TROUBLE, A New Adult Romance Novel (The Rebel Series) (21 page)

She sniffs loudly and wipes her nose with the tissue I hand her.
 
“I don’t have a lot of time left.
 
My doctor says I could go at any day now.
 
My cervix is starting to dilate.”

“Oh.
 
My.
 
Well, you still have time, okay?
 
This is a big decision.”
 
I pull my hand back so I can pour her some of my brew.
 
“Tea will help calm your nerves.
 
Sugar?”

She nods.
 
“Five please.”

I raise an eyebrow at that, but dutifully scoop out five teaspoons of the sweet stuff and dump it into her mug.
 
“Milk?”

“I don’t know,” she says.
 
“Is it good with milk?”

“That’s how the English do it, or so I read.”
 
I add a bit to both of our cups.
 
“Let’s try it.”

We both take a sip and nod at the same time.
 
I smile over my cup.
 
“What is your first instinct?”

“Fear.
 
Just bold fear, that’s it.”
 
She lets out a deep sigh.
 
“I was going to ask Julio what he thinks, but I’m afraid he’s too young to understand.”

“Julio?”

“You know … the guy that was here at your place the other day.
 
He’s a friend of mine.”
 
She smiles shyly.

“A friend, huh?
 
That’s nice.” I’m so happy for her.
 
Not many guys would want to be a friend to a pregnant girl like that.
 
“He must be special.”

“He is.
 
He’s not like other guys.”
 
She laughs.
 
“He actually volunteered to be my birth coach.
 
I told him what you said about that stuff.”

I grin along with her.
 
“That is really sweet.
 
What did you tell him?”

“I told him no, that they probably wouldn’t even let him in the room with me.”

I shrug.
 
“Maybe they would.
 
Might as well ask, if that’s what you want to do.”

Charity pushes the paper on the table a little, flicking it with her finger.
 
“I can’t do anything until I deal with this.” She takes a careful sip of her hot tea.
 
“I’m scared to death.”

“What are you scared of exactly?
 
Tell me.”

“That she’ll say she was just kidding.
 
That she’ll be a crazy person who wants to hurt my baby.
 
That she’s not what she seems to be, I guess. I know … I’m being ridiculous.”

I shake my head.
 
“I think you’re being what anyone would be in your situation.
 
Cautious
.”

She shrugs, looking sad.

“Are you sure you don’t want to keep the baby?” I ask.

“Yes. Positively.
 
I want my baby to have all the opportunities he can.
 
He won’t get that from me right now.
 
Maybe someday he can meet me and I’ll explain, because I really do think it’s for the best.”

“I just wanted to be sure so I’m not giving you bad advice.”

“Which is?”

“To call her.
 
Just see what she has to say.
 
What can it hurt?”

“Nothing, I guess.
 
But what if she wants to meet?”
 
Charity wiggles in her seat.

“Then you agree to meet.
 
Do it at her house so you can see her place and get to know her as a person a little.”

“Like a social worker’s home visit?”

“Exactly.”

“Will you come with me?”

I answer without a second thought.
 
“Of course.
 
That’s what friends are for.”
 
Now that I’ve got this whole be-a-better-friend plan in action, decisions are getting a lot easier to make.
 
Besides, no pregnant girl should be alone when she’s making this kind of plan for her life.
 
There’s just way too much at stake.

Charity pulls her phone out of her purse.

“You’re going to call her now?” I ask, panic hitting me in the chest like a pile of bricks.

“Yes.
 
Is that a bad idea?”
 
Her fingers freeze over the buttons.

“No, no, go ahead.”
 
I scoot my chair closer to hers.
 
“I want to hear.”
 
I shake my head a little to get the nervous feelings out of my brain.
 
I need to be strong for my friend so she has someone to lean on.

She presses in the buttons and connects the call, leaning towards me so I can put my ear near the speaker.

“Hello, Gentry residence, Barbara speaking.”

“Uh … uh …”
 
Charity yanks the phone away from her head and presses the red disconnect button.
 
She stares at the phone for a couple seconds and then drops it on the table.
 
Her hands are shaking like mad.

I pick up the phone with one hand and take her shoulder with the other.
 
“You okay?” I ask.

“Yeah,” she whispers, staring at the table.
 
“Just panicked. I’m sorry.”
 
She finally looks up at me, her eyes as big as saucers.
 
“Holy freak-out.
 
Did I just hang up on her?”

I laugh.
 
“Yes.
 
But we can call her back.
 
Do you want me to do it?”

Charity nods.
 
“Would you please?
 
I can’t. I just can’t.
 
I’m about to bust out with some pre-eclampsia or something.”

I arrow down to the last number called and press the green button.
 
Charity does not lean forward to hear the call. Instead, she stares down at her belly as her arms rest on the tabletop.

“Gentry residence, Barbara speaking.”

“Hello, Barbara.
 
Are you the Barbara who wears the blue headband when she grocery shops?”
 
I feel like a spy, talking in code.
 
Luckily, Barbara doesn’t hang up on me for being a total weirdo.

“Yes.”
 
Her voice is very soft.
 
I can barely hear it.
 
“Is this the beautiful girl I met that one day in the baby food aisle?”

“Maaaybe …”
 
I don’t consider myself beautiful, but Charity certainly is.
 
I don’t want there to be any confusion.
 
I’m trying to think of a delicate way to ask which girl she’s talking about, but Barbara beats me to the punch.

“I met two girls there.
 
