Live it Up –Brantley Gilbert
It has been six months since I've seen Jasper and my life has or will changed dramatically in the next three to four months. I rested my hand on my stomach that was much smaller than most would expect it to be at this stage especially with me being so small.
I had tried to tell Jasper about three weeks after I found out and that had been about three months ago. I had e-mailed him telling him that I needed to talk to him and soon because he was going to become a father. I never got a reply from him so I didn't e-mail him back after that point I didn't have the courage to do it.
"Miss your stop." The cab driver said.
"Thanks." I said handing him his tip and payment for the ride.
I slipped out of the car and headed to the reception desk. I had a doctor's appointment every week now because I was so small and considered high risk.
"Isabella Swan." A nurse called ten minutes later.
I stood up as fast as I cold but also carefully. The nurse grabbed my hand when she notice that I was going to fall backward.
"Sorry." I say to her.
"That's okay. We like our mothers to be okay so preventing them falling to the floor is a good thing." She replies. "You will be seeing Dr. Cullen today."
"That's not my doctor." I say.
"Yes that is true but your doctor had another patient go into labor early and Dr. Cullen was visiting since his wife might be getting a Job here in the city and offered to help out."
"Oh." I said.
"Do you want me to re schedule your appointment for tomorrow?" the nurse asked.
"No I'll do it today. Was it Marie that went into labor?"
"No she's fine but she's at home on bed rest."
"That must annoy her. She always liked be up and about doing things." I said.
"Okay well Bella you will be in here and you know the drill."
I did as I was told to do every doctor's appointment and then sat on the exam table and waited for Dr. Cullen to show up. I only had to wait about five minutes.
"Sorry to make you wait Miss. Swan. New office to get use to. Your chart says you are roughly six months."
"As of last week." I replied.
After I replied to him we went through the normal pregnancy check up for someone like me. He took blood so it could be tested.
"Are you ready to see your baby?" he asked.
I nodded my head.
I felt the cold goop used for the ultrasound drop on to my stomach. It wasn't long until I felt the wand rubbing across my stomach. It took a few minutes before he found a clear view of the baby.
"I guess your child doesn't want you to know what it is."
"It's been that way since the very first one where you could tell what the sex was." I said.
"Do you want any pictures printed off?" Dr. Cullen asked.
"Four." I replied. "And they don't have to be the same unless they show the sex of the baby then I don't want anyone but me to get those." I added.
"I'll print them off and let you get dressed."
He did just that and left the room after he handed me the four pictures. I asked for four because I wanted one for me, Jasper, my dad and his mom –if I ever got to meet her.
"You next appointment same time next week?" the nurse asked.
"Yes but after that I will be in Texas."
"Why you going to Texas?" she asked.
"Inspiration for a new book." I said.
"New book shouldn't you wait until the first one is released."
"I have ideas for one and they won't go away until they are on paper." I said.
"You are not flying are you?" she asked.
"No I'm too high risk to fly. I'm driving and I all ready have the hospitals on my route mapped out just in case something goes wrong" I said "Or this one decides to come early."
I then walked out and hailed another cab which took me back to the motel where I had been staying until I could find a place but that all changed when I changed my mind about living here and decided to go to Texas.
I didn't want to go to Texas because of Jasper but because I wanted to research the civil war and how it affected Texas. I had a whole bunch of other idea's that I already researched but the civil war in Texas wasn't one that I couldn't do from home on my computer like I did the rest of them.
My phone rang as I was packing up the bathroom so I had to run to answer it.
"Bella here." I practically yelled into the phone.
"Dang Bells I know I may be old but you don't have to yell." Charlie said.
"Sorry but I had to run to get the phone." I told him.
"I just wanted to ask when you are coming to visit again."
"Dad I'm too busy to come home. Just because my book is going to be printed and put on shelves doesn't mean I have a lot of money. I still have to work." I lied.
"I just wanted to tell you that Sue and I are getting married."
"That's great dad." I tell him. "When is the wedding?"
"Next month." He said. "Can you make it?"
"Yes Dad I can make it. Just e-mail me the date because I will be traveling at the time and I don't want to miss it."
"It's the eighteenth." Charlie said.
"A week before Christmas?" I asked.
"Yes she wanted to get married in December and do something different from what she and Harry did." Charlie said.
"That sounds great." I said. "I'll see you on the eighteenth well before that but you know what I mean."
"I know it will be great to see you again. Would you stay through Christmas?"
