Don't give me any crap, there's no way you can call that a spoiler. This kid never had a chance.
I realized something this week: For the next two Fridays, I will be on vacation. Next week because of BlogHer, and the following week for a three-day, two-night "girls only" camping trip for my mother's side of the family. What to do about TLF?
I'm perfectly aware that I can draft posts beforehand and program them to publish on the appropriate day, but I'm a little nervous that I'll do something wrong and everyone will be mad at me and my lack of technological skillz. Also, I actually have tried this before--typed up the installment and set it to publish at noon--but when fifteen minutes had passed and the entry still hadn't posted, I just went back in to TypePad and overwrote it.
Not to mention I'm still working on my blog book and trying to "find myself" over at Parents.com. Also, I'm in no hurry to see this sequel end. On the last day, I think I might cry, even though I'm sure the reader-inspired part three will be tons of fun.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm not sure what to do yet. I'm eighty-percent sure I'll skip next week since a lot of us will be gone. You have been warned.
-----
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - JENNA (CONTINUED)
"I'm sorry," she told him sadly. At me, she smiled weakly. "I didn't plan on us meeting again under these circumstances."
[Would the baby shower for her and Michael's love child have been more appropriate?]
I wanted to hug her and hit her at the same time.
"This is your son?" I asked, awed.
She nodded proudly.
"Did you know my dad?" Kyle asked me hopefully.
"Your dad?" He fumbled in his wallet and pulled out a photo. It was old. It was David.
"Please don't," she begged me. "It'll come out later, but not now."
"You've lied to everyone!" I shouted.
"I had to! I went through hell to keep my family!"
"About this family thing--you don't have a sister, so who the fuck is that?" I pointed to the woman beside her, who had kept quiet the whole time. Kayla looked at me sharply, and Kyle's face crumbled. "You lied? I'm not your nephew?" he asked the woman.
"Cassie!"
"You have wonderful timing," she informed me angerily.
[On Monday night, I had a dream that I was on the run in a third-world country where they wanted to throw me over a balcony and onto a mattress of suspected criminals. I ran into a dusty building and parked my ass behind a school desk, remaining still as a mouse, while police followed and searched every nook and cranny for a trace of my wherabouts. One of them was standing right next to me but was oblivious to my "awesome" hiding place until one of his smarter counterparts shone a light on my face. Then they wanted to throw me into a pit of fire. The mattress-throwing thing sounded pretty damn good then.
What does this have to do with TLF? Absolutely nothing. Moving on.]
"Jenna and Michael Spencer?" We all turned to find a young-looking doctor rush out of Katherine's room. "Come with me now." He headed quickly toward the room again.
"What's going on?" Kayla shouted.
"We're gonna lose her if we don't get that baby out."
"I'm coming, too! That's my daughter!" she cried.
[OH NO SHE DIDN'T.]
Michael disappeared with the doctor. I pushed Kayla away.
"No! She's my daughter! Don't come near her," I threatened. "You lost the right to call yourself her mom a long time ago." I left her standing there and burst through the door.
About seven doctors were working on her. She was stuck all over with tubes. My baby was conscious on top of it all. She saw everything, and was quite aware of what was going on. Or so it seemed.
"You've gotta push, Katherine," the young doctor told her. "Help us help you."
[And to think, this was written two whole years before Jerry Maguire.]
"I can't! I'll hurt her," she replied tearfully.
"You won't, I promise. You'll actually help her. We can try to save her if we can get her out."
"Why don't you perform a casaerean on her?" Michael asked sharply. "Time's being wasted!"
[I love how the man who couldn't recognize he was cheating on his wife with the mother of his adopted daughter is now clever enough to disperse medical advice.]
[Also, Frema, M.D. to the rescue once again!]
"Because it's dangerous," Dr. Brock answered. (I finally read his tag.) "But we now have no other choice."
My husband and I watched in silence as they gave her a shot in the spine. She yelled out. When they finally cut her open, I buried my face in Michael's shoulder.
"We've got it," Dr. Brock called a while later.
"She's here! Give her to me!" cried Katherine, weakly opening her arms.
I heard the doctor gasp, and I turned to look.
When I use the word "baby" to describe its appearance, I use it for lack of a better word. It barely resembled a human being.
I could make out the body, with two short stubs for legs, one longer than the other. The baby had part of one arm. Its head was totally deformed, and it had maybe half a skull. I saw two shut eyes, and I think a nose. Blood was wrapped around it like a blanket.
[*Frema takes a deep breath, rubs belly reassuringly, reminds herself she has not recently overdosed on antidepressants.*]
"I'm sorry," Dr. Brock said kindly to Katherine, his face a mask of pity. "She never had a chance."
"Give her to me," she repeated. He glanced at me as if to say, I can't deny her. He placed her gently in my daughter's care.
