The story deals with adult, sensitive, and controversial subject matters. Including but not limited to suicide, mental illness, adultery, abortion, the whole nine yards. If you are disturbed by any of these issues, you probably shouldn't read this. Not meant for underage readers. Read at your own peril. And oh, Twilight belongs to SM. The plot is mine.
Where the Streets Have No Name
Chapter 21
Edward didn't quite grasp the significance of her words at first. But after a moment or two it began to settle on him.
Us.
She said "us".
Does that mean...?
He felt confused. He was beginning to come to grips with Carmen's decision over the past week. Just as he was about to accept the inevitable, he was suddenly thrown into the whirlpool again.
Was it relief he felt? Or was it fear?
He didn't know.
He felt it was a terrible injustice to be given this period of lull only to be pushed into the middle of a battlefield.
Carmen was looking at him expectantly, as if she was waiting for him to say something. He couldn't recall her question.
"Huh?" he said stupidly.
"You said... you said that if I kept the baby you'll be there, that you'll help me raise it. Did you mean it?" she restated her question.
"Uh... yah... I mean yes, I meant it. But Carmen, what are you saying? Didn't you... didn't you... I mean, haven't you...? Edward was a jumbled mess of incoherency.
"Look, I know it's late, and I'm sorry for dropping by without calling first, but can I come in? I don't want to have this conversation on your doorstep," Carmen asked.
Edward slapped himself mentally.
"Yes, of course. Please come in." He moved away from the doorway so Carmen could walk past him.
She had been to his place before, but she looked really uncomfortable as she entered the living room.
Guessing the reason behind her discomfort, Edward volunteered, "Riley isn't here. He's at his girlfriend's. No one will eavesdrop, don't worry."
This seemed to ease some of the strain from her face, but she chose to keep standing.
They stood face to face as Edward watched for any sign of change in Carmen. She looked almost the same as she did last week. A little disheveled, a little tired.
Edward realized that Carmen hadn't confirmed anything yet.
"So...?" He let the word trail into a question.
"I couldn't do it," Carmen began hesitantly. "You were right. A job can't compete with this," she said as she placed her hand on her abdomen.
Edward followed the movement of her hand as it came to rest on Carmen's midsection.
The full impact of the realization hit him with the force of a freight train.
He was going to be a father after all.
Thank you Lulabelle98, HeidiJoVT, and Dinx.
A special thanks to Lulabell75 (not to be confused with lulabelle98, my magnificent beta!) for being the 1000th reviewer! Holy smokes! Yay!:) Thank you, sweetheart. You absolutely made my day!