Fine Line

2.2

Normal – Teresa
Bold – Nick

–––

"Are you okay, Nicky?"

"Why do you insist on calling me that?"

"Because I like it."

"But I don't. It's my name, shouldn't I at least have a say in this?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you the one who carried a child in the womb for nine months?"

"..."

"That's what I thought. I didn't go through fifteen hours of labour so you could complain about a fucking nickname."

"Sorry, mom."

"You better be. Now, tell me what's wrong. You didn't eat your food as quickly as you usually do which means that something's not right."

"Alexandre doesn't want a kid and I... well I really fucking want one." 

"..."

"Ow! Sh– crap! What the hell, mom? I'm thirty-nine years old I'm allowed to–"

"Not in my house you're not. Now, tell me more."

"There's nothing more to tell. I told him I wanted to adopt a kid and he said that he didn't."

"You guys didn't discuss it any further than that?"

"We just went home and slept."

"Did you ask why he didn't want a kid?"

"I don't want to start a fight."

"It isn't like you just found out he hates fast food. This is about your future together as a couple. Having a kid is a very big deal, and if the both of you have completely opposite views about it, then you need to talk about it. You can't do it later."

"Watch me. I'm an excellent procrastinator."

"Nick. I taught you to fight for what you want. If Alex doesn't want a kid, then you have to find out why he doesn't want one."

"But... I don't want to start a fight."

"So you're still sitcking with that argument. I know you don't, but how do you know you'll get into a fight if you don't talk to him about it?"

"I don't know, 'ma. When I brought the topic up last night, he was quick to shoot me down. I think he has his mind set on not having a baby."

"Nick, honey, if something is stopping you from getting what you want, you have to figure out a way to work through it. This is really important to you, isn't it? Having a child of your own?

"Yeah, but so is my marriage. I love Alexandre."

"And he loves you too. Which is why I think the two of you can talk about this topic without getting into a fight.

"Fine."

"Good. Now, have you talked to your idiot of a brother recently? The fucker hasn't bothered picking up his phone to text or call me in the past two weeks."