In The Spur of Heath (The Spur Series Book 1) (30 page)

They were seated at a high table in a secluded corner. A pitcher of whisky sat in the middle of the table along with a bucket of ice and their two half-filled glasses. “I can’t fucking do it.” Jake slurred, taking another sip of his whiskey. “I’m suffocating. She’s only been back two days and I wanna fucking scream just looking at her sickening banged up face.” Jake spat.

“Dude, I swore I saw Reese today at the pharmacy.” Kai uttered, as of only remembering just then.

“Which one?” Jake asked suddenly attentive.

“Hacksaw’s by the old gas station.”

“What the fuck were you doing there?” Jake asked puzzled. “And what the fuck was she doing there too?”

“I went to get my protein. You know Hacksaw’s sells the best for a nice price. Anyway, I was thinking the same thing too. But I could have seen wrong. She didn’t acknowledge me so…”

“I miss her. How’d she look?”

“To be honest, really sick. Looks like she hasn’t been eating.”

“Really?” Jake asked in astonishment and Kai nodded his head. “You think I should call her?”

“You ready to do something about Kin?” He deadpanned

“Fuck you, Kai.” Jake smirked and gulped down his remaining whiskey.

The next morning, I shot up from Heath’s bed just as I remembered I had my ultrasound. It was pretty late, later than I had expected. I yanked the comforter off and I scooped up my phone from the bedside table. I jogged downstairs to see Heath laying on the sofa with his laptop sitting on his extended legs. He looked up at me.

“Eh, you’re up.” He smiled. “There’s breakfast in the microwave for you. I went to Charleston and bought paninis.” He singsonged.

“Oh, thanks.” I smiled. “Um, I’m heading out today, okay?”

“Really? Where to?” He seemed surprised.

“Mall.”

“Alright. Have fun. You need any money?”

“Uh, no. Thanks, I’m good.”  He then shrugged his shoulders and turned back to his laptop.

After I got ready, I still had some time to kill before my appointment, so I opted to go to Kings Mall. The sonographer was located in town not too far from there.

While sitting at the fountain where most of the teenaged kids hung out, my eyes fell on him cruising through the mall. Tall, broad shoulders and defined cheekbones, that unmistakable bone structure and one-sided smile. His perfectly imperfect teeth glimmering as he smiled. Long legs striding to Vie de Café, the coffee shop on the ground floor of the mall. Yep, Jake Cavanaugh was looking as fine as ever, with his much longer, wilder hair, walking with a guy that I didn’t recognise. My heart pounded, I felt it in my throat. I began to shake, I didn’t know how to react. I was a nervous wreck.

“Hey.” Someone called out behind me, startled, I spun around. It was a really handsome, guy with dark chocolatey skin and a smile that showed off all his teeth, and boy, they were beautiful teeth.

“Hi.” I answered timidly.

“You look familiar. You from around here?” He asked.

“No, no. Not really?”

“Whoa, beautiful accent. Where you from?”

“Trinidad. But I go to school here.”

“I’m Malcolm.” He replied with an extended arm. I smiled and took his arm, shaking it, completely forgetting about all the drama in my life. “I actually just moved here. It’s nice to finally get to talk to a pretty girl.” He sat down beside me.

“Ha, where are you from?” I asked suddenly becoming a little relaxed.

“Florida.”

“Really? What brings you to Dillcaster of all places?” I asked genuinely intrigued.

“School. I’m gonna start the Film Academy in September.”

“Serious? I go there.”

“Whoa, that’s awesome!” He beamed. “I’m staying by an aunt in West End.”

“Wow, got a rich aunt.” I joked.

“Yeah, well her husband is the Dean at Dillcaster.” I paused in thought, feeling absolutely confused, my forehead crinkling in the process.

“Mr. Greyman?” I asked with furrowed eyebrows.

“Yep, that guy.” He laughed.

“Wow, thought he was gay or something.” I laughed and so did Malcolm. He was pretty nice, and friendly.

“So you got a boyfriend? Girlfriend?” He enquired.