"Hi, sweetie," she said, caressing her face. "I'm so sorry I did this to you," she whispered brokenly. "You don't deserve this. I do." Katherine viewed the baby's body intently. "I hurt you bad, didn't I?" She started to cry. "You're still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I love you, Katrina. I always did." She closed her eyes. "Pray for me when you get to Heaven."
[If your eyes aren't wet after that scene, you are made of stone. Hopefully, the batch of spinach dip I made for today's department pitch-in will see me through this difficult time.]
* * *
Dr. Brock escorted my husband and me out of the room. "I think she'll be OK, physically at least. She informed us that she took some of your pills," he added to me. "Are you on any kind of medication?"
"Sedatives, anti-depressants, and something to help me when I can't sleep," I answered guiltily.
"That induced her labor, and you could say 'part' of an abortion took place. That's why the fetus came out so damaged. Katherine will need about another week here." He added sympathetically, "I wish your Christmas could have been better."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"Go on home. She'll be asleep the rest of the day, maybe part of tomorrow."
The twins jumped out of their seats.
"How is she?" Lucas demanded.
"Is Kath gonna be OK?" Leigh asked desperately.
I glanced at Michael, who nodded.
"Kath will be fine, but she's gonna stay here for a while."
"What about the baby?" I turned around and saw Kyle, wringing his hands and looking really nervous.
"I'm sorry," I said, and I meant it. "It was just too undeveloped to have a chance."
He took a deep breath; his chin quivered. "Could I see Katherine?"
"She's asleep now," I warned, "and they're only allowing immediate family in."
He nodded and walked quickly away. I suddenly realized that that was Katherine's immediate family. I felt sick to my stomache. It was a hidden blessing that the baby died.
I glanced over to where Kayla and Cassie were. Kayla had her head on Cassie's shoulder, her eyes closed. Cassie was stroking her hair. She had a faraway look on her face. I thought about going over to them. It had been so long! But the image of Kay and Michael hurt me too much. Let HIM comfort her. I also couldn't get over the fact that she told her son that David was his father. Lies!
"Let's go, kids," I said, leading them. "We'll come back later."
"I'm going to stay," Michael said softly. I glared at him. "I didn't include you in our plans, anyway. Have fun with KAYLA." He flinched as the twins and I walked out of the hospital. I felt utterly alone.
-------
And I am utterly hungry. Time for lunch.
I can't say I got teary-eyed, but I did squirm during the description of the baby whose labor was induced 2 weeks ago in a botched plan-b type adoption. Very...descriptive. How is no one beating the living piss out of Kyle by the way? Or Michael? Or Kayla for that matter?
And in that situation, what kid pulls out a picture of his "dad" to show the mother of his own rape-baby and also happens to be his half sister? I think if I were him I'd be spewing into a garbage can a-la the guy on that one episode of Law and Order: CI.
Posted by: David McNelis | July 20, 2007 at 12:35 PM
It's copy and paste time baby.
"I didn't include you in our plans, anyway." Oh SNAP!
"[*Frema takes a deep breath, rubs belly reassuringly, reminds herself she has not recently overdosed on antidepressants.*]" Nor have you been raped by your brother. So yeah, you're okay. But are you starting to see how your emotions change on being able to read and think about such horrible things? Like, the other day I was listening to the TLF soundtrack, in particular "How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye", and I cried and cried and cried...while still trying to sing...while driving. Not very safe but I couldn't help myself. I listened to that song a thousand times when it came out and it never had that sort of impact on me. Now that I'm a mom though, I had to turn it off. Serioulsy, I couldn't make it through the song.
Anywho, back to TLF. Kyle actually asked if he could see Katherine? He's got just as big of balls as Michael, and Kayla for that matter (well, you know, if she had balls). I mean, what on earth does he have to say to her? "I'm sorry I raped you and left you along, in the dark, on the ground. And I'm sorry I have super swimmers?" What? Seriously.
I'm really surprised Jenna actually wanted to hug Kayla as much as she wanted to hit her. I thought the bitch was gonna go Girlfight on her ass.
As for this? "I'm eighty-percent sure I'll skip next week since a lot of us will be gone." Psh. I guess next week I'll have to do without TLF and Molly's Friday photos since you will all be up in Chicago hanging out together. It sucks to not be one of the cool kids. (sniff, sniff, Liz had better represent me well) Damn BlogHer, screwing up my weekly reads. It's okay though, I've been preparing myself for such an announcement (that you won't post TLF next week) and also, I don't want to see Part II end either! So, it's okay.
And so ends the longest comment ever.
Posted by: Silly Hily | July 20, 2007 at 12:46 PM
I'm with Hily. I too copied the "[*Frema takes a deep breath, rubs belly reassuringly, reminds herself she has not recently overdosed on antidepressants.*]" part. Because hello...did not have sex with your brother.
So yeah, you're officially safe.
My best friend in high school's brother is named Brock. Their mom always said she named him after her favorite soap opera character. I love that you represented also!!
I did not cry. But, like David McNelis I did squirm. And maybe gag a little.
