Chapter 25

Choices

Falling back into life with Jason had been easier than Kelsi thought. She knew what he had done to her in the past was wrong but he was sorry and he'd promised her he wouldn't do it again. She had told him they were expecting twins which seemed to have put him in a better mood than she had seen him for a long time. With his Mom away in Long Island, it was just her and him at his Mom's. She wanted had so wanted to call her friends, to let them know she was okay and to see them but Jason had advised her against it. "They turned you against me" he reminded her, as she picked up the phone to call Taylor. "Don't waste my money or your breath on them". He pulled the phone from her hands, placing it back on the counter. It was almost laughable to Kelsi that Jason was talking about 'his money'! He had lost his job and he was making no effort to find a new one.

"Let's watch a movie" he beckoned, taking her hand and leading her to the couch where he sat down next to her.

"Jason. I need to go to the mall" she said, standing up, hoping he would let her go.

"Right now?"

"I was planning on it" she muttered quietly.

"Can't you go tomorrow? I rented this for us to watch especially". There was something in the way he spoke which made her feel obliged to agree with him.

"Please baby. For me?" he asked, seeing the doubtful look on her face.

"I guess so" she sighed, sitting heavily down next to him.

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"Would you like to know the sex of the baby?" The Sonographer asked Gabriella. Her, Troy and Bella were witnessing the first scan of the baby. Bella, who was sitting excitedly on Troy's lap was staring between the screen and her Mom in fascination.

"What's sex?" she asked innocently.

"It means whether the baby is a boy or a girl honey" The Sonographer answered. Gabriella and Troy smiled gratefully back at her. "Shall we wait?" Gabriella asked her eyes wide as they met Troy's. They had discussed it many times over the past week but could not make up their minds as to whether they wanted it to be a surprise or not.

"you can tell if the baby is a boy or girl from that picture?" Bella asked, scrunching up her face as she scrutinized the screen.

"Uhuh" the sonographer smiled, looking expectantly at Troy and Gabriella. "Well?" she beamed. "Bella?" Gabby asked. "Shall we find out?". Bella nodded excitedly at her Mother. Gabriella squeezed Troy's hand.

"Ok… let's just click that.." the sonographer muttered to herself as she pressed buttons on her machine. "Ok good" she spoke, turning to them. "Congratulations Mr and Mrs Bolton. You're having a boy". "A boy? Does that mean I'm having a baby brother?" Bella asked, looking at her parents. Tears were in the eyes of both her parents. Troy wiped his away but Gabriella was unable to stop hers from falling.

"Why are you sad mommy?" Bella asked, a worried look on her face. "Don't you want a boy?"

"No baby. These are happy tears" Gabriella laughed slightly, sniffing as she wiped them away. "I'm happy you're going to have a baby brother".

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"Thank-you" Troy said, as a little while later they left the room, Bella proudly carrying the pictures of her baby brother in her hand.

"Can I tell Grandma and Grandma?" She asked, skipping along the sidewalk to their car. "And I want to tell Mamar too" she said, referring to Gabriella's Mom.

"As soon as we get home, you can call them" Troy beamed, helping her into her seat.

As they drove home, Bella sang excitedly to herself while Troy and Gabriella discussed possible name choices. Today had been a good day for the Bolton family, and right now, they were all floating on cloud nine.

A/N

In this chapter I wanted to show a contrast between a happy family life and a not so happy one. Hope it came across okay, these things always seem better in my head!!

Please R and R

Love and hugs as always,

Hutton 207

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