“Boyfriend, yeah.”
Couple weeks ago I had more boyfriends than I should.

“Cool. My girlfriend is trying to come before the semester starts.”

“Oh that’s nice. Well, I have an appointment to get to, I’m so sorry, but take my number if you like.” I informed him and entered my number onto his cell phone for him to save.

“Wait you didn’t tell me your name.” He called out.

And without warning, as I was about to reply, I heard Jake’s voice call out to me, “Reese?” I slowly turned around, dreading to see his beautiful face up close. Malcolm looked at me, confused at what was happening. I gasped when I laid my eyes on him clad in his blazer, V-neck jersey, skinny jeans and a pair of pointed toe shoes. His hair was completely tussled and made him even sexier. I gulped, unable to say a word. My lips parted, as I was about to say something but then I pursed them and bolted, running straight past him. I couldn’t. I was already pale and underdressed – and pregnant. I couldn’t have him see me in such a state.

As I broke through the front door of the mall, I began feeling the buzz of my phone in the back pocket of my jeans. I pulled it out, of course, it was Jake. I ignored it and headed to my car in the parking lot. I jumped in, started the ignition and headed to my appointment.

I was in the waiting room, my legs shaking. I was so nervous. I looked over at the other very pregnant mother as they waited on the seats provided.
Will that be me in time?
My eyes glanced at every maternal poster on the grey coloured walls. It was quiet, apart from the mellow sounds of
Lifespan by Vaults
playing, and the buzzing of the filter inside of the giant Aquarium that took the length of the wall opposite me. The round table before us had medical-related pamphlets and magazines. I bent my head, my fingers pressed against my temple as I drowned in worry and fear. “Singh?” I heard a modulated voice broadcast. My heart jumped, or at least it felt like it did. I shot up, to see the sunken-eyed nurse staring at me. “Doctor will see you now.”

I followed her through the archway and down the brightly-lit corridor, towards a brown door that was labelled ‘Dr. Bellum’. She then walked away, leaving me to enter the office on my own. I knocked and heard a female voice respond, “Come in.”

I pushed through, even more posters were on the walls, along with charts and medical figurines. Dr. Bellum was sitting behind her large wooden desk, writing on a notepad. She looked up at me, placing her hand out, directing me to one of the two chairs that sat before her desk. I complied, timidly falling onto the seat. “So, what seems to be the problem?” She was pretty soft-spoken. She then looked up at me. Her wide-brimmed glasses falling off her crooked nose. She readjusted them onto her rounded eyes. She then passed her hand through her glossy, dark hair.

“Um…” I began, trying desperately to find the words. I felt childish and unable to explain myself. “I took a pregnancy test and found out I was pregnant. I’m not quite sure how far along I am.” I suddenly blurted.

“Okay…” She responded as she scribbled her notes into her notepad. “When was the date of your last monthly period?”

“Uh… the twelfth.” I responded and she looked up at me.

“That was a few days ago.”

“That’s the crazy part. I’ve been having my regular periods.”

“It happens.” She shrugged. “Well, let’s find out, shall we.” She got up from the desk and led me behind the partition where an exam table stood near the Ultrasound Machine. She gave me a paper gown, directed me to the toilet and told me to strip.

I came back out, feeling the cold air on my lady parts as I laid onto the exam table. “Bring your knees up.” She informed me and I complied.

She asked me a few questions as she placed the blue gooey gel on the top of the long-ass probe.
Holy shit balls what is she going to do with that? Ew, it has a condom on it? Nope, not today!
“Um, what is that for?” I asked with wide eyes.

“This is used to detect early pregnancy that a normal sonogram wouldn’t be able to. Don’t worry, it’s no bigger than an average-sized pee-pee.” She smiled.
Did she just refer to penises as ‘pee-pees’?
“Relax. It’ll feel a little cold at first and weird, but it’ll be over before you know it.” She reassured me, and before I could respond, she stuck it inside.
Whoa, that gel thing was cold, and god damn this didn’t feel like no regular pee-pee!
She pulled out instantaneously. “That’s it?” I asked, completely confused.

