– Kevin, I need to tell you something, – Naomi smiled and looked at the young man sitting opposite.
– Yes, me too, I need to tell you something, – Kevin replied, turning to the window. The evening city was noisy outside the window. And the cafe where they were sitting was quiet and not crowded.
– Naomi pushed aside her mug of tea and got ready to listen.
– Naomi, don’t get me wrong. You’re a beautiful girl. You’ll be fine.” Naomi frowned uneasily. “I’m in love with someone else. We’re getting a divorce,” Kevin said in the same breath.
– But… I… I don’t understand.” Naomi began to stammer with excitement. Her hands nervously ran across the table, now squeezing the napkin, now moving the cups.
– “Calm down. Everything is not as scary as you think. You’ll meet your person too. We’re different, you know. Maybe I never loved you. I don’t know, but I met her and realized I couldn’t be with you.
Naomi was silent, looking at the polished table.
– Don’t hold a grudge against me. And you don’t need to try to get me back. Everything is settled.” Kevin stood up, took money out of his pocket, put it on the table. I’m sorry.
Naomi accompanied each phrase with a slight nod of her head, but did not look up from the table. Her bangs covered her sad face.
– Goodbye, Kevin said, shifting from foot to foot. He expected tears, maybe hysteria, reproaches. But Naomi was silent, and he didn’t know how to leave. But after a few seconds he turned around and headed for the exit.
– Your bill. – Naomi heard the voice of the waiter a few minutes later. She looked up. Large, blue, they seemed now glassy and not alive.
– Yes, sorry. – Naomi held out the money. The waiter left. The girl pressed her hands to her stomach and tears streamed down her face. She cried silently. Big tears rolled down her cheeks one after another, dripping onto her hands clasped on her stomach. Naomi was pregnant. This is what she wanted to tell Kevin today. But she realized that even if she told him after his words, even if Kevin did not leave her out of nobility, it would not be real. How could she fall asleep next to him every night, knowing that he was with her out of pity, not love.
They met two years ago. Naomi was a teacher training college student, Kevin was six years older. She immediately fell in love with him, so handsome and ambitious. He also liked the blue-eyed beauty. They started dating. It seemed to Naomi that everything was going well, in turn. She did not expect such a development of events. But it happened as it happened. It was necessary to think what to do next. There were exams and diploma defense on the nose. Naomi loved children and her chosen profession. She did not want to get rid of this baby. But to bring up and raise this life, no matter how you say it, you need money. The diploma is in 3 months. Even if she manages to get a job somewhere afterwards, although pregnant women are reluctant to be hired, the maternity leave will be just around the corner. Naomi’s thoughts ran forward. What awaits her and the baby?
Naomi lived with her mother and stepfather. Both of them were not particularly interested in her life. As long as Naomi could remember, after her father passed away, her mother was always trying to arrange her personal life. A few years ago, a stepfather appeared in their family. He was a reserved and emotional person, and did not even try to find a common language with Naomi. But still, Naomi had no one closer to her mother. So when she came home, she told everything. The mother thought for a minute. Then, looking into her daughter’s confused eyes, she slowly spoke:
– Modern methods are practically safe. Medicine does not stand still. You are still young, you will give birth. And now is not the right time, you know.
Naomi’s ears were ringing.
– “Maria, we’re late,” came her stepfather’s impatient voice from the corridor. The mother spread her hands, smiling guiltily, and hurried out.
Naomi was left alone in the darkness of the room. What to do? Her head was throbbing. Besides her mother, Naomi had only her grandmother. Her father’s mother. In childhood, Naomi often went to her with her father. Then, when her father died, they stopped going to the village. Her mother was reluctant to maintain relations with her mother-in-law. Naomi remembered her rural childhood. And in high school she began to go to her grandmother by train. She often talked to her on the phone. Grandma was always so kind, warm and cozy. But Naomi suddenly felt ashamed, how could she confess everything to her?
Naomi began to think until the weekend. And on Saturday morning, she took the first train.
Grandma warmly met the unexpected guest:
– “Naomi, my dear, why didn’t you warn me? I would have baked your favorite pie.