"I guess I can. You will be getting a surprise around that time too." I said. I just didn't have the nerve or courage to tell him I was pregnant from a one night stand six month ago. "It will be a good one too."
"What is it?" he asks.
"I can't tell you it would ruin the surprise."
"All right but it better be good." He said before hanging up.
I don't know about good but it will be a good shock to him all right; I thought as I went back to packing up my toiletries. I took that bag and put it in my car before going back to get my suit case. After my car was packed I went to check out and give the key back.
I walked back out to my car and slipped into the front seat. I took a deep breath and started the car and headed for Texas.
I spent the week traveling to Texas. Driving as far as I could each day before I got too tired to see straight and that was after about twelve hours of driving. I was finally at the point in my drive where I could start researching my next novel. I had stopped at a gestation to ask them where the nearest library was.
I knew that their path of looking went from my face to my boobs (if they were a guy or swung that way) to my stomach –which caused their eyes to bulge out- to my ring finger on which I had my high school class ring.
"Excuse me Can you tell me where the library is located?" I asked the attendant.
"It's located on Willow Street about ten blocks south of here. Can I ask why you are going there they don't have much of a selection?" The attendant asked.
"I'm doing research." I replied.
"I would assume someone like you would know everything you needed to know."
"The research has nothing to do with pregnancy." I replied.
"Does the husband know what you are doing?" the woman asked.
"Not completely but it's a surprise for him. He doesn't know much about his family and I looking in to it for him." I lied.
"If you are looking in to the family you should look at the hospital they have all the public records for births unless they were adopted."
"I might take you up on that and thanks for the directions." I add before walking out the door.
I didn't like the looks they gave me because of a 'sin' and the class ring on my finger made it much easier to get by because most assumed that it was an engagement ring. I didn't like lying to people but it was much better than having old women who knew nothing about me yell about how I was damming my child to hell before it was even born and how I was going to hell for brining a child into the world as an unwed mother.
I had cried the last time it happened and didn't even pay for the food I had ordered because I had run out of the restaurant rather fast and sped out of the parking lot as fast as I could once I got my car started.
I shot those tearful thoughts away as I pull up to the small brick building with a large wooden sign that said it was the library. I got out of the car dragging my purse with my note book and pens in with me. I signed in at the front desk and headed for the history section.
I pulled out three books on Texas concerning their part in the Civil war. The first one didn't have much and stated what I had already known about the Civil War. The second one focused more on Texas's involvement in the war. The third one was the best in my opinion because it was based on the views of several confederate soldiers; now if those views were true or not I really wasn't sure but I had more research to do so I could see how truthful they were starting with the books own sources.
I knew that I need the book to have enough fact not to piss people off and if I had to do months of research to do that then I would. I wanted the book to be just as perfect as my last one and I knew it would take a lot of work to get it that way.
I must have worked for hours taking notes from the books because before I was even done the librarian walked up to me and said the library was closing. I told her I would be back the next day. I drove to a cheap motel on the out skirts of town and booked a room for two nights.
I could hear country music coming from the room next door. I didn't know who it was because they were an unknown trying to sound like Jason Aldean and or Eric Church but I could never be sure which one they were trying to be but I wasn't about to go over and ask them who it was. Besides for all I know they could be psycho serial killers on the loose or something less dramatic but still crime filled. I got my answer a few minutes later when I heard moans. I cringed and covered my head as I tried to fall asleep.
I ended up turning on my radio to drown out their noise when I heard the song that reminded me of Jasper. I heard the song for the first time the morning after I was with Jasper. It was the only thing that made me what to go back to the room and see him again. I wouldn't be in the situation I am in now if I had gone back because if I had I might have Jasper here with me.
Two very long weeks later
I had continued my research for two long weeks until it was time for me to head to Forks for Charlie and Sue's wedding. I was excited to see them and Little Annie because I hadn't seen her the last time I was there when she was off at camp. I was also supposed to meet my sister-in-law's little brother but I left before he got to the house and I really didn't feel like getting fixed up with anyone.
I was now about half way there with three more days to go and four days until the wedding. I was starting to panic about getting there on time but I knew it wasn't good for the baby or me. It took me two days of nearly not stop driving I made it just outside Seattle where I knew I needed to sleep or the baby nor I would make it to Charlie's alive let alone safe.
