Broken (Broken #1) (9 page)

“
So why’d you
tell him I’m pregnant?”

Caleb shrugs, “Seemed like a
good idea at the time.”

“
He told me
to get rid of the baby, that doesn’t seem like normal
behaviour.”

He laughs coldly, I’ve never
heard such a laugh from him before. It’s kind of scary. “My brother
isn’t normal. Stay away from him, Gwen. Okay?”

I nod not wanting to argue over
something I’m in completely agreement with. There’s no way in hell
I’ll be going near him again. “Maybe you should report it.”

“
No, he’s my
brother, he punched me and he left. It’s done.” Caleb says and now
he looks sad.

I slide onto his lap and wrap
my arms around his neck, “I’m sorry, Caleb.”

Kissing his mouth gently, I
press my body against his, wanting to absorb his pain.

“
I love you,
Gwenny. Don’t ever,” he pulls back and looks me in the eyes.
“Forget that. No matter what. Okay?”

I frown on a nod, “What’s
gotten into you lately? You seem on edge and you’re always coming
out with weird things that you wouldn’t normally say.”

He shrugs, “It’s probably the
excitement of becoming a dad. Sorry if I’ve seemed...” Now he’s
smiling. “Weird? Is that the right word?”

“
You’re
always weird, maybe it’s because for once you’ve actually been
acting normal.”

“
Cheeky,” he
chuckles and forces me to straddle his lap on the high stool. “Let
me take you to bed and remind you how weird I am.”

“
I don’t
think I need reminding but I’ll gladly play along and pretend I
do.”

******

Two weeks go by and I’ve
finally told my boss I’m pregnant now I’m starting to get a bump,
not long after showing up for work late due to Caleb being ill. His
migraine has him stuck in bed, his face under the covers. I feel
bad for him and want to stay at home to look after him but I can’t.
We need all of the money we can get.

My boss, Derrick of Chicago’s
is really understanding thankfully. He even gives me a hug and
congratulates me which shocks me.

Work is boring and I’m sick of
everyone asking me where Caleb is. He’s at home! Obviously. Why is
it anyone’s business? If it was me that was off they wouldn’t be
panicking, they’d be trying it on with my fiancée. I know this
because Sasha comes in with a group of girls every Wednesday, I
don’t work Wednesday nights. She tells me about the group of women
who constantly surround him but he brushes them off as much as he
can.

You’d think the news of our
engagement and the pregnancy would warn them off but some of them
try even harder than they did before. It drives me around the
bend.

Fortunately I have complete
trust in Caleb so I’m not worried at all. It’s just irritating. It
stresses him out too.

When I finally make it home I
climb in the shower and afterwards I snuggle up with my poorly,
soon to be, husband in bed. He instantly wraps himself around me,
bringing my face to his neck.

“
Marry me,”
he whispers as I place my hands against his feverish
skin.

“
You’re
burning up,” I try and pull away so I can get his
medicine.

He doesn’t let me, he looks in
my eyes in the dark; they’re serious, extremely serious. “I want to
marry you on Wednesday.”

“
What?”

“
Please. Just
do this for me. I’ve already made the appointment. Two PM on
Wednesday. I wanted tomorrow but tomorrow was taken. At Gretna
Green, it’ll be a road trip.”

“
What’s wrong
with you?” I snap and pull myself free of his arms. “Let me get you
something to bring down that fever.”

“
You’re not
fucking listening!” he exclaims suddenly and sits bolt upright in
bed. He winces and presses his hands to his head. “I need you to
marry me, please. It’s simple. We can have a party in a couple of
months but I want to make you my wife.”

Damn it. This is crazy. He’s
delirious.

“
Promise me,”
he sounds out of breath.

I nod, not saying the words but
sort of meaning them. “Okay.”

He sags back, his body too
heavy for his lack of energy right now. I take this chance to rush
into the bathroom and wet a lot of towels. When I place them over
his skin he cries out. My panic increases. “What’s wrong? What is
it? I think I should call an ambulance.”

“
No!” He
almost shouts and his hand wraps around my wrist. “I’ll be fine in
the morning, it’s just the flu or something.”

