Naomi feels ill with guilt most days lately. This is why she encourages Calvin to take a month long trip to Champs Les Sims without her. There's more than enough money for it, and she knows that if he had kept his job at the theatre that he would've been travelling all over the country for concerts.
It's a way for her to tell herself she's doing something good for Calvin while helping herself avoid reality for a little longer. Under normal circumstances, finding the borderline flirty texts between Calvin and this Natasha woman would make her feel sick... but right now it's one of the only rationalisations she can cling onto.
Eventually, though, she can't keep ignoring her churning stomach.
Despite her best efforts to persuade Salvatore, he still puts her on mandatory sick leave. It's not good for productivity if Naomi's stomach bug goes around the office.
***
Nicole has a sneaking suspicion that Naomi's nausea has a different cause. Her werewolf sense of smell detects the pregnancy before it occurs to Naomi to take a test, and she clearly remembers seeing Naomi and Abner acting very...amorous...the month before. Rumors are flying around the office about the two of them, not helped by them constantly going for lunches alone, especially now that Mr. Silverly isn't in the country...
When she sees Evan by chance that evening, she has a sinking feeling in her stomach. She'd be risking her job if she said anything...
But wouldn't she want to know, in his position?
"...Mrs. Wyberman?" She's been staring at him for about half a minute.
Nicole swallows the sudden lump in her throat. She can't do it.
"It's just...you've grown up so fast! I can't believe you and Olivia will graduate so soon..."
With any luck, the rumors are all false and she was just imagining things last month... there's no way to be sure.
Naomi is facing similar uncertainty after a trip to the doctor. The timing means it could be either Calvin or Abner...
She holds back tears. How could this happen? She always insisted on protection... but it's too late now. She doesn't know what to do.
She decides to tell Evan about the baby first.
"Listen...I'm pregnant. I'm only about a month along..."
"You're what!? Seriously!? You barely cared about me, why in the world are you having a second kid!?"
Evan's anger isn't exactly surprising, but it crushes Naomi's already weak morale, twisting the knife even deeper.
"Evan...I can't make up for what your childhood was like. But we have to move forward."
"Move forward my butt. Find someone else to make you feel better."
He pointedly turns back around to his father's plants.
Someone has to take care of them while his dad is away.
Naomi tells Calvin over the phone, who's more enthusiastic but understandably worried about how they'll make time for a second child...
Which leaves Abner. She's too paranoid to text or email him, conscious about leaving a digital trail someone could stumble upon. She already compulsively deletes their texts together. All the mentions of meetups, quickies, they're all gone. She writes him a letter instead. Even that, she leaves a bit vague.
I'm pregnant. Sorry I couldn't tell you at the office. I'm due in eight months.
She takes a deep breath, then posts the letter.
She tells herself that there's nothing more she can do... but that doesn't stop her mind from racing. She's in her mid-30s, not too old to have a baby, but older than many of the other new mothers. Voters will not be too understanding of her having to step down from running the sector for childrearing, neither will donors. Then there are all the health concerns...
***
Calvin returns from his trip about a week late, but he's still grouchy.
"The flight was long and awful. Someone's kid cried the entire time..."
"Could be your kid someday," Evan snarks behind him.
"Shut it," he snaps harshly. Evan shrinks back, clearly not expecting such a firm response.
"How are you holding up?" Calvin asks, consciously softening his voice.
She pastes a smile onto her face. "Better now that you're here..."
Maternity leave is hard on Naomi. Her body is uncomfortably bloated and aching, but she's anxious about her charisma "slipping" while she's at home. It's impressive to watch her force herself to stand in front of the mirror for hours practicing her speeches.
"Son. I know you've been feeling down lately, because of the baby... you realise we won't love you any less, right?"
Evan rolls his eyes. When did his dad become such a sappy after-school special? "Yeah, it's not me I'm worried about..."
Of course, she could tell Calvin. But just like the first time she tried to say something, the words just don't come out. Her throat tightens, her heartrate spikes, and she just can't do it.
"Right..."
Thinking that her constant worried expressions and sleepless nights are caused only by the pregnancy, Calvin does his best to be comforting.
"Just a few more months, then it'll be over," Calvin reassures her.
Calvin goes to the gym, eager to workout after a month of backpacking.
Champs les Sims was even more interesting and beautiful than he expected- he's hopeless with French, but he enjoyed trying to pick up the basic phrases anyways. The food was different- not always better, but a fascinating experience, nonetheless- and he didn't see even half of the tombs and chateaux.
