Imperfect Love (31 page)

Jake took his normal spot at the edge of the bed. The order of things was the same; first the gel, and then the device. The heartbeat was just as quick as when she’d last heard it. It still looked the same as last time, nevertheless Amelia shrieked softly; she hadn’t seen it yet.

When Holly smiled and looked at her, she too, had tears in her eyes. Turning, she hugged her brother from behind as she wiped her tears.

“Miracles can happen, Amelia.”

“Don’t make me obsess about it again,” she said to Dr. Meyers. “I just found a reason to let it go.”

Dr. Meyers laughed as Jake stroked his sister’s arm.

“So I take it you told your mother, Jake?”

“Yes, although she still wants to sit down and talk about everything, but at least she knows.”

Holly huffed, shook her head and took a deep breath. She felt like crying. Even though she’d known that Mara was going to have a fit, she’d still hoped that the woman would see it their way and be happy.

She concentrated on the lines Dr. Meyers was drawing on the screen again. Her eyes flicked to the due date. It was still end of March.

Dr. Meyers told them how big the baby had grown, and confirmed what Holly had seen in regards to the birth date. What sex the baby was, she didn’t say.

Gus didn’t make appearance this time around.

When Dr. Meyers was done with Holly, the girls said goodbye to Jake at the exact time his beeper went off.

“Don’t worry about my mother, please,” he whispered in Holly’s ear, while wrapping his arms around her.

“It’s not easy to just forget about it, Jake.”

“She’ll understand when we tell her about our plans, and how we’ll get through all of this,” he persisted.

“Okay, fine. Whatever.”

He kissed her on the top of her head and left.

Amelia hooked her arm with Holly’s after she got another tin of formula from Dr. Meyers, and they walked to her car, which she’d parked just outside of P&E’s entrance.

“My brother has a point,” she said on the way.

“Still. I don’t like it when she’s like the only one not excited about it.”

“It doesn’t matter, Holls.”

“It matters to me, Amelia.”

“He hasn’t told me much, but I know she’s not ecstatic over the idea.”

“She chased him out of the house and hasn’t spoken to him since. No, ecstatic is an understatement.”

“Okay fine. I would’ve been worried if she didn’t act like that.”

That was exactly what Jake had said.

“Believe me, she’ll come around. You have nothing to be worried about.”

“Okay. But I worry, anyway.”

“I know you worry. But seriously, let it go. You’re going to have a baby!” she cried excitedly.

Holly’s smile was beautiful.

Amelia decided to take her to the nearest mall, where she dragged Holly to every baby shop she could find.

Holly was grateful for the time Marabella gave her off when she needed to go for her checkup. She really couldn’t have asked for a better boss.

As expected, she was exhausted when Amelia finally dropped her off at Bernie’s around five.

“Take care, mommy-to-be.”

“I will, aunty-to-be.”

Amelia chuckled, honked twice and drove away, all the while waving out the window.

When she entered the house, she immediately went to prepare her shake. She was hungry—even though Amelia had fed her like three times—tired and dizzy, all at the same time. Holly made quick work of opening the new tin and measuring four spoons of powder into a glass, she added the milk and stirred.

“Where have you been?” Bernie’s voice filled the kitchen.

Holly jumped. “Give me a fright, why don’t you? Amelia took me shopping. I swear she is more excited than I am.”

“Of course she is. So where is the pic? Let me see.”

Holly got the picture of the ultrasound and handed it to her.

Bernie’s entire expression melted when she saw it. “I can’t believe you are going to have a baby. I miss having a baby in my arms. I can’t wait to find out what it’s going to be so I can buy tiny little onesies, and little baby dresses if it’s a girl. I hope it’s a little girl.”

Holly started to laugh. “It didn’t stop Amelia. Tell you what. You can go with her next time, you guys will have a blast. I don’t have the energy to go shopping.”

“It’s normal, you’re pregnant,” Bernie said, clucking her tongue.

Holly rubbed her face and leaned forward on the counter with her head in her hand. “She’s not ecstatic about the idea.”

“Who are we talking about now?” Bernie asked.

“Mara. She wants to speak to both of us soon.”

“So? Just tell her how you feel, and that both of you want this, Holly, and that you are not sixteen anymore. I’m sure she is human. I haven’t seen fangs yet, even though I’m sure she owns a pair that come out when she smells female hormones near her son.”

Both girls started to laugh.

“He is a grown man for crying out loud.”

“I bet you she wants to kill me.”

“I don’t think she’s
that
psycho.”

Holly gave a tired chuckle. “I’m going to have a bath, and then I’m going straight to sleep. My throat is killing me.”

“Just your glands, it’s normal.”

“Ugh! How long is this going to last?”

“About a week or two.”

“Yay, me.”

Over the next two weeks, Holly became overly emotional and cried over the dumbest things. Sometimes, it would be over a movie, and then it would turn into her missing Jake terribly. Mara being a class A bitch, came next.

Dealing with Jake having to work the night shift didn’t help in the slightest. She had to make do with speaking to him over the phone during the day, which couldn’t have been good for his cell phone charges. And on top of all that, missing his late night calls made her feel sad and somewhat depressed. Because she was so tired of late, she’d pass out quite early. Jake had even mentioned that they should get a place together.