“
I don’t know
Caleb,” I admit and place a wet flannel on his forehead.

His eyes come to mine, “Please
Gwenny. No hospitals.”

I sigh and agree, he’s right,
it’s probably nothing. I’ll just have to keep a close eye on
him.

“
I almost
forgot,” he whispers and motions me closer. “Bring him
here.”

On a giggle I move up the bed
and bring my naval up to his face.

“
Love you
baby Weston,” he says and I feel his lips press against my stomach.
Seconds later he’s fast asleep and I’m changing the towels. His
temperature is so high the water in the towels is now lukewarm.
That’s crazy. Now I’m really worried.

The morning comes and Caleb is
much better. His fever broke in the night, I know this because I
didn’t sleep at all. I don’t want him to go to class and I’m
shocked when he so easily agrees and spends the day with me in bed
watching movies and eating junk.

Then he reminds me of what he
said last night and my heart starts racing. “We’re getting married
Wednesday.”

I roll him onto his back,
“What’s the rush?”

“
You’re
pregnant with my son, I want to do this properly.”

I frown and think on it for a
moment. I want to walk down an aisle in a stunning white dress. I
want the after party and the confetti. I don’t want to get married
at a registry office just for the sake of getting married.

He sees my thoughts churning
and gives me a little shake, “I hate to pull this card…”

“
What
card?”

He rubs his hands over his face
and flips us over so I’m on my back, “If you don’t marry me then
I’ll think you don’t love me.”

Drama. “Stop being an
idiot.”

His face falls, I see the
desperation in his eyes. “Please Gwenny. Please.”

Now I’m really panicked,
“What’s going on Caleb?”

“
Nothing…”

“
Don’t lie to
me.”

“
I had a
dream,” he blurts and pecks me on the lips. “I had a really bad
dream and I can’t remember it but I know I want to marry you and I
don’t want to waste another minute.”

“
Damn it,” I
groan and turn my head. “Fine. Fine. Wednesday we’ll get
married.”

“
You
swear?”

“
Ugh.”

“
Swear it,
Gwenny or I’m never eating you again.”

My mouth falls open in horror,
“You bastard.”

“
Swear
it.”

“
Okay, okay,
I swear it!”

The smile that lights up his
face is mesmerising, he kisses me deeply before rolling back onto
his back and pulling me tightly to him. “Love you Gwenny.”

“
Love you
too.” Even though we’ve agreed, something in my gut just isn’t
right. There’s something going on here and I want to ask him but
I’ll give him time to get better first. He looks exhausted, sounds
exhausted and is clearly unwell even if his temperature has
broken.

“
Let’s just
stay in bed until we get married,” he murmurs, his lids hooded and
sleepy looking. “How does that sound?”

I nod, “I still have to work
your shift though.”

“
Ask someone
to cover it. Don’t leave my side for a second.”

I’m about to ask what he’s
talking about but I’m distracted by a strange thumping sensation in
my stomach. My heart accelerates along with my excitement. “He’s
kicking,” I whisper and press Caleb’s hand to my stomach.

We wait and just when I think
it’s not going to happen, I feel him tap. “Oh my god,” Caleb laughs
and looks at my stomach in wonder. “That’s…” he moves down the bed
and rests his cheek on my naval. “He just did it again.”

“
Yeah,” Tears
fill Caleb’s eyes, his lips pinch together as if suppressing them.
He looks up at me, his eyes full of hurt and sorrow. “What’s wrong
baby?” I ask and hug him as tight as possible. His body starts to
shake and a sob escapes him. Now he’s crying it’s almost like I can
feel his pain, my own eyes begin to tingle and burn. “Talk to
me.”

He shakes his head, “I’m just
so happy.”

“
That’s a
lie, I know you and I know these aren’t happy tears.”

“
I’m so
sorry, Gwenny.”

“
Sorry?”

“
Oh god,” he
chokes out and sobs tear through him. Sobs of the likes I’ve never
heard. They torture my very soul.

His arms hold me tighter with
each second and my chest becomes wet from his tears. My own tears
stain my face as I try to figure out what’s wrong with him but
nothing comes to mind. “Talk to me,” I beg, closing my eyes to push
out another tear. “Please baby. Talk to me.”

