News Ch. 2

What was his name? I stared back at the handsome face so content as he stared back. His brown eyes soft at first glance but something else caught your attention. Mischievousness. He seemed to be luring you to him, seducing you. He seemed to enjoy every minute of it. Why couldn't I think of his name?

I looked at him again more closely. His jaw line, his mouth. The dark blondish hair long enough to frame that perfectly sculpted face. The carefully chiseled muscles of his chest and stomach, left open and uncovered by the thin, white, long-sleeved, button-up shirt. The skin, soft and tanned. Balthazar. I frowned at the sudden spark in my head like a whisper. Like a caress. My eyes widened in realization. That was his name, Balthazar.

He smiled as if he realized, as if he could tell what I was thinking.

"You remember." He made it a purr. His voice surrounding me like velvet wrapping around my body.

He slowly made his way to me. Gracefully, like a cat stalking its prey.

"He won't help you. Not now. Not when you've already decided. It won't matter if the child is human or not. He will kill you both…….

I awoke with a gasp. Beads of sweat glistened on my forehead and chest.

"I've got to find this Constantine." I whispered. Not only was I seeing the father of my child in my dreams but now he was telling me someone was going to kill me and my baby whether it was human or not. I furrowed my brows at that. Human or not? What the hell does that mean? I decided I didn't want to know. I was beginning to worry myself. I was taking these dreams to close to heart. But then what if they weren't just dreams?

I shook my head. I was being paranoid…too paranoid. Getting up off the couch I started to walk to the kitchen when nausea hit me like a bat hitting a softball. I covered my mouth half way and walked as fast as I was willing to, to the bathroom without vomiting all over the floor.

I flushed the toilet and got a rag from the towel stand next to the sink. Turning the water on to a suitable temperature I wet the rag and wiped my mouth and set it on the side of the sink after rinsing it out. I hated this part of the pregnancy, throwing up all the time. I hated being sick and throwing up. Now I was throwing up and I wasn't even sick.

I looked at the clock . 10:30. I needed to get ready for lunch with my mother. I went to my bedroom and grabbed a loose fitting, blue, cotton sweater and a pair of blue jeans from my closet and laid them out on the bed.

After a quick shower and getting dressed I let my hair dry naturally since it was curly and blow drying it would make it a mess. I put on my light blue jean jacket and went back to the kitchen. I grabbed my keys and purse and headed for the door but stopped, hand on the doorknob. I turned and looked and the phone book lying on the edge of the table. Well, might as well. I'll never do it if I keep postponing it till the last minute. I got the book and flipped through it until I found the number and address for John Constantine. Tearing it out, I folded it and put it in my pocket before heading out the door.

The restaurant mom wanted to eat at was called Sweat Memories Sandwich Shop. Good for just eating good and light without having to go to a gas station. I pulled on to the curb and mom and her friend was there at the door waiting for me.

"Hello sweetie, this is Margaret Sullow," She turned to Margaret," and this is my daughter, Margaret. Karen." She finished as I got up to them. We (Margaret and I) smiled at each other and mumbled our hi's.

"well shall we go eat." My mother said excitedly and we smiled and went in.

The tables were small but could still fit at least four people. The dark wood and burgundy flowers on the cream walls clashed together nicely. You felt like you were in some little old ladies house about to eat cookies and share old stories from the past.

We ordered our food (sandwiches) and drinks and casually talked girl talk. Margaret talked about her kids and grandkids, showing off pictures as she did. Then she started asking me about what I did for a living, how I liked it here, and so on. She didn't seem to like that I said I owned a little art store and that I would rather live back in Jersey were I grew up, but she didn't say anything. She excused herself to go to the bathroom after a while and I took that opportunity. I sure didn't want to tell my mother I was pregnant when Margaret was there to hear and judge.

"Ma I'd like to talk to you now while we're alone." I gave a deep sigh, "Now don't make a scene. I know I make mistakes, and I have to take responsibility for them so there's no need for you to over react."

"What did you do? What happened?" She gave me a look as if saying "Oh god! I hope this isn't to horrible. I knew something bad was going to happen. She was always the rebellious one. I almost shra back. Unable to tell her but I knew I couldn't keep this a secret for long. I took a deep breath a leaned in close on the table. My forearms resting on the table.

"Mom……I… I'm pregnant." I braced myself for the look of hatred she was about to give me that was like a slap across the face. Who knew, it might even be worse than a slap.

Her face was calm, no expression upon it. Then with a voice matching her expressionless face she said.

"Do you know who the father is? Have you been dating him?" I shook my head, bowing it down so that I looked at the white table cloth. I heard a sigh and couldn't bring myself to look up.

"How did you two meet? Was it just…..," she sighed again. " Do you at least know his name?"

"Balthazar," I whispered.

"Balthazar? What kind of name is that? Does he do drugs? Is he in the mob, karen? Do you know anything about this Balthazar?" Her voice was increasing in volume. I finally looked up at her.

"No, Ma. Nothing like that. Look, he's a good guy. He helped me with some things for my apartment and we got to talking and one thing lead to another. I screwed up I know that."

"When did you find out?" she asked cutting me off.

"Just yesterday."

"Are you going to tell him?"

I sighed, "The doctor said I should so that's what I'm going to do. Besides, I think Balthazar would want to know. He would want to be apart of this babies life."

"So, I suppose that means you've decided to keep it"

I glared at that, "It's not an it, mother. This is a human being. More importantly, My baby and nothing you say will change my mind."

She looked down shaking her head slightly.

"I've gotta go. We'll continue this later, right now I don't have the time or energy to argue with you." I got up from the table, putting my jacket on and grabbing my purse. Margaret was just getting back to the table when I headed for the door. She called out, "Oh it was nice meeting you!" I didn't bother answering back, or waving. I just wanted to find this Constantine guy and get what I needed to know and go home.

A,N sorry it's taken so long for me to update but I hope you stick with the story. Keep reviewing.