“You are much, much further along. You don’t need this. I have to do a transabdominal ultrasound.” She then told me to put my legs down and to raise my gown.

She placed more of the blue gel on the end of the other transducer probe and placed it on my stomach.
Damn, shit was cold!
She began passing it around and freezing the images and entering some stuff, showing me the head and heart. My eyes welled up with tears.
This is real. The baby is real, very real.
I was amazed, shocked and anxious all at the same time.

“You’re eighteen weeks pregnant.” She informed me. “Do you have a doctor?”

I shook my head. “I never really got around to that. I’m just a student here, was not planning on any of this.” I replied, knotting my fingers together.

“Here.” She handed me a piece of tissue to clean up myself. “Well, I suggest you get one, and start taking your vitamins. Here.” She handed me a call card. “Dr. Edwards is a really good doctor. He would take great care of you and the little one.” She smiled. “Good luck.”

“Thank you.” I breathed.
The little one.
Her words echoed in my ear and I placed my hand over my stomach.

I then cleaned up, made my payments and walked out of the building. My mind so unaware of everything around me as I drowned in my thoughts. I sat in my car, silently, in deep thought.
Eighteen weeks? There it is huh?
The thing that’s going to destroy all that I have with Heath, including my reputation. He’s gonna know the truth. It was time to let Jake know that I was carrying his baby, and that I didn’t even know how to begin to go through with an abortion.

My drive back home was quiet and my mind was far. I was numb – a zombie. I didn’t want to see, hear or talk to anyone. I just messaged Salimah the news and didn’t respond to anything afterwards. I couldn’t even bear the thought of Heath touching me now that I knew another man’s child was inside me.
How? How did I end up here?

I entered the apartment and headed straight for my old room and sat at the edge of the bed, just staring at the tiles. Heath was passing through the corridor when he noticed me, stepped back and knocked on the door, pushing his head through. “Pieces? You okay, mate?”

I looked up at him. “Yeah.” I barely answered. “Just reminiscing.” His forehead folded in his usual apprehensive look. “Are you sure?” He questioned and I nodded. He paused for a bit, trying to believe me, then shook his head and left.

I exhaled and then threw myself back onto my old bed, laying in a spread-eagled position. I’m in such shit. Even if I wanted to go through with an abortion, it’d be highly dangerous giving how far along I am. I was scared out of my mind, and the one person I’m supposed to be able to turn to – I just couldn’t. I was on my own here.

Just as my thoughts consumed me, my phone buzzed, startling me. I pulled it out and to my surprise it was my mother. I hadn’t heard from her since I was in Trinidad with Heath. We didn’t quite have the best relationship, hence the reason I had to put myself through school, but I loved her regardless and would have always answer her calls – just not right now.
Yep! I ignored it.
When I say I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I meant it.

Bzzz!
Phone buzzed again and I was about to switch it off until I saw the Caller ID. I gasped – it was Jake. I contemplated for a moment, then I pressed the answer button, remaining silent. “Hello?” I heard him repeat a couple times before I could respond. I walked into my old bathroom. “Jake.” I whispered.

“Reese, what’s going on with you? Are you okay?” I paused for a moment, tears spilling down my cheeks uncontrollably. “Reese, are you crying?” I heard him ask. “Are you okay?”

“No.” I sobbed. “I’m not at all. I’m in a horrible situation, and I…” I broke off sobbing.

“What’s wrong?”

“Everything.” I replied. “I need to see you, we need to talk in person.” I sniffled.

“Sure, yes. Anything. I’ll meet you. Where and when?”

“Tomorrow, around five at the Charleston Coffee Shop.”

“Okay baby, I’ll see you then.” He replied. Wow, hearing him call me baby again stung. I felt so broken. My world was falling apart.

I slid down to the floor, curled into a foetal position with one hand rubbing my stomach, and stared into oblivion as more tears spilled out my eyes. I felt better knowing that Jake called. Maybe it was a sign of hope for things better to come.