed in your eyes? Also, if Brenda and Kelly were both carrying Dylan's baby, do you think Donna Martin would've been as dumb an accomplice as Cassie? Because you KNOW that if Kayla had buddied up with the likes of Andrea Zuckerman she'd be getting some post-partum action with David as we speak. Because in soap land there's no such thing as a six-week waiting period.
Hmm, while I do believe in forgiveness, I think that in the spirit of TLF, she can NOT be redeemed in my eyes :-)
And every time I read TLF, I need a Blizzard. I got one last week, but it was semi-nasty. I guess I'll just have to keep trying until I get one I really like!
Posted by: Katie | January 26, 2007 at 01:15 PM
"Even during the time I hated her, I'd missed our closeness. And so I had figured I would brutally murder her and then her happy spirit would be with me always. That backfired."
Also, funny that she didn't mention the baby was named after Jenna's. Baby name thunderjacker.
Are we going to here more about crazy-ass Cassie? I miss that little whack job.
Posted by: Angela | January 26, 2007 at 01:15 PM
Ugh, if I was Jenna I would not be forgiving Kayla. She's probably just plotting that whole baby stealing thing!
Posted by: Rachel | January 26, 2007 at 01:17 PM
Donna Martin WAS dumb. Remember.
I can't believe she said "in honor of you dead half-sister." Kayla is such a hussy. May I use the word hussy? Is that okay with everyone.
Welcome to the world Katherine. These are prison bars. That nasty thing over there is the toilet. The woman across the hall from us? Stay away from her, she spits.
See, if Jenna's smart, she'll act like she forgives Kayla and go visit her in prison and wear some sort of hidden camera thing and take pictures to sell to Star Magazine of the "Woman who killed my baby daddy, my baby, and stole my baby's name." Then the women in prison would get wind of what Kayla did and well, we all know how criminals feel about people who harm children, don't we? Now THAT would be revenge.
Posted by: Silly Hily | January 26, 2007 at 01:58 PM
I think Jenna is secretly pleased that Mr. Fries-With-That is out of the picture. In fact, we will learn shortly that she is a consummmate con artist and her whole pregnancy was fake, designed to rope Jason in and bleed him dry. But then when she realized she was lighting Michael's fire, too, she started plotting with Cassie to get Jason out of the picture. (Because Cassie wasn't a real sibling, she was adopted.) Cue the crocodile tears to lure Mike in further; the phone call to get Kayla's sympathy. Soon she'll reveal all to Kayla and the three of them will use Kayla's prison connections to find additional marks.
Posted by: TasterSpoon | January 26, 2007 at 02:11 PM
DAMMIT!! I don't have time to leave a real comment right now because I have to go to work!!!! I just wanted you to know that this day was not forgotten, nono. TLF. I'll be back.
Word.
Posted by: Sant | January 26, 2007 at 02:13 PM
SHE'S GONNA TAKE THA BAYBEE!!! Holy crap.
And that bitch took the NAME?? Oh hell naw!
Posted by: Margarita | January 26, 2007 at 02:23 PM
"In honor of your dead half sister"...NOOOO!
There can be NO redemption for Kayla...she is a looney-tune. I think they may have given her a little too much Stadol in the prison hospital.
And I am so with Katie, first commenter. I really crave a Blizzard every time I read TLF. :)
Posted by: Stacey | January 26, 2007 at 05:17 PM
"I'll name you Katherine in honor of your dead half-sister." HOLY CRAP!
I love how Kayla has the baby and oops, forgets that she killed the baby daddy and (only sort of) forgets that she killed the baby half-sister. Niiiiice Kayla.
Sorry Bree. She's not one of my favorites. Not in my top five. Not even ten. Bioootch!
I hope Jenna steals her. Mwahahaha
Posted by: Molly | January 26, 2007 at 09:33 PM
Phew, I thought it was just going to be the Office post today!
I loved all your commenting along the way. Too funny!
That whole phone conversationg smacked of "I'm going to steal your baby". Jenna was probably choking back rage, not tears. Watch out Kayla, your happy prison la-la land is in for a rude awakening.
Kayla may be OK now, but once she snaps out of this "new baby" delerious phase (or once they take the kid away and give her to Kayla's estranged parents -also, what up with that?!), she is going to be very depressed.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 26, 2007 at 09:56 PM
So her parents agreed to raise the baby after the first year, but have cut off all contact? How did they tell Kayla this?
Ummm...apparently I have forgotten that you were only 14. And for 14 it's a fantastic story. Did you win all sorts of creative writing awards as a kid? If not, you should have.
Posted by: Emma | January 27, 2007 at 01:23 AM
I swear, the first time I read "dead half sister" I thought it said "half dead sister" - now THAT would be interesting...kind of a zombie TLF...whaddya think? :) (and my boyfriend says that he doesn't think guys read your blog, and then I remind him that HE reads it with me!) :)
Posted by: Jessi | January 27, 2007 at 10:51 AM
Whew! Now I'm back for real (and I'm so happy that you haven't posted something new before I could comment on TLF)!!
Okay, where to begin? Um, I don't know... How about KAYLA!! I think she's been taking Cassie's crazy pills. The hormones must have her all jacked up. First off, you CANNOT man-slay your baby's half sister and then steal her name. Shameful. 100 other ways to honor the lives you ruined-- plant a tree (or a forest, you bitch!), make a donation to a local charity (like the Ronald McDonald House) for David. SOMETHING besides the crazy ass rampage she's on right now.
I believe, in all seriousness, that Katherine (sans Mary) will be kidnapped in the near future. I could see the foreshadowing all OVER the place! For instance-- Michael:"I'll be waiting right over here (with a duffel bag)" or how about Kayla's missing parents? I somehow believe that if jail baby is not stolen, then at least Kayla will feel she will be making ammends with her bosom buddy Jenna if she allows HER to raise the baby... something like that... I haven't had time to type up my dissertation on it yet.
Brilliant as always Frema-- I can't wait for the next installment!
Posted by: Sant | January 27, 2007 at 07:00 PM
"G-go to Jenna and k-keep her com-p-p-any."
it sounds like she is dying here, i just love it!
This story is so great and it just keeps getting better. I just don't know if Jenna should forgive Kayla. What Jenna did was pretty bad, but in fiction (and I suppose in real life too) there is always room to forgive.
Your commentary makes me LOL all the time. LOVE IT!
Posted by: Lindsey | January 28, 2007 at 01:46 PM
Why don't more people comment on Michael?
"Just relax" and "Huh? oh sure" -- how knowedgeable your 14 year old self was of man talk!
What is he doing spending so much time with Kayla? Is he in on Jenna's baby snatching scheme (which we ALL know is just around the corner)? Is he going to impregnate Jenna and then impregnate Kayla and then both the girls will be like "DAMN IT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN"?
Can't wait for next week!
Posted by: adina | January 28, 2007 at 10:54 PM
The best comment award for the week....I give to....Adina! (Because this is totally my blog to hand out awards like this and all.)
That was hilarious! Impregnate both girls and then be all "DAMN IT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN!" Haaaaa.
Posted by: Silly Hily | January 29, 2007 at 12:47 PM
(I'm with Hily...I loved the "IT HAPPENED AGAIN!")
Jenna is retarded.
That is all.
Posted by: Isabel | March 18, 2007 at 02:24 AM
OMG, I can't believe she really named the baby Katherine! I was totally kidding about that in my last comment, because really? What could be the final stab in your friend's back, after you've killed her unborn baby? Steal her baby's name.
baby snatching is totally on the menu.
Posted by: Pink Herring | March 21, 2007 at 03:00 PM