Dr. Frema, will you deliver my next child? You've got mad medical skillz.
(Maybe you'll give us some awesome TLF spoilers at BlogHer.)
(And also, just you wait for my Monday post. Kyle in the house!)
Posted by: Isabel | July 20, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Oh my... I don't even know what to say. Little Frema really was all about the details...
Posted by: Whitney | July 20, 2007 at 01:23 PM
I've got the shakes after reading that. Or maybe I'm just hyped up after my super-healthy lunch of McD's cheeseburger, fries, and hot fudge sundae.
"She saw everything, and was quite aware of what was going on. Or so it seemed." Mmmm, forshadowing of the best kind!
It will be strange (and sad) without TLF for two weeks but I have to agree that the good side is that it draws out the end of Part 2 with Lil' Frema's mad writing skillz; but I'm also looking forward to reading the new, improved, collaborative version as well. So torn.
Posted by: VirginiaGal | July 20, 2007 at 02:02 PM
VirginiaGal: Don't worry, I wouldn't abandon TLF two weeks in a row! I'll definitely post before the camping trip.
Posted by: Frema | July 20, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Damn, what a collection of bitches and assholes!! But all so wonderfully... well, tragic! I can't believe Michael stayed behind with Kayla--way to go from the hero of your own teenage past to a total douche. I mean, sure Jenna hasn't been perfect, but there is seriously no excuse for that kind of behavior right now. And dang... that poor baby... it got me all freaked out and I'm nowhere near pregnant. Note to self: Don't sleep with a secret half-brother and then attempt a sloppy abortion.
Posted by: Angela | July 20, 2007 at 03:05 PM
"But are you starting to see how your emotions change on being able to read and think about such horrible things?"
This is so true! Motherhood definitely changes things, as do other events.
Posted by: Katie | July 20, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Poor little Katrina. You really made me squirm with her description. Yikes!
Also, I love how Kyle actually wants to SEE Katherine after everything he caused. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was Michael's kid, with that nerve.
Posted by: Molly | July 20, 2007 at 04:58 PM
Can one little reader possibly persuade you to not skip next week?!???? TLF MAKE MY DAY! It's a week away and I'm already sad that you might not post the next installment. I'm not going to BlogHer, I'll be stuck at work and wishing for an update! (GUILT TRIP!) :)
Posted by: Michelle | July 20, 2007 at 05:37 PM
Maybe we could use this crisis as an opportunity to test out the new TLF modus. Frema could just post *the first line* of the next installment next Friday, and over the ensuing week we could continue it, line by line, or paragraph by paragraph, in the comments. And in two weeks we can see how Lil' Frema smoked us all.
Posted by: TasterSpoon | July 20, 2007 at 07:22 PM
Zing! Oh snap! This episode was seriously like watching a boxing match... you know, all but the emotional delivery. Poor Katherine. I'm surprised how well Jenna kept it together- I guess the meds are paying off.
Also, I wanted to slap Kyle with his concern. Too late for that, little asshole, too too late. I have to laugh at how insanely funny it is that Jenna unwravelled Kay's whole identity (and Cassie's) at a glance while Michael was like, "what?!" I'd like to see him dictating the next chapter just so I can see where the planet stopped rotating for him.
On an unrelated note, at least for this episode-- I have been asked by my boss this week to put together a bunch of spread sheets for upper management, which involves alot of back-tracking and researching what is where, etc. All I kept thinking was- I just landed the Folger's account! TLF comes full circle;)
Posted by: Sant | July 21, 2007 at 09:59 AM
PS- They let Jenna AND Michael come into the OR with Katherine? That was blowing my mind (and not because I'm secretly in the mind-set of 1955), but I just didn't know how else she would see them cutting her.
For that matter... did they even take her to the OR? It occurs to me that there is no mention of leaving her hospital room. I'll just take lil' Frema's medical skillz for what they're worth.
Posted by: Sant | July 21, 2007 at 10:09 AM
ok i just got started and now i find i don't even get next week? i should have waited...*sigh* tee heee
yeah ok i was teary eyed.. that was just sad
and
all i got to say bout the guys is
MEN SHESH THEY HAVE NERVE
Posted by: wolfbaby | July 22, 2007 at 02:57 PM
"All I kept thinking was- I just landed the Folger's account!"
Bwahaha! Now I'm going to be thinking that whenever I get some huge new responsibility at work.
Every time I think I realize just how stupid Michael is, Li'l Frema proves me wrong. He's a douchebag and a moron. Nice.
Posted by: Fraulein N | July 22, 2007 at 05:42 PM
I would have been kicking some ass if I was Jenna.
The description totally creeped me out.
And that little shit, Kyle, has got some damn nerve being all concerned!
Posted by: Rachel | July 23, 2007 at 01:56 PM
It's okay to skip this weekend! Your readers will be in utter suspense until next weekend!! :) I love you. Pat your tummy for little Freeluka for me!!
Posted by: Sissy | July 24, 2007 at 12:56 AM