"Comment-allez vous? Je vais bien," he practices as he runs, "J'ai une femme et un fils." I have a wife and a son. "Où est les toilettes?" Where is the bathroom?
Pft, basically a natural! He can't wait to tell Natasha about his trip the next time he's in Bridgeport...
At home, tensions between Evan and Naomi skyrocket. Evan's not even sure what they're fighting about anymore, but there's a lot of hurt and anger being hurled between them.
"So ungrateful! You have no idea about the sacrifices me and your father made to raise you!"
"Oh sorry you can't live in your office! Do me and dad even register as people to you, or do you only give time to your donors and your voters?" Evan sneers back.
Naomi turns to Brianne for advice about Evan.
"Kids need a firm but loving hand," Brianne says, "Most teens see their parents as a type of safe space. They lash out because they know you'll take it and still love them."
Naomi wants to believe what Brianne's saying- badly- but this feels...different, somehow. They don't interact enough for there to be the bond that her friend is implying.
Her only conclusion is that Evan just hates her. It would make sense. She doesn't like herself much either, nowadays.
She can't say that, though, so she turns the conversation towards Brianne's own life.
"Oh, me and Igor got married a few years ago. I would've invited you, but we eloped in Sunlit Tides! He can be...a handful, I won't lie. His emotions run so strong. One minute he's elated, the next he's crying. It's a lot sometimes..."
"He's not taking it out on you, is he?"
"Oh, no! Sure, we've argued sometimes, but it always blows over quickly. It's usually about laundry," she sighs. "I've always hated doing chores. Evidently, he doesn't like folding up clothes much either."
Naomi is surprised to find out that Brianne's had her first child, a girl. "We're trying for a second one! Oh, think of it, our kids could grow up as buddies! They'll be first cousins, after all."
Naomi laughs weakly. "Well, we'll see..."
***
It happens a bit earlier than the doctor said. Naomi feels contractions- which she tells herself are just Braxton Hicks- but at around 9 PM, her water breaks.
"Oh Plumbob," Evan freaks out. Naomi hasn't been very transparent about the entire pregnancy, so Evan has no idea what to do.
As a staff member for the governor, Naomi has a driver and a limo to ferry her around. Evan's never been inside of it but he can't appreciate the experience with his mother sweating and grunting with pain.
"We're almost there, mom," he says reassuringly.
She looks over at him, grateful that she's not by herself.
Calvin's in Bridgeport at the moment, leaving just Naomi and Evan to bring home baby Vincent.
She texts Abner about the birth, too exhausted and worried in the short-term to post a letter. She's a bit surprised when he actually shows up.
"I suppose congratulations are in order," Abner says, his workplace charm in full effect.
Naomi's mouth twitches in a ghost of a smile. "Um you realise that he might be yours?" she keeps her voice low.
Abner's smile becomes tight. "Naturally. But Naomi...as far as I'm concerned, he's yours and Calvin's. You understand."
Naomi nods numbly. "So..."
"It's over between the two of us."
She nods again. "That's smart." The end of their affair is so formal and businesslike that it doesn't even feel like a breakup.
"See you in the office," Abner bids her farewell.
"See you..."
Neither of them notice the door to Evan's bedroom ever so slightly open.
Calvin rushes over from his weekend visit to see Natasha. He's eager to meet his new son.
"Vincent. It's a nice name," he tells the infant. Vincent gives him a toothless smile.
***
Evan collides into Calvin the next morning.
"Oh, you're finally back?" Evan says with an annoyed look.
"What's up with you lately?" Calvin frowns, "Your mother says you've been very rude-"
"Ha! Me, rude? How about the guy she had over the other night?"
Calvin's frown deepens, "What guy?"
"Abner," Evan spits out the name. He overheard their little conversation. He could scarcely believe it. "Mom said...Vincent might be his." Evan wipes away tears furiously, "What's wrong with the two of you!? You go off for months, mom... ugh!" he pushes Calvin out of the way, "I'm going to see Olivia."
Meanwhile, at the salon, Naomi's phone rings incessantly. She's just finished getting a makeover for her return to politics.
"Calvin? What is it? Hey, stop shouting-"
-------------
AN: Boo, abrupt ending.
In my save, Calvin actually never found out about the affair, but the next plot developments don't make any sense without him knowing so buckle up, everyone. You're in for some intense melodrama.
Vincent is, indeed, Abner's son. His traits are perfectionist and artistic.
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