Chapter 9: Uncertain and under cover
Cedric was bored. When he still had Irma working for him, she had added a personal touch to the bookstore. But now...well, the store seemed oddly silent and empty. Of course, Elyon still came by and that made life much more bearable. Cedric squinted at the tiny print on the spine of a book and shoved it onto a shelf.
Elyon rushed up to him, smiling. "Hi!" She called eagerly. "You'll never believe what I heard."
Cedric paused and looked at her. "What did you hear, Elyon?" He asked mildly. His arms ached from the load of books, and he shifted his weight unconciously to avoid dropping the load of books on Elyon.
"You know that missing girl, Irma Lair? Well, some of her friends were talking and they said that Irma went back to her abusive boyfriend and now she's pregnant. And she contacted her parents and said that she was happy and for them to quit bugging her and stuff. So now everyone is talking about it!" Elyon gushed eagerly. "Have you ever seen her in here?"
Cedric frowned slightly. Hm. Tough question. Well, I see her every day, her 'abusive' boyfriend isn't really abusive and is crazy about her and she's fine. He thought. "I...think she might have come in here a few times, Elyon." Cedric said thoughtfully. "Why do you ask?"
"We hung out with the same crowd, so I sort of miss her. I wish I could see her again." Elyon sighed and pulled a book off the shelf, then put it back.
You just might get your wish, little princess. Cedric smiled to himself. "Oh, I'm sure you'll meet again someday." He soothed her quietly.
Irma watched her belly. Although she was only in her second or, at a stretch, third month, already she could see a tiny bulge in her belly. An odd warmth had recently began to fill her stomach, and sometimes she thought that she could hear a small, delicate heartbeat. She smiled and pulled her silk blouse over her belly again, down to the waist line of her skirt. Sure enough, the bulge strained the fabric.
She smiled and ran a finger over her belly. "You're just taking up all my room and energy, huh, little one?" She asked softly. "Well, I don't mind. You're worth it."
"Who's worth what?" Phobos asked as he walked in.
"Hi! The baby's worth all my energy--that's what I told it." Irma said cheerfully. "I think I'm showing already, see?"
Phobos didn't look at her. "Uh-huh, that's good. Honey, I think I might have to leave and head back to the palace for a day or so." He said absentmindedly.
"But...why? I thought we would stay in the bunker until the baby is born." Irma objected.
Phobos sighed. "Irma, I just left some papers and books behind. It's nothing to worry over. Now, you finish unpacking and then see if you can't find something to do for the rest of the day--maybe knitting?" He said briskly. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "See you soon!"
"Bye." Irma said in a dead voice. Her eyes filled with tears, and with blurred vision, she opened a book of names. "Uh, Philo means love..." She stammered. Then she burst into tears and rested her head on her arms. "Oh, little baby. I don't think Daddy wants us anymore." She whispered, and with a grimace of pain, she began sobbing again.
