Sam turned to see a man with a concerned expression, and wearing a cast on his left arm, rushing toward him. He presumed he was his host’s husband, but before he could react, the man threw his arms around him. Al confirmed the leaper’s suspicion as Sam was hugged.
“Sam, this is Matina’s husband, Anthony Golbez and he’s twenty-nine years old. He and Matina Sadowski got married two weeks after she graduated from Randolph Stoner High School six years ago. Now, not counting the two buns currently in the oven….” He ignored Sam’s reaction to the euphemism, adding, “they already have three kids, all under the age of six.” Al paused at the next bit of information that came across the handlink’s small screen. “Sam, Anthony works as an auto mechanic and…"
Over Anthony Golbez’s shoulder, Sam watched Al closely, mouthing, “And what?”
Not by a long shot was this the first time the Observer had given Sam necessary information this soon in a leap that just promised to make the leap that much harder to accomplish. “Since Tony’s the sole breadwinner for their family, they’re already having a tough time making ends meet. The news of this pregnancy, coming just three weeks after the accident and then, two days ago, finding out that his boss had permanently replaced him, was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. They get into another argument about…everything… Saturday afternoon, that’s two days from now. In the original history, when Matina suggested she could get a part-time job until his arm healed and he could find work, all it did was set off Tony’s temper. When he demanded that Matina have an abortion and she refused, he came close to beating her to death…with that cast on his arm.”
Martina’s husband, now holding him by his shoulders, gave the leaper a gentle shake, repeating, “Is anything wrong?"
“Uh…no,” Sam replied. “In fact, everything’s fine." He took a deep breath then, pasting an uncertain smile on his face, blurted, “We’re having twins.”