48
The silence was starting to kill me and I was waiting for someone to speak. Ray looked up at me with questioning eyes.
"So you going to have any more children?" he asked. Forrest looked up at him and shook his head after clearing his throat. I rolled my eyes rubbing my stomach slowly.
"Let us just see what happens after this round." I told before feeling a sharp pain in my stomach and I groaned a bit looking down. Now everyone was mildly alarmed. Forrest turned to me and placed his hands on my shoulders.
"What's wrong?" he asked. I felt my stomach pressing downwards and tightening up as if I had cramps. I shook my head.
"Just cramps." I told. He looked me over.
"We should get you home to rest." he said. Mother stood up now after wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"He's right you need to rest a little." she said. I shook my head as Forrest helped me stand.
"It's okay I am fine." I told. Mother shook her head.
"No no. The weather won't be lightening up until late January early February so you need to stay warm and in your home." she advised. I gave in and nodded before taking Forrest's hand and letting him guide me to the door. Everyone followed and I hugged them and said my goodbyes. Father looked at Forrest who glanced back at him.
"When she goes into labor you best let me know. I'll be damned before I miss the birth of any of my grandchildren." he told. Forrest nodded once.
"Yes sir." he said. I kissed my father's cheek and he smiled.
"See you soon honey." he said. I gave mother one last hug and my brothers smiled.
"We will come visit soon." I told them and Ray chuckled.
"You better." he said and I smiled and moved back to the truck with Forrest. We got in and he drove us away and I had a smile on my face as I rubbed my stomach. It was glad that there wasn't too much tension in the kitchen.
"Why did your daddy want to know if we were still doing business?" I heard Forrest ask and I looked at him. He seemed to be deeply lost in thought for his eyes didn't leave the road even to look at me. I was not expecting this question so I didn't have an actual answer. I shrugged.
"I don't know." I replied and looked back at the road and that's when I started thinking to myself.
"You don't think your father is working for Rakes do you?" I heard him ask and just like that I tensed up and slowly looked at him. How could he ever think such things?
"What? Forrest how could you ever think such things? He is my father and is just asking to make sure I am not in any crossfire between your and Rakes-"
"But you ARE in the crossfire, Eula. The second he put his hands on you when you gave him the glass of water, you became in the line of fire." he interrupted and I looked down my stomach clearly in the way of my lap and thoughts of the father of this child moved into my mind again. I hated these thoughts. I hated how I had to doubt myself when trying to believe that Forrest was the father.
"Is that all you are afraid of? Afraid that my father might be working for Rakes which he isn't?" I told watching as his hands tightened around the wheel. I finally looked up at him. "Say it Forrest because you aren't the only one thinking it. You're afraid the child might not be yours." His head whipped at me hard.
"I don't want to raise a child that isn't mine." he said with bitterness in his tone and my eyes widened and I wasn't sure how I should even comprehend his words. "To kill this man and then to see his face in the child that came from your womb…it would kill me. It would bring back painful memories for us both. To think your- our first child doesn't belong to us both would make me hate it forever."
His tone was deep and truthful and I had never heard such things uttered with bitterness and hatred behind it. I looked forward and all was silent in the truck. I looked down not knowing what to do or say. So I said nothing and did nothing. When we arrived at the bar I got out without help and waddled up the stairs. Forrest said nothing as he got out. Oh yes this did complicate things a lot more than it should have.