Yup, I’m definitely pregnant.
I saw the doctor two days ago and have just finished my scan. I’m seven weeks along. Seeing the little blob moving around on the screen made this entire thing real. It had been amazing.
Our baby.
Best I get the courage to tell Jake too. I just don’t want to tell him via email or text. He deserves to be told via Skype so I can see his face at least.
I park my car up my drive, shut off the engine, grab my purse, the CD with the scan images on it, and make my way inside. I dump all my things onto my bed in favour of making myself a cup of tea and getting something to eat.
Hungry already, bubba. You’re just like your daddy, always wanting to eat.
I head into the kitchen to prepare my meal which turns into a giant feast. I clean the entire plate up and drain my drink. I hope this will stay down. I decide to begin doing the dishes and put some music on. As I begin running the water, I hear a knock on my door. I shut off the water and head down the hall. I wonder who it could be.
Opening the door, I find my landlord Mr Lampton standing there. Hopefully, he’s here to fix the hot water, but by the look on his face, I can see he’s not.
“Hi, Mr Lampton. How can I help you?” I ask.
“Miss Morrison. I’m sorry to disturb you like this, but I’m here to give you formal notice that I need you to move out. I’m giving you thirty days as of the date you receive the letter in the post, but since you’ve been such a good tenant, I’m giving you a few days extra notice. I’m sorry to do this, but I need the house back.”
My lips quiver and my heart sinks.
He’s doing this now?
“That’s okay Mr Lampton. I’m sure I can have someone in my family take me in.”
He smiles. “Perfect. Thank you for being so understanding.” He turns and walks down the steps, leaving me completely lost for words. I close the door and lean against it.
First, the loss of clients, then I find out I’m pregnant. Now, this?
How much more can I take?
I’ll talk to my parents, see if I can move into one of their bedrooms just until I find somewhere else to live. I spend the rest of the day cleaning my house, trying to stay busy while subconsciously cleaning out all the stuff I don’t use.
When I head to bed, I’m exhausted. I dress in pyjamas, brush my teeth and then tuck myself beneath the sheets with my book. The disc with the photos of our baby comes into view, and I realise I completely forgot to text Jake. It’s too late to talk to him now.
I’ll have to do it tomorrow.
I place a hand over my tummy. There’s a little human growing inside me; someone who is going to need me to take care of them. I was offered an abortion at the doctor’s the other day, but now that I’ve seen the scan, the idea of it makes me physically ill. I can’t do that.
I know I should contact Jake; he deserves a say in our options but doubt creeps in.
What if he thinks I did this on purpose?
What if he decides he doesn’t want the baby? Or me?
I roll over, grabbing my phone. I got a message from Aria asking me something, but I ignore it, choosing to respond in the morning. Instead, I find the image taken of Jake and me at Toby and Sasha’s engagement party.
I smile at his handsome face.
That’s your daddy little one.
Tears break free, falling silently down my face and making my hair wet. I wish he was here right now and not so far away. I need his strong arms to hold me and tell me everything is going to be fine because right now, everything is falling apart, and I don’t know if I’m strong enough to do this alone.
Chapter Twelve
Stephanie
I arrive at my parents’ place. I emailed Jake a few hours ago, saying we needed to talk. I’m just waiting to hear back from him.
I find my dad sitting in the lounge, drinking a beer. He turns towards me.
“Hey sweetie, how are you?” he asks, getting out of his seat.
“I’m okay, I guess. I was wondering if I could talk to you and Mum.”
“Sounds serious. What did we do?” he chuckles.
“Actually, I was hoping I could move in here for a little while. I’ve been asked by my landlord to vacate the house I’m renting, and he’s given me thirty days to do it.”
My dad rubs the stubble on his chin as we enter the kitchen to find my mum pulling freshly baked Afghans out of the oven—my favourite.
“I’m pretty sure he’s legally obliged to give you more than thirty days,” he says.
I shrug. “That’s what the letter said.”
“Well sorry sweetie, we can’t be of any help. We’ve decided to start getting the house ready to sell. We’ve decided to move into something smaller so we can take another holiday.”
“Oh. Damn it.”
My mum looks at me with a sad face. Paula comes into the house, practically bouncing into the room. “You look happy. What’s going on?”
“Bryan and I are building a house. We got official sign-off to start building as of next week. We made the decision to move in with Bryan’s mum and dad while the house is being built. Bryan can’t wait because he’s doing most of it himself.”
There goes the idea of moving in with my sister.
“What’s going on with you?” Paula asks.
“I have to move out of my rental property, and none of you is able to help. I know it’s not your fault.” I slump down onto the dining table. I don’t know what I’m going to do now.
My dad wraps an arm around me. He’s not my biological father but has been with my mum since I was two and he’s the only father I’ve ever known. I love him for all that he is. He loves and supports me no matter what. We’re closer than I ever could’ve imagined, and I know it hurts him to see me stranded, but there’s nothing they can do.
“Sweetheart, we’ll help you find somewhere to live,” he reassures me.
“When does the ‘For Sale’ sign go up?” I ask.
“Next week.”
Paula laughs. “Wow, you two didn’t waste any time.”
My mum places a plate full of freshly iced Afghans onto the table, and they’re gone in minutes. “You lot are so bad. I didn’t even get one,” she laughs.
“Well, best we help make some more,” I suggest.
My level of help is by eating all the unbaked cookie dough. It seems the baby has my sweet tooth.
I wonder if our baby will enjoy baking with me as much as I do with my mum. It’s the best thing in the world baking with her, and we always got to lick the bowl growing up.
The baby.
The baby that Jake still has no idea about and I’m almost ten weeks along.
I really need to tell him; sooner rather than later.
Jake
“We’re losing him!” I yell out through the surgical room.
One, two, three. “Come on, Joe, hold it together for me,” I yell at his pale body.
Don’t you dare die on me.
The bomb hit our men just outside of camp. It was unexpected, and we think the hit was meant for another team: two trucks with soldiers and commanders who had gone into town for some stuff. I’m not sure what happened as I was busy working in the medical suite when he was brought in.