After checking into the hotel room under the gaze of a very judgmental older woman I made the short trek to the McDonalds that share the same parking lot as the hotel. I ordered the same thing I did as the last time I was in Washington. I was walking out of the store when I heard my name called.
"Bella."
I turned around to see Rosalie –my brother's wife- looking at me.
"Hi Rose." I said.
"You have been busy. When did all of that-"she pointed to my stomach "-happen?" she asked.
"About seven months ago." I replied.
"Does your dad or Emmet know?" she asked.
"Not at the moment but Dad will come tomorrow." I tell her.
"Who's the father and is he even involved?"
"I would rather not talk about the father," I said. "at least not out in the open."
"Where are you staying?" she asked.
"The hotel behind me." I say.
"Come on let's go then." She said grabbing my arm and pulling me along behind her toward the hotel.
I shook her hand off my arm when we got to the elevator. I pushed the number to my floor and tapped my foot impatiently when the elevator seemed to take forever. After getting off on my floor I walked to my room and unlocked the door. I stepped aside to let Rosalie in. I walked in and closed the door after she sat down.
"Please tell me how you got to be like this." She said.
"It all started a little over a year and a half ago. I met a guy while waiting for a plane. He told me about how he was going to see his family and I was going to see mine. We exchanged e-mail address but that's about it." I said.
"And how did you get to here?" she asked.
"We met up again about seven months ago because we had stayed at the same hotel. We ate dinner together. He kissed me I kissed back and one thing led to another and I got this little one out of the deal."
"Have you tried telling him?" she asked.
"About three months after I found out I e-mailed him saying that I needed to talk to him because he was going to become a father. I didn't get an answer back. I didn't try again after that; I didn't have the heart to."
"Do you remember his name at all?"
"He said it was Jasper but I don't know if that's true or not and I deleted all of his E-mails in a fit of anger so if he had typed his last name I don't know it either." I told her.
"I have a brother named Jasper he hasn't mentioned anybody in his life but a girl named Maria." Rosalie said. "Otherwise I would think it was him."
"Too bad huh," I said.
"Why?" she ask.
"We would really be family if it was." I told her.
"You have a good point. I don't want to leave now but your brother is probably worrying his little head off about why I am running so late to get home." She said. "If you need anything CALL and let me know."
I knew by her tone that she wasn't giving me a choice. I got up from the bed where I had sat down and showed her out the door.
"Rosalie please don't tell anyone, not even Emmet." I said. "I don't really want people to know yet and Emmet and Charlie both would come down here and wonder who the heck hurt me and left me this way and why I hadn't told them."
"Your secret is safe with me until tomorrow and that's when you will let the cat out of the bag so to speak."
After I made sure she got on the elevator I walked back into my room and sat on the bed. I pulled out my laptop and turned it on long enough to send one more e-mail to Jasper as a last stitch effort to contact him and tell him about the baby. I could only hope that Jasper would get the message and at least e-mail me back but alas I only had hope. I took a shower after I put my laptop up and sat down on the edge of the bed and watched TV. It didn't take long for me to lay back on to the bed and fall asleep on soon after without getting under the bed covers without eating any of my food.
I ate the burger for breakfast the next morning and threw out the soda and the fries both of which had gone bad during the night. I changed into the clothes I had brought it the night before. After changing I quickly checked out of the hotel and headed for my car.
I took a deep breath after I started the car and before I pulled out of my parking space and lot. The drive to Forks seemed to take longer than expected because I had thought it would seem faster because I didn't want to go but then again I wanted to get it done and over with so that could be what's making it seem like it is taking longer.
When I pulled up to the house Rosalie and Emmet were outside playing with Annie. She was the youngest of us all at twelve years old. I could never do to my child what her mother did to her. Leavening her on the door step in the middle of winter was cruel; I mean the town Forks does have a safe haven law in place for things like that.
I could see Rosalie and Emmet watching me as I sat in my car thinking. Rosalie gave me a reassuring smile from behind Emmet who was grinning from ear to ear. Charlie must have told him I was coming. I saw Charlie walk out of the house with Sue behind him.
She stayed on the porch while Charlie walked toward my car. I opened the door and paused before taking a deep breath and slipping out of my seat. I walked to the back of my car to get my suit case and bag out of the back.
"Bella let me help you with that." Charlie said when he got closer.
Sorry for updating late. I got distracted by writing again. I hope you like this chapter. Also I would like to let you know that each chapter -except the next three- represent one year In the story.
~maye~