“
Don’t ever
lose yourself okay?” He whispers. “Promise me.”

“
What are you
talking about? You’re scaring me.”

“
You’re
perfect the way you are. Don’t ever change. Never leave me. Never.
I know it’s selfish but I…”

“
Hey,” I
soothe him and stroke my fingers through his hair. “I’ll never
leave you I swear it.”

******

Sasha and Tommy have agreed to
be our witnesses for the wedding tomorrow. I’m nervous and excited
and nervous and even more excited. Caleb hasn’t brought up last
night and I daren’t. Seeing him so tortured has killed me. Maybe
everything has just gotten on top of him at last. He wasn’t
bothered when his parents disowned him, or maybe he was and he just
bottled it up. He’s always so happy. To see him so devastated… it
makes me sick just thinking about it.

I never want to see him like
that again. My heart can’t stand it.

Now I know what he means when
he says seeing me cry breaks his heart.

He looks happy enough although
I know he has a headache because he’s wearing sunglasses indoors
and he’s going through painkillers like they’re sweets. I keep
telling him to go to the doctor’s but he won’t listen. He assures
me it’s nothing but this can’t be normal.

As promised I haven’t been to
work or classes, I’m yet again curled up with Caleb watching crappy
TV with Sasha and Tommy who are insisting they drink in front of me
seeing as I can’t join in. Caleb isn’t drinking either, he says he
wants to suffer with me. I love him even more for it.

“
I can’t
believe you’re getting married,” Sasha sighs wistfully and downs
the rest of her glass. Tommy leans over and fills it with white
wine. “You two were meant to be.”

“
You’re so
soppy,” I joke, throwing a scatter cushion at her.

“
I’m serious.
I’ve been single for a year. I’m sick of it now. I want what you
have,” She wags her eyebrows at Caleb. “Sure you don’t want me
instead? I’ll teach you things you didn’t know were physically
possible.”

We all start laughing when she
tries to hook her ankle behind her head, fails and falls to the
ground with an oomph.

“
I’m sure
you’re hot Sasha but Gwenny blows my mind.”

“
I’m sure she
blows something,” Tommy mumbles, earning a glare from me and a
cackle from Sasha.

“
Oh my god, I
only just got that. That’s funny,” Caleb starts laughing a few
seconds later, earning a glare from me and a cackle from Sasha and
a high five from Tommy.

Caleb starts drifting asleep on
my shoulder after a few more minutes. This concerns me because he’s
not normally this tired by nine at night. I say my apologies to
Tommy and Sasha and take him up to bed, even more worried when he
leans on me the entire way. My panic is overloading when I have to
help him get undressed.

“
I just need
to shut my eyes for a while,” he says softly as I kiss his cheek.
“Hey, I almost forgot.” I lift my shirt and smile when he kisses my
small bump. “I love you baby Weston.”

“
Caleb,” I
whisper and sit beside him. “Are you okay?”

He looks me straight in the
eyes and nods, “Yeah Gwenny. Hurry up and come to bed, I want to
hold you until…” His voice trails off as he drifts to the land of
nod.

I rush to say goodbye to the
others and rush back to bed. I’m getting married tomorrow and
that’s the furthest thing from my mind. What’s wrong with Caleb? Is
this a lasting effect of his illness?

He pulls me into him so my head
rests on his chest and my thigh across his legs while my hand
teases the hairs that travel from his navel to below his boxers.
Normally he’d jerk and laugh but this time he remains peacefully
sleeping. Sigh.

“
I love you
baby,” I say and kiss his lips.

“
Love you too
Gwenny,” He murmurs and tightens his arms around me. I thought he
was sleeping, I guess not.

Nuzzling into his chest I stop
playing with his trail of hair and instead I hold him as tight to
me as possible.

******

The sun hasn’t risen yet. Why
am I awake? Ugh, morning sickness.

Leaning over Caleb, I check the
clock. Five fifteen in the morning, great. I’ll never get back to
sleep now. I’m one of those people who when they wake they’re awake
and that’s it.