The times she did manage to see Jake, always turned into him trying to elevate her fears by telling her he was going to speak to his mother. That Mara was ignoring him seemed to be affecting Jake. At least that’s what she hoped it was and not him being worried about the baby. One good thing Holly had going for her was that the shake was working.

On the Wednesday, Holly received a message from Jake.

Meet me at my mom’s place at 9:00. Sorry for the late notice, but it’s important.

Apparently, Mara did want to see them both. Holly phoned Marabella to ask if she could go in at around twelve, and then lied when asked why, saying she wasn’t feeling at all well that morning. To her surprise, Marabella gave her the entire day off.

At exactly nine, Holly pulled her Beetle into Mara’s driveway. The feeling inside her gut made her want to throw up. She knew it wasn’t the baby because she’d had her shake before leaving home. Glancing out the window, she searched for Jake’s BMW. It was nowhere to be seen. Reaching for her cell phone, she dialed his number; no answer.

She suddenly jumped as Mara tapped on her window.
Deep breaths, Holly, you can do this
, she told herself, switching her car off and getting out.

“Hi, Mara. Is Jake here?”

“No. He had to leave on an emergency, but I promise you, you are safe.” She smiled.

Holly giggled nervously and gave Mara a hug. “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

Mara nodded. “Let’s go inside. I thought it best to have some iced tea on the patio. And then we can talk.”

Holly decided to keep her mouth shut and instead followed Mara. Her Yorkies barked like mad, jumping up against Holly’s leg until she picked one up and carried it along. The rest followed and when Mara yelled for them to go to their beds, all three dogs scrambled. Holly quickly placed the fourth one on the floor. It was quite comical how it, too, made a mad dash to its bed.

“Please, sit,” Mara said, gesturing to one of the chairs.

Once Holly was sitting, Mara took the seat opposite to hers. She then filled two glasses with iced tea and handed one over.

Holly couldn’t help but think that somehow it was poisoned, so waited for Mara to take a sip before she put the glass to her lips.

“How do you feel?” Mara asked.

“Good, Gus’ shake is working.”

“Good. I’m glad. Look, I’m must be honest about something.”

Holly frowned. “What, exactly?”

“Jake didn’t have an emergency. He left a couple of minutes ago because he wasn’t quite sure how to tell you.”

Her heart began to beat slightly faster and a heavy feeling pressed down on her chest. She took a deep breath. “Tell me what, Mara?”

“He doesn’t want the baby anymore, Holly.”

Holly gasped and shook her head. To say she was stunned was putting it mildly. “I’m sorry, Mara, but I don’t believe that.”

“I don’t care what you believe!” Mara’s demeanor changed in a flash. “I’m just telling you how it is, Holly. He made a mistake and came to me for guidance. He wanted to know what his choices were.”

His choices?

As far as Holly was concerned, that didn’t sound remotely like the Jake she knew. He would’ve spoken to her about any insecurities he was having. However, when Holly began to contemplate things, the last couple of times they’d been together he’d seemed distant. The fact that Mara hadn’t really spoken to him ever since he’d told her, had worked.

Oh, shit! What if I’ve misread the signs? What if it had nothing to do with his mother, but everything to do with not wanting our baby?

She shook her head again.

“Holly, you know this is true. He’s seemed distant lately, am I right?”

Holly nodded. “I thought it was because you were not happy about it.”

“I promise you, it’s not. We’ve been discussing this situation for the past couple of days now. We had a family meeting late last night, where he voiced his concerns.”

“Amelia—”

Mara cut her off. “She’s his sister. She didn’t like what he had to say, but blood is thicker than water, Holly.”

“No.” Holly continued to shake her head as images of tears filling Jake’s eyes every time he saw the sonar jumped into her mind. He was happy, he’d told her he wanted this, wanted their baby. “I don’t believe a thing you’re saying and to be frank, I don’t give a damn what you say.”

“He doesn’t want you or the baby anymore, Holly. I told you to go on the pill. I know my son and he changes his mind on a monthly basis.”

“He wants the baby!” Holly yelled.

“Maybe he did, but I assure you, he doesn’t want it anymore.”

“No!” Holly refused to believe this. “Bernie was right, you are a psycho when it comes to Jake.”

“I’m not a psycho! If you don’t believe me, give him a call.” She held her phone out to Holly.

All Holly was capable of doing was stare at the phone in Mara’s hand, like it was a foreign object she’d never before seen. She hadn’t bargained on Mara’s challenge, and doubt filled her gut again. But the minute tears began to fill her eyes, her mind filled with visions of Jake whenever he’d looked at their unborn child, and her doubt disappeared.

“Oh, believe me, I will.” She got up, glaring angrily at Mara. She was disgusted with whatever it was Mara was trying to pull. Looking at her phone, she touched the 1 for speed dial, which had been programmed to Jake’s number. It rang, and rang, and rang until it went dead.

No, this isn’t happening. Jake wants me and our baby. I know it!

She dialed his number again, with the same result. Panic was beginning to set in. Tears welled in her eyes as she dialed him again. This time, though, he picked up. She heard a sigh.

“Talk to me, Jake, what’s going on?” Holly asked.

“It is what it is, Holly. I’ve got to go.”

She was left with a dead tone. The air left her lungs, as if she’d been sucker punched. The tears dislodged and rolled down her cheeks. She felt Mara’s hands gently take hold of her arms, guiding her back to the chair. Holly dropped onto it with a thud. There was nothing she could say.