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“It’s your baby’s heartbeat,” I say hoarsely, and Derek freezes, staring at the monitor.
“My...” he trails off. “Our baby?”
I nod, struggling not to start sobbing. I wipe the tears that have started streaming down my face. “This is why I have to leave,” I manage. “This is why I have to go so soon.”
Derek doesn’t speak, of course he doesn’t.
I’m sure he’s shocked but he knows that the best thing is for me to go. He knows that I can’t be part of this family.
He stands awkwardly, just staring for a moment.
“The baby, it’s...it’s healthy?” he asks, his voice shaking.
I nod. “Yeah, the baby’s okay,” I assure him softly, and I expect him to say something else but he doesn’t. He just nods and walks out of the room.
I start crying in earnest then, holding the covers up to cover my face, and the nurse comes in to give me some nausea medication. She asks me if I’m in pain and I shake my head.
I am, but it’s nothing that can be helped with medication.
I think about calling my mother to come and see me but I don’t want her finding out that Derek’s the father. He left when he found out, so that probably means I’m on my own, right? Instead, I call the only person that will help me. The one that know everything. Cherie.
She’s asleep when I call but she gets there within fifteen minutes, sitting by my bedside as I cry. She holds my hand, looking at me sympathetically.
“He just left,” I sob, and Cherie’s hand tightens on mine.
“Maybe he just needs some time,” she says softly.
“Or he doesn’t want me and he’s ready for me to go,” I wail, and Cherie leans over to hug me.
“Even if he does, you’ve got your parents and you’ve got me,” she says. “I promise that we’ll be here for you.”
“I know,” I say gratefully, hugging her back, and finally, she pulls away, looking at me.
“Do you want me to try and find him?”
“No, that looks desperate,” I mutter, and Cherie laughs.
“You’re pregnant, Ken. I think that’s past being desperate.”
“Well, I don’t want him to come back unless he wants to,” I argue, and Cherie rolls her eyes.
“Stubborn.”
“Very,” I agree, smiling a little and wiping at my eyes again. “Ugh, I’m so tired of crying. Never get pregnant, Cherie.”
She chuckles. “I don’t plan on it. That’s why I have like thirty tests in my bathroom,” she jokes, and I laugh shakily.
“Thank you for coming,” I say, truly grateful, and Cherie smiles.
“I’ll stay as long as you like, but you’re going to have to let me go get some coffee.”
“Of course, go,” I say, waving my hand. “Just come back.”
Cherie laughs. “I will.”
She leaves the room and I put the pillow over my face, breathing into it and wanting to scream. Derek leaving shows he doesn’t want me. He doesn’t want this baby. Right?
I mean, he made that clear a long time ago, and it’s even clearer now.