I left a note for the second one. The one interested in … adoption.”

I grin like crazy.
 
“Yeah, that’s my friend.
 
She just tried to call you herself, but she kind of froze up.”

“I thought that might be the case.”
 
Barbara’s voice is back to normal now, although she still sounds a little nervous.
 
“Thank you for calling back.”

“I just want to help if I can.”

An awkward silence ensues.
 
Charity stares at me, her fear palpable.
 
I reach over and pat her shoulder, trying to ease her mind.

“Would she like to meet?” Barbara asks.

“That’s a great idea.
 
At your house,” I say.

“Oh … are you sure?
 
Wouldn’t you rather … meet somewhere else?”

I shake my head, doing my best to channel Quin’s extraordinary powers of bossiness.
 
“Nope. Your house would be fine.”
 
I’m being pushy, but I don’t care.
 
Charity’s baby is almost at her knees, her belly is hanging so low.
 
She could have this puppy any minute.
 
Time’s a-wastin’.

“Oh … okay … um … you could come here, I suppose.
 
When?”

“How about right now?”
 
I’m getting excited.
 
My heart is racing and my mouth is going dry.
 
I feel like I’m challenging her, testing her.
 
I pray silently that she meets the challenge.

“My husband isn’t home, but I guess we could meet with him another time.”
 
She pauses.
 
“Okay, she could come over now. Or you both could.
 
But … I mean … maybe we should discuss some … things, first.”

“Things?
 
Like what things?”
 
She’s obviously uncomfortable about something, but I have no idea what it is, other than maybe two strange girls with big giant bellies wanting to come to her house.

“I hate to bring this up, but I just want to be sure that we’re all of the same understanding.”

“Sure.
 
Go ahead. Say whatever you want.”

“Okay.
 
I just wanted to say that I … want to
adopt
a baby, not purchase a baby.”

“What?”
 
I don’t get what she’s saying at first, but then it hits me.
 
“Are you talking about …”

She jumps to explain.
 
“I don’t mean to insult anyone!
 
I just … I’ve read horror stories.
 
My friends are always warning me.
 
I just … I’ve been looking for a long time and I’ve had some bad things happen.
 
My husband has put his foot down and told me to stop looking.
 
I guess I’m just afraid to hope anymore.”
 
She begins to cry softly and it melts my heart on the spot.

“Don’t worry.
 
We’re not scammers.
 
I can vouch for Charity, and even though you don’t know me, I’m still going to say you can trust me.
 
Give me your address and you can find out for yourself.”

I hang up the phone a minute later, the address written on the note that Charity took from the grocery store.

“You ready to go do this?” I ask, getting to my feet.

“I guess I better be,” she says, breathless but looking hopeful.

“Come on,” I say, grabbing my purse off the back of the chair. “Let’s go do this before we lose our nerve.”

Charity stands and puts her hand on my arm.
 
“No.
 
I’ll go. Alone.”

“Alone?”
 
I frown at her, confused.
 
“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“You’re not going to go, are you?”
 
My shoulders sag.
 
I’m so disappointed, I can’t keep it out of my voice.
 
And here I thought I’d done so well.
 
Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed so much.
 
Damn you, Quin!
 
Get out of my brain!

“No, I am, I promise.”
 
She’s chipper and her tone makes me believe she’s telling me the truth.
 
“I wouldn’t do that, just not show up like that for something so important.
 
I just … I don’t want to go there and overwhelm her.
 
I mean, you and I make quite the intimidating picture, you know? She kind of spooked-out at the grocery store.
 
Maybe she’s better just one-on-one.”

I nod.
 
“Okay, if that’s what you want to do.”
 
I put my purse back.
 
“Will you call me when it’s over?”

“Of course.”
 
She leans in and hugs me.
 
“Thank you so much.
 
You’re a true friend.”

I pat her back and then pull away.
 
“Just call me if you change your mind or need anything else.”

“I will.”
 
She squeezes my arm gently and then leaves.
 
I walk behind her and lock the door when she’s gone.

Then I remember something really important and throw the door open.
 
“Charity!” I yell.

She turns around as she’s walking behind her car.
 
“Yeah?”

“Find out why she’s buying baby food when she doesn’t have a baby!”

“Uhh … okay!”

I wave and then go back into the house, shutting the door and locking it.

Standing in the hallway, I look down the corridor and then at the stairs, mulling over my next move.
 
I can either clean up my mess in the kitchen or take a nap.

Just picturing my bed in my mind, I suddenly realize how exhausted I am, and choose the stairs.
 
I can clean up later. Now I’m just going to celebrate the fact that I have both Colin’s and Charity’s lives on track, simply by making a few phone calls and listening to my conscience.
 
For the first time in a long time, I feel like things are getting back to they way they should be.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I’M IN A WEIRD, HALF-asleep almost drugged-out state when I hear the doorbell ring again.
 
I crack one eye open and see that the sun is still up, but it’s lower in the sky now.
 
I have no idea what time it is, but it must be getting close to dinner.
 
Maybe.
 
I sit up and rub my face a little to wake myself up so I can figure out what’s going on.

The doorbell rings again.

Getting out of bed is an effort.
 
I’m dizzy from moving too fast, and I have to hold onto the doorframe for a few seconds before heading down the stairs.

The doorbell rings again.

“I’m coming!” I yell.
 
And then I mutter, “Jeepers, keep your pants on.” If it’s Teagan or Quin I’m going to give them a piece of my mind.
 
I’m pregnant; I need my sleep.