I don’t exactly know what to do with all the information that Arlene states, so I just zone out a little and nod along. She is definitely the teacher type, a kind of person who loves to give out advice, regardless of whether anyone is listening to her or not.

“So, what was Aiden like when he was little?”

“Sweet boy. Very sweet, indeed. But also kind of a recluse. He had a hard time making friends.”

I nod. Who doesn’t?

“He spent all of his time with computers. He loved to read science fiction and fantasy, watch Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, all the usual lore. But he wasn’t a nerd in the traditional sense. He wasn’t a big fanboy, someone who goes to the comic book conventions, places like that. So he didn’t make a lot of friends with kids with similar interests.”

There’s something about her manner of speaking. It’s like she’s there, but she’s not. Detached. A psychologist giving an opinion about a patient to a colleague.

“When he got older, he became withdrawn, private. Even more closed off.”

Suddenly, I get the overwhelming urge to slap her. She is sitting here talking about her son, my fiancé, as if he’s not here. As if he can’t hear her.

“He seems to have gotten over his issues with people,” I defend him. “I mean, he did start Owl.”

“A tech company? Places like that only foster his kind of isolation.”

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say, Arlene.”

“That my son has some challenges when it comes to people,” she says with an incensed expression on her face. “I mean, you are the one who asked about him as a child.”

I don’t know what Aiden’s particular issue is with his mother. All I know is that I dislike her. A lot. Her judgments and her dismissive attitude, it just makes me want to tell her to go to hell.

Just then, someone bursts through the door. He runs over to Aiden and plops his whole body on top of his. Arlene turns around to face the window in disgust. The man is about her age with a significant bald spot. He has a protruding beer belly that makes him resemble a grizzly as he maneuvers around.

He keeps calling Aiden’s name over and over again, much to Arlene’s annoyance.

“Ellie, this is Dean, Aiden’s father.”

I mumble a polite hello. This doesn’t seem to be the right moment for anything else. Eventually, Dean pulls himself away from Aiden and looks at me.

“You’re goin’ to be a grandfather, Dean,” Arlene says as a matter of fact. Now, I seriously want to punch her in her stupid face. Who the hell does she think she is? Just because she figured something out about me, and I was stupid enough to reveal it, does not mean she has the right to blabber it to just anyone.

“Really? Oh, wow!” Dean walks over to me and gives me a big warm hug. There is genuine affection emanating from him in addition to a strong odor of booze.

The three of us stand around looking at Aiden for a few moments. None of us would be here were it not for him and he’s lying there, listlessly. Asleep. For who knows how long?

Brie comes in with a few doctors who again gather at the far end of the room to discuss the situation before telling any of us anything. I make brief introductions and then sit back down on the sofa. There have been way too many social interactions for me for one day. Exhausted, emotionally drained, and sick from being pregnant is not the best way to meet your fiancé’s parents. Perhaps, I wouldn’t have had as much contempt toward Arlene if I had met her under other circumstances. But life throws at us what life throws at us, I guess.

Finally, the doctors turn around and tell us their opinion. It’s a good idea to keep him in the medically-induced coma for some time longer. How long? They don’t know. Their big plan is to just monitor the situation and see how it goes. I shake my head. Dean melts into a nearby chair. Arlene narrows her eyes.

“I think we would like a second opinion,” she says.

“Yes, of course. You are definitely entitled to it.”

Arlene talks out loud about flying out a doctor someone had recommended to her. Or even flying Aiden to a better hospital. Brie and I exchange looks while Dean just looks down at the floor.

“I don’t think flying Mr. Black anywhere is a good idea,” Dr. Briggs says. “His condition needs to be monitored. It’s very precarious. It could make him a lot worse.”

“How much worse can he be?” Arlene exclaims. “He’s already in a coma.”

“Many people successfully come out of medically-induced comas. We just have to monitor him and wait. I know that this is very difficult,” Dr. Briggs says. She is polite and composed, but I can tell that Arlene is trying her patience.

“No, no, no. This can’t be it. Money is no option. Do you understand that? We can have anyone in the world here.”

Dr. Briggs looks at her blankly.

