I had a dream last night. I was in a church, which is weird because I'm not religious. TJ was in the front pew's. He looked older, maybe twenty-four or twenty-five. It looked like a service was starting and I was walking toward TJ. I turned behind me and saw a young girl trying to keep up. She had long, blonde curly hair with a big green bow in it. She had a bright green dress on and adorable black dress shoes. She had a big smile on her face as she reached out for my hand. I smiled back and took it.
"Lets go, Little one, daddy is saving us a seat," I said.
The little girl giggled and ran up to my side.
"Okay mommy. I love you," She said.
"I love you to Gretchen," I said back.
I woke up in tears and knew what I had to do. If my baby was a girl, I was going to name her after my best friend. It's the least I could do for her. I rolled over and checked my clock, 4:03am. I needed more sleep. Gretchen's service is today.
The cemetery was large, but the group of people was small. It was immediate family and a few friends. TJ and I stood side-by-side next to Gretchen's parents. No one knew what to say. We weren't allowed to have an open casket because the body they found wasn't in the best condition. For the sake of our love, they kept the casket closed.
My chest tightened when the priest began to speak about how when one door closes, another opens, that life doesn't really end, that she's with God and his angels, so on and so on. Gretchen's father said a few words, then her mother and TJ. When it was my turn, I stepped up to the microphone. I held my cards in my shaky hands. I started to say words, reading them off my cards like a computer. I couldn't hear what I was saying, I felt so numb, inside and out. I'm not sure when I had to stop, but the next thing I knew, TJ and my mom were walking me away from the podium. We had a moment of silence before they lowered the casket. I still couldn't believe this happened, and I couldn't believe that none of the guys could make it. Just another fact that nothing was going to be the same.
I sat at home, wandering the web. My house was empty with Dad at work and Mom taking Seb out school shopping. He starts first grade tomorrow. I've had a few appointments with my OBGYN and they say everything's fine. My next appointment is in two weeks for the baby gender.
I sigh and exited out of Chrome, showing my wallpaper on my laptop of the six of us in middle school. I stare at the picture for a good ten minutes when something snapped me out of it. A noise outside. I close the computer and stand up. I waddle to the kitchen, to the back door where the noise came from.
It's a robber, Spin, it's a robber. Get upstairs to Dad's room and grab the gun.
Who would rob a house in broad daylight?
But it's the only rational explanation!
My nerve's were getting the best of me. Instead of going upstairs, I grabbed a kitchen knife and slowly walked to the door. I grabbed the handle and slowly turned. I quickly opened the door and was ready to stab what ever it was that was creeping around my house. The neighbors cat leaped about four feet in the air and scampered off. I exhaled deeply and put the knife on the counter.
"That was a bit excessive," A voice said around the corner.
I grabbed the knife and aimed it at the voice. It was a very tall young man with ear-length, bright orange hair and freckles sprinkled his nose. He wore a leather jacket over a lime green t-shirt. I eyed him suspiciously.
"What are you doing back here?" I asked. I met his gaze. He had very light green eyes and a mischievous grin.
He leaned on the side of the house and folded his arms.
"I moved in next door," he pointed to the light blue house next to mine, separated by a crummy wooden fence. "Thought I would stop by and meet the neighbors, though I wasn't expecting a greeting like this," he nodded at the knife I still held out to his chest.
I lowered the knife but didn't put it down. Something about this guy I didn't trust.
"Welcome to the neighborhood," I said.
Out of nowhere, the baby kicked my gut. I winced in some pain and braced myself on the side of the door.
"Are you okay?" He asked, straightening up. I held my hand up.
"I'm fine, it just kicked my stomach pretty hard." I said, looking back up at him. He gave me a confused look.
"Are you pregnant?"
"No, I got kicked by a ghost that haunts my house. Of course I'm pregnant. I'm normally a tiny person, but now I've doubled..." I look down at my belly. I hope they're happy in there.
"Sorry. Well, I should go meet the other neighbors." He turned to go and looked back at me, "Nice meeting you..."
"Spinelli," I said.
"Spinelli. I'm Nick Riley." He waved and jumped off my steps and headed down the street.
Nick Riley. Huh. I better keep an eye on that one with his untrusting freckles.
I chuckled at myself and walked back to the living room. The baby was very active for some reason, kicking this way and that. I cannot wait to get this pregnancy done and over with.