Chapter Ten
Bella
The next morning I felt even worse, so tired I could hardly drag myself out of bed. My sleep had been disturbed over and over and as a result, I felt suddenly alone and very vulnerable and started to cry in the shower for no particular reason. My hormones were all over the place which I knew was normal in pregnancy. It was a relief to see that something was going according to the book.
Knowing I should get something to eat but unable to force myself to leave my room I tucked into the snacks I had bought the day before and popping a can of Mountain Dew I sat on the bed staring at the road Atlas and trying hard to gather my thoughts. What had drawn me here? What was it that was still drawing me on? I'd read about pregnant women having strange fancies but one that was pulling me across the continent? That seemed a little excessive even for a vampire pregnancy.
Well, I'd gotten almost as far as I could, I needed to find a base before I was too tired to even continue looking. I needed a steady quantity of blood better than my own devices could supply and no idea who to ask for help.
With a heavy sigh, I rested a hand on my swollen belly,
"You know something baby of mine, you are going to force me into doing something I really don't want to do but for you…..I'll make the sacrifice."
I picked up my cell phone and scrolled through the contacts until I reached Edward's name then with a trembling finger I hit dial. As the dial tone changed to a ringtone I found myself oddly relieved. What I would have done if his number had been disconnected I didn't know, I hadn't thought that far ahead.
It rang sure, but then went to voicemail and I felt a wrench as I heard the oh so familiar voice ask me to leave a message. Thinking fast I gabbled out a message sure that I would sound crazy to my ex-boyfriend.
"Edward, I'm so sorry to be contacting you like this but I don't know anyone else and I really need some help. Please ring me as soon as you get this message, I'm desperate."
I waited, wondering how long it would be before I heard back from him and where he was right now. If he had found a new girlfriend he might ignore my message altogether or he could be abroad, too far away to be of any real help. Maybe he would just delete my message, after all, I had been the one to break up with him. I was getting myself all wound up and stopped, taking a few deep breaths to steady myself, All I could do was hope he was close enough to be of help and to pray he would take pity on me.
I was still hungry and if I were going to stay here another night then I needed to call in at the office and pay for it so I dressed and forced myself out the door squinting in the bright light as the sun glistened off the freshly fallen snow. I hadn't even registered that it had been snowing and still was although not heavily. This would complicate things, instead of staying put I would have to move soon or risk getting snowed in. I couldn't have my baby here, it was far too dangerous.
I grabbed a hot meal then went to the nearby store and stocked up on supplies, anything I thought I might need for the next few days, much to the cashier's amusement, and headed back to the motel. I had bought candles, matches, canned goods, fruit juice, powdered milk and fresh meat which I knew wouldn't last long but might feed my little traveller for now at least.
Making sure the gas tank was full I set off once more glancing at my cell phone every few minutes as if willing it to ring. The snow began to fall more heavily, I could see that the road I was driving would be cut off if it continued and I couldn't afford to be stranded out here in the middle of nowhere.
Finally, I saw a sign for a town Kinikinik, 10 miles ahead, and sighed with relief, at least I wasn't going to be stuck out here in a blizzard heavily pregnant and all alone. I was just pulling into yet another motel parking lot when my phone rang and I grabbed it up, praying it wouldn't be Charlie as I answered.
"Bella? It's me, Edward, What's wrong? I was surprised to get your message but worried too, you sound upset."
"Edward? Thank God. I really need your help, I can't explain over the phone but can you meet me?"
I couldn't break the news to him over the phone, not that I was worried he would cut me off, but because I felt he deserved to hear the news face to face.
"Of course, I told you if I could ever help you I would. I can be in Forks in a few days."
"A few days! Oh, I'm not in Forks, I'm in a place called Kinikinik, in Colorado."
"Colorado? What are you doing in Colorado? "
He sounded very puzzled.
I was crying now, partly in relief, partly in shame, and partly from sheer exhaustion.
"Don't cry Bella. I'll get to you as soon as I can, Where are you staying?"
"I don't know, I'm looking for somewhere to stay Edward, somewhere quiet where I can hide."
"Hide? OK, let me think. I went to Colorado with Carlisle years ago. He has a hunting lodge in the mountains but if the weather closes in…."
"Edward please."
"OK, get yourself a motel room and I'll find you, I'll try to be there by morning."
"Edward, is Carlisle there?"
"No, the family are on Isle Esme. In fact you only just caught me, I was due to join them in a few days and we don't bother to take our cell phones, the signal there is so weak it's almost non-existant Why? Are you hurt?"
"No, never mind, please get here as quickly as you can Edward."
"I'm on my way love, just hold on."
Even though I knew I would have a lot of explaining to do I was relieved beyond measure to know I wouldn't be alone for much longer. Having Carlisle here would have been even more wonderful but maybe once Edward understood what was happening he would have some suggestions to make. He might even know a friend of Carlisle's who could give us some help.
With a feeling of relief that I would be no longer alone, I rented a room at the motel and ran myself a deep bath slipping in and relaxing in the warm water wondering suddenly why I hadn't asked Edward to give me Jasper's number.
Perhaps I was concerned that he wouldn't want to know or I would be too scared to admit what a fool I had been that night. I had wanted him as much as he did me but I should have been responsible enough to understand what a risk I was taking. He had every right to expect I would be protecting myself and neither of us had any idea that human vampire sex could produce a pregnancy. No, truth was, I was scared of being rejected by the man I had fallen in love with and would always love even if I never saw him again.