“Are you seriously telling us that you are the best in the world?” Arlene asks, crossing her arms. I feel the need to butt in.

“Arlene, please, they’re doing the best they can,” I say.

“That’s not my concern. They may be doing the best they can, but my son deserves more than this. They think I don’t know how medicine works? The reason they’re conferring like that in the corner is to come up with one position and to stick with it. Well, this isn’t the law. This isn’t some hypothetical argument that we’re making. We’re talking about my son. Aiden Black.”

Dr. Briggs continues to respond, trying to convince her that they’re doing the right thing. Other doctors and nurses also pipe in. But it’s all to no avail. The more they argue, the more insistent and certain she becomes. It has to be her way or the highway.

I still have no idea what it is that happened between her and Aiden, but I’m getting that sense that she was trying to steamroll him the way she has been trying to steamroll his doctors and clearly steamrolled his father. I’m pretty sure that Aiden got fed up with it though. He’s not one to be controlled easily.

“What do you think, Ellie?” Arlene asks, turning to me. I shrug and shake my head.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” I mumble. Arlene narrows her eyes. I’m not taking her side and that’s a problem. “But a second opinion couldn’t hurt.”

“Goddamn right!” she exclaims and gives me a warm hug. “You see. The women who love this man understand.”

I feel sick to my stomach and it’s not just because I’m pregnant. The truth is that I have no idea what we should do. I want to believe Dr. Briggs and the rest of the doctors, but what if I’m wrong? What if waiting isn’t good? What if…

There are so many things that I don’t know, can’t know. I mean, if the doctors don’t know, how are we, mere laymen, expected to make these decisions?

“I think it might be best to have another doctor come out here for a second opinion. Instead of doing something rash like going through all the trouble of moving him,” I say.

Brie smiles at me, approvingly. But when I turn to Arlene, I see a completely different expression. She looks pissed. Her face is flushed and her ears look like they are about to have steam coming out of them.

“Let’s just see what they have to say,” I say to appease her. “I just want what’s best for him.”

“And you don’t think I do?” she barks at me. I bite my lower lip and look away. I’m not good at confrontation or fighting. Actually, I sort of hate it. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to let myself be bullied by her or anyone else. Getting another opinion is the right thing to do. The more doctors who can agree with Dr. Briggs and her team the better it is, especially, since money isn’t really a problem here.

Eventually, all of the doctors and nurses leave and the only people that remain are Arlene, Dean, Brie, and me. And, of course, Aiden. I want to ask them all to leave so I can be alone with Aiden again, but it doesn’t feel right. Things are already tense enough between Arlene, Dean, and me that I need to do something to smooth this over.

“Aiden’s going to be okay,” I say, taking his hand. “You’re going to be okay, right?”

I want her to put her arm around me. I want her to believe in this, too. It’s more true if more people believe in something, right?

“With doctors like these, I’m not so sure,” Arlene says.

The next hour passes at a snail’s pace. I look at the clock over and over, but it doesn’t do much. Brie and I talk about nonsense. News, nothing political, or controversial. Gossip. The weather. I hope that if we chitchat long enough, one of them will finally get the message. Okay, c’mon, it’s time for you and Dean to leave, I keep saying silently to myself.

“So, what time will you be coming back tomorrow?” Arlene asks without looking up from her magazine.

“Wait, what?” My heart sinks.

“Tomorrow? You’re coming back tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, I’ll be here tomorrow. But I’m staying tonight.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” she says dismissively.

I stare at her, dumfounded. “I know it’s not necessary. But it’s something that I want to do. I want to be here for Aiden.”

“Honey, you are pregnant. You need a good night’s rest. He’ll be here tomorrow. Besides, I’ll stay with him.”

Her words are sweet and saccharine just like they were when we first met, but it’s all bullshit. It’s all a facade.

“I’d really like to stay,” I say decisively. Two can play at this game. I want to be here for Aiden and she will not drive me away.

“Ellie, please. I haven’t seen my son for a long time. I need to be alone with him,” she says. I’m taken aback by the frankness. I don’t know if it’s another tactic or the truth. Either way, I don’t really have much of a choice. I feel like I have to go. At least, for tonight.