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She shakes her head. "If I knew, you would know. But no, I think you've rubbed off on me. You always talk about the baby as a he, and I think you're right. Call it a gut feeling."
"Well, don't let me stop you giving our boy what he wants." I smile.
"Right now, this mama needs the bathroom. I honestly feel like he thinks my bladder is a soccer ball. I'll be right back."
I stand to help her, but she wafts me away playfully. I sit back down, laughing as I watch her retreating away from me.
It’s good to see her relaxed. I think she’s finally getting over a lot of the anxiety she held onto for so long. We’ve had a peaceful couple of months; working, shopping for the baby, decorating the nursery. We’ve been a normal couple. It has felt so good.
"She's one remarkable young woman," says Pop as he places my coffee cup in front of me.
"That she is. I'm a lucky guy. "
"You're a remarkable young man too, son. Don't you ever forget it. You two make a beautiful couple… "
The front door bursts open and Clay runs towards my table, out of breath.
"Jesus, Clay. Couldn't you wait for me to bring pancakes home? You owe Pop a new door." I laugh and so does Pop.
“Where's the fire, son?" asks Pop.
"W-where is she?" Clay looks around the diner.
"Who?"
"Aria. Where is she, Caleb?"
"The bathroom."
Clay runs ahead and I look at Pop before I go after him. What the fuck is wrong with him?
"Aria!" He pushes every toilet door open and runs into me on the way out. "Move!" He barges past me, out into the hallway, where the emergency fire door is held open with an oil barrel.
"Clay! What the fuck is going on?" I snap as we stand out in the middle of the alley, where nothing and no one can be seen.
It's at that moment that it registers in my mind that the woman I love isn't in the fucking bathroom. She isn’t out here. She’s nowhere.
"We had a delivery at the compound. It was a box of pictures, a baby teddy, and a note... "
"What did it say? What did it say, Clay?" I yell, the sound echoing all around us.
"You've had your turn, now she's all mine."
I turn and kick the oil barrel over and Pop catches the door before we get locked out. I can't even think straight. We know fuck all about this guy, and we're back to square one. He’s been waiting for this moment to strike. We fucking knew he would come back to haunt us all one day.
"Yeah, you better be there by the time we get back to the compound!" Clay shouts down his cell. "Let's get home. The police are on their way. Pop, does that camera work? "
"Of course. Come and get the footage."
I leave Clay to do just that while I walk back through the restaurant where anxious diners are sitting. I look at the milkshake glass sitting on the table, and I remember our words about it. Her happy demeanor. That might be the last memory I have of us together. I make my way back to my truck, and on the windscreen is a note.
Did you really think I'd let you raise my child?
I kick my tire and run my hands through my hair. This can't be fucking happening. She only has four weeks left of this pregnancy. Who knows what this bastard will do to them?
I climb in my truck and speed out of the parking lot. I need to keep my cool, because if I don't, I'll have someone's blood on my hands.
I’ve let her down. I told her she would be safe with me.
