Beth was walking on pins and needles knowing her time was limited she has organised for their kids to be given to her sister if anything happened to her. Rio popped up almost 3 weeks ago and not a word after like it was her imagination.
Walking in from the grocery store she started feeling dizzy, this pregnancy was rough ok her recently. The doctor had said pushing forty might make her high risk she was 35 for gods sake her oldest was 10 not 27.
Beth pauses and shut her eyes leaning against the mailbox feeling unsteady again when she heard the car pull up, cracking her eyes open to the sound of Rio's voice,
"What's up ma? How you feel'ng?" Beth couldn't find words and shrugged
"Let's go for a ride yeh." Knowing it wasn't much a question but a demand she still tried to put up some defence.
"My ice-cream is melting ca." He cut her off the tick in his jaw appearing when she clenched them
"Elizabeth get in the car." Without hesitation she walked up to the van and climbed in bags forgotten on her front lawn.
The ride was mostly silent except the AC blasting away Beth wondered if this was how he killed her, taking her away to a remote location and shooting her in the head then burying the body nobody ever finding her.
An hour later of pure silence she was at her wits end when they pulled up to a clinic she worked around in her seat to stare at Rio
"A doctor Rio seriously?" She was done with him so done he honestly didn't believe her or so much as spare her a glance as they walked into the building.
Beth went back to silence since that was working out well and she wasn't putting her foot in her mouth now. Looking down at the registration form she saw his full name listed under emergency contact.
"Christopher Garcia," she muttered under her breathe and sighed well at least now her child had a last name right. They listened for her name to be called and entered the office, knowing the routine she hopped on the table and took her shirt off fuck it why not nothing he hasn't seen before.
"That's not necessary Miss. Marks you can just lift your shirt," stated the doctor when she walked in
"I know it's my 5th child but this feels better since your gonna have your gel all over and it's gonna get on my shirt one way or another." The doctor seeming to understand nodded and she laid back
Rio stood to the corner of the room leaned against a wall looking relaxed like he owned the damn place
"This will be cold, but you know that." The Doctor chuckled and applied the gel.
The sound of a heartbeat filled the office space and a picture of a partial baby formed out on the screen. The doctor had to go about higher with the device to get a full picture for some reason this baby was directly under her heart and would not move.
"That's your baby it seems to be a bit higher up than usually directly under your heart and seemingly very comfortable. I would advise near your due date another ultrasound to see if it had turned in the correct position or a C-section might be recommended." While the Doctor explained Beth was looking at Rio as he tensed since hearing the heartbeat.
He wasn't happy he really wanted her to be lying well touch shit she wasn't. While mauling over her thoughts the doctor interrupted
"Your hitting that 6 month mark, baby seems to be a good length weight looks good, would you like to know the sex?"
"No" I decided since Rio wasn't going to answer the questions he hasn't said anything since we left my street.
"Ok your done see you next month." Then the doctor left followed closely by Rio. I wiped the gel off my stomach and put my shirt back on and waited.
The doctor came back in and spoke to me about early patterning test and I felt my eyes sting with tears he didn't even believe that. I shook my head refusing to do the test and left the office and walked out the door.
Sitting in the car the tension was thick, and hour later and no one still said anything. Rio pulled up to my street and for the first time said anything directly to me.
"Take the test." He was squeezing the shit out of the wheel and I felt myself tense waiting, he never said anything else
"No Rio I will not, I told you the baby is yours it's yours for once learn to trust someone!" I was stressed now
"Trust you!" He let out a bitter laugh
"I trusted ya ma you shot me 3 times, not making that mistake again. Plus that kid could be carman's so test ya?"
I tried to not be upset or hurt but I reeled back like I'd been slapped at the mention of Dean, he knew I'd only been with him.
"Fuck you Rio!" I refused to tolerate this
"Then we done ya, don't contact me again Elizabeth ever. Now get out of my car" he looked me dead in the eyes with a emotionless expression and dark eyes
I climbed out of the car as he pulled up to my house and got out of the car he sped away with waiting for me to make it to the sidewalk.
3 hours later
After crying for hours I had no strength left I was drained when my phone rang
"Elizabeth It's Sonya your Cheque cleated the house is yours we are coming down this weekend you can move in at anytime the realtor has the keys," I sighed in relief I was done with this place too many bad memories I was leaving this weekend.
"Thanks Sonya yeah I think we will be moving this weekend thanks again!" Hanging up I got to work packing up my room and that's how the rest of the week went by.
On Friday she was all packed and the movers were gone with everything she and the kids were flying over on Sunday after a weekend with her sister and Ruby camping out in the now empty house. Was nice while it lasted but she was done almost 7 months she needed a fresh start and she intended to get it.
Sunday
At the airport the kids were saying bye to Annie and Dean before boarding. She knew the kids would miss Dean but he had been doing good since the divorce as well as shaking off the responsibilities of parenthood leaving it all up to Beth.
Boarding the plane and as it ascended and she left her old life behind she couldn't help being happy for the fresh start. No drugs, funny money or worse of all Rio she was putting a couple hundred miles between them after all he didn't want her or her child.