I know he will.
Thirty-Four
Ava
I made an appointment with my doctor over the weekend for Monday, and they confirmed with me what I already knew.
I’m definitely pregnant. Only about six weeks along. My due date is July 24th. Nowhere close to a 4th of July baby. Hopefully Eli won’t be disappointed.
Doubtful. He’s over the moon about my pregnancy.
My doctor recommends I take prenatal vitamins and lay off the caffeine, sugar and salt. All the things I love most. I’m also supposed to get plenty of exercise and rest, and eat a healthy diet. Plenty of fruits and vegetables. She offers up a few websites and apps that are full of good information and the more she talks, the more scared I get.
“Will everything be okay?” I ask her when she goes silent. “The baby. Will it be all right?”
“As long as you take care of yourself, you should be fine.” Her smile is gentle. “You’re a healthy young woman. I see no problems, but I can’t tell you that everything will be perfect. Sometimes—things happen.”
She doesn’t have to say what I’m fearing. Women lose their babies for no reason early in pregnancy. Or they take one of those tests and find out something is wrong with the baby. Or it’s born with a heart defect, a lung defect, whatever.
My mind races with all the scary possibilities and I’m mad at myself for going to the doctor alone. I would’ve brought Autumn with me, but she’s gone back home. No way can I tell Mom.
Not yet.
Ellie and Jackson came home for Thanksgiving, but I have no idea if they’re still here or not. I’ve been a shit friend and ignored them for most of the weekend, happy in my little bubble with Eli.
I make another appointment at the front desk and leave the doctor’s office, heading for my car. Once I’m inside, I pull my phone out and FaceTime Ellie.
I need my friend right now. I probably shouldn’t tell her this over freaking FaceTime though. Maybe she’ll meet me for lunch or something?
It’s weird how my appetite came back when I got in Eli’s presence again. Oh well. I’m not questioning it.
Ellie answers just when I was about to give up, and I wait for the call to connect, smiling when I see her face.
“Hey you,” she says. “I haven’t heard from you at all.”
“I know. Sorry.” I make a little face, feeling bad.
“It’s okay. I heard you were sick?” Her expression is questioning. “You feeling better now?”
“Who’d you hear that from? And yeah, I’m feeling better.”
“Gracie. We all got together yesterday afternoon and went to lunch.”
“All who?”
“Me, Jackson, Gracie and Caleb. Tony and Hayden were coming back from San Francisco,” Ellie explains. “I tried calling you, but Caleb said not to bother. You and Eli were in makeup mode.”
“I still would’ve liked to see you guys,” I say, my voice small. I don’t like feeling left out, though I know they didn’t mean to do it on purpose.
“We can get together again. With Tony and Hayden too. Jackson and I are sticking around for a few more days,” she says. “I miss you.”
“I miss
you too.”
“Is it true then? You and Eli are back together?”
A sigh leaves me. “You probably think I’m stupid.”