– That’s why I didn’t warn you, so that you wouldn’t fuss too much, – Naomi said hugging her grandmother.
– How are you? How are your studies? What’s new?” Grandma bombarded Naomi with questions over tea.
Naomi laid it all out in the open. Grandma listened silently and attentively.
– “Can we name the boy John, in honor of my grandfather?” Grandma asked when Naomi finished. John was Naomi’s father’s name. – When you finish your studies, come and live with me. There are always problems with teachers at our school. Young people go to the city. And there’s no one to teach the local kids. You work, and I’ll babysit.
Naomi jumped up with delight and hugged her grandmother.
– Do not be afraid, we will grow up. We will not be lost, – the grandmother whispered, patting her granddaughter on the back.
– I propose a trip to the regional museum during spring break. Who is in favor?” Naomi looked inquiringly at the few parents of her second-graders present at the parent-teacher meeting. Six years have passed since that Saturday morning. Naomi, indeed, had a boy. A copy of his father – dark-haired, brown-eyed. For the first year, every time she looked at her son, Naomi remembered Kevin. Sometimes she wanted him to know what a wonderful son he had growing up. But she did not give in to emotions. And then a new life, full of care for John, and her fifteen first students, gradually erased the sad memories. Life went on. Life was full and happy.
Parents supported the idea. They liked the young active teacher who constantly sought to diversify the leisure of their children.
– Naomi, do you need help with dinner? – Peter’s voice sounded from the corridor.
– Don’t worry, almost everything is ready! Better send John home, he’s digging for worms in the garden, he remembers about your fishing, – Naomi responded with a laugh, removing a frying pan with cutlets from the stove.
They met Peter when John was three years old. Simple, kind, smiling Peter quickly won Naomi’s already aching heart. They also quickly became friends with John. The boy lacked a male presence. A year later, Peter and Naomi got married. Naomi and her son moved from her grandmother to Peter’s house. “You know, sometimes it scares me how good everything is with us. How can it be?” Naomi once asked him when they were sitting on the veranda on a warm summer evening. “Only so it should be. It is good. Only so it will be. Even better” – Peter answered and kissed Naomi on the nose.
– Mom, I’ll catch the biggest fish for you tomorrow!” John promised as they sat down to dinner.
– I think you will definitely succeed, – Naomi winked at her son. – After fishing, come straight to grandma’s house, I will be there. I’ll help with the housework. And even if there is a catch, no one will cook fish better than her, – Naomi turned to her husband. – And by the way, during the holidays we decided to go to the museum with the class to the city. I’ll take John with me.
– And what is there in the museum? – the little fidget asked.
– Mammoth tusks – Naomi whispered conspiratorially.
After the excursion, there was still a lot of time before the train, and Naomi decided to arrange a walk in the park for the children. The city was familiar to her, she told about it not worse than the guide. The children listened attentively and looked around. Naomi did not immediately notice a familiar face. Kevin was standing near the car at the exit of the park, nervously looking at his phone. He hadn’t changed much since their last meeting. While Naomi was looking at Kevin, a beautiful brunette approached him hurriedly.
– Well, how long is it possible? I always have to wait for you! – Kevin looked at her angrily. – You know very well that parking here is paid, I’ve been standing for half an hour!
– Can you not shout at me for once? – the brunette snapped. – And if someone earned more, he wouldn’t worry about paid parking. And if even more, I wouldn’t have to go to work and stay late.” The brunette waved her hand in the direction of the tall office building from where she apparently came.
– You’ve only got money on your mind! I work hard enough as it is! If only someone would spend less!
– Oh, that’s it! I’m so tired of you! – interrupted the brunette and got into the car.
Kevin grumbled something under his breath and also got into the car. He didn’t notice Naomi.
– Children, attention, we are going to cross the road now!” Naomi addressed the students, checking if everyone was there. John took her by the hand and the whole group headed to the crosswalk. Naomi walked smiling, warmed by her son’s hand in hers and the thought of Peter waiting for them at home.
