Eli Krauss & the Starry Eyed Girl

Brad’s girlfriend, Kat, is getting quite round.

She stops by the bar the next morning because Brad forgot his phone. Eli and Fiona are there too, it is the morning after their first night together. They have to make preparations for a wedding rehearsal that is scheduled that night.

Eli hasn’t seen Kat since the funeral and had taken key steps in order to avoid her. He did not want to see his brother’s pregnant girlfriend; it gave him no joy.

“Fi!” Brad called out to the back, “Fi! Come meet Kat!”

Eli is already standing in front of Kat with his hands sheepishly in his pockets. She is standing there with her hands on her expanding belly, watching him like a ticking bomb. Worry, worry, worry –that is all they ever do.

“Did Brad tell you, Eli?” Kat asks, pulling something out of her purse. Eli says, “Told me what?”

She hands him a sonogram picture. At the corner of the document, it says KATERINA GARCIA AND BRADLEY KRAUSS – 6 MONTHS. His eyes are fixated on the name, imagining that it read RACHEL AND ELI KRAUSS instead. But he has to yank himself away from the unnecessary torment.

“It’s a boy,” Kat murmurs, “Neat, right?”

Brad comes by awkwardly with Fiona in tow. “Hi! I’ve heard so much about you, Kat! And the little man in there,” Fiona says. Kat grins and tells her how glad she is to finally meet her.

“Didn’t know I was having a nephew,” Eli interrupts. His brother offers him a weak smile.

“Yep, we found out last week. Been waiting for the right moment to tell you,” Brad says and fervently glances at Kat.

Fiona breaks the awkward silence that proceeds with the pleasant topic of the baby’s name. Kat enthusiastically insists that she is going to name the baby Carlos after her father, while Brad argues for the name Clark.

Eli watches all of this in his gruff sadness, and tries, tries to become unhinged, tries to kill the flame of jealousy in his belly. Brad knows this too and offers his older brother apologetic glances every chance he gets.

Finally, Kat and Brad depart for lunch and leave Fiona and Eli to themselves. Eli says nothing, only orders around the cocktail glasses at the bar. Fiona attempts to cheer him up, putting a hand on the small of his back. He turns around and grabs her gently. Fi trembles as he moves his hands from her shoulder blades to the curve of her bottom.

“I know you’re upset about the baby,” Fiona mutters against his neck.

Eli stiffens and leans back to look her in the eye, “I didn’t think I was so transparent,” he says.

“I think what gives you away is that you try so hard not to be,” Fiona says with a little smile, “But I can tell.”

Eli smiles back, but his grin is more mischievous than anything. “Can you tell how I am feeling now?” he questions and slides his hand under her shirt. She smiles softly and takes two steps back. Eli watches her in anticipation.

Jake Rhys is standing at the window, however, looking for Fiona. He sees through the gold and emerald lettering that reads HOME, just enough to glimpse Fiona slowly disappearing, kneeling underneath the bar in front of a tall bearded man who leans back in exultation.

Jake stuffs his hands in his pockets and runs back to the apartment.