*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.
JOHN: ONE MONTH LATER.
It has been over a month since I've seen Angelina. I have been really busy and haven't had time to visit with her. I feel awful about it. I need to make time to visit her but between work and taking care of Ashley during her pregnancy I haven't had the time. Of course Natalie is busy planning her wedding to Max. I do not like that guy at all and Angelina tells me stories about him all the time. He's just not a guy that should be marrying Natalie. She deserves so much better. Angelina also told me that there is more about Natalie but she can't tell me. That makes me nervous. I wish she would tell me especially if Max has hurt her again. Even though Angelina and I have not seen each other we talk on the phone every day.
"JOHN!" yells Ashley from the living room as I stand here washing the dishes.
I put the bowl I am washing in the sink and walk to the living room. "Yes, Ashley?" I ask.
"Could you get me something to eat? I would really enjoy some lo mein noodles and tuna. Can you please get that for me?" she asks.
"Now?" I ask. "I am in the middle of doing the dishes."
"Yes now. The baby wants it," she says with a smile. "Please, Baby?"
"Fine," I say rolling my eyes and walk into the kitchen to make her something to eat. She has been absolutely ridiculous the last month. She has me waiting on her hand and foot when I am home. I think she's acting like a princess because she's pregnant. She's taking this way too far. I still haven't seen anything but a positive pregnancy test. I haven't seen an ultrasound picture and I haven't been to the doctor with her either. I don't know something isn't right. I make her what she wants and then take it to the living room for her. "Here you go, Honey," I say. I am less than thrilled.
"Thank-you," she says, "and the baby will be very happy."
"Good," I say. "Ash."
"Yes, John?" she asks me.
"Do you have an ultrasound picture to show me?" I ask.
She stays silent for a moment before she says, "No, John, I don't. I didn't get any pictures at the ultrasound. I'm sorry. At my next appointment I can get you one."
"And why haven't you taken me to any appointments with you?" I ask.
"I didn't think you would want to."
"It is my child," I say, "why wouldn't I want to be there?"
"Because you're not excited for this baby at all," she says.
"Is there a baby?" I ask.
"Of course," she says but I can see the guilt on her face. She can lie but she can't do it well. The guilt is always there. "What would make you think there wasn't a baby?"
"Because I have yet to see any proof of this baby you claim to be pregnant with."
"And what about the positive pregnancy test I showed you?"
"That could have been anyone's," I say.
"Why do you doubt me, John?"
"Because things aren't adding up," I say. "I hate doubting you but things just aren't adding up."
"What's not adding up?" she asks.
"Your due date for one. When are you even due?" I ask. It occurred to me a couple weeks ago she didn't tell me her due date.
"That's easy. I am due in January."
"January what?" I ask.
"January 30th," she says.
"Okay," I say.
"John, it hurts me that you doubt me," she says.
"I wouldn't have to doubt if you weren't so secretive about it," I say.
"I'm not being secretive and I think you're just trying to escape this."
"No. I just find it hard to believe that after all the precautions we took you ended up pregnant so either the baby isn't mine or you're not pregnant," I say.
"John, that hurts," she says.
"What hurts is that you're possibly trying to trap me with a baby that isn't mine OR a baby that doesn't exist so which is it?"
"John, that's ridiculous," she says.
"Then you wouldn't mind me calling your doctor to get some information then will you?"
"You don't have to do that," she says.
"I do," I say. "So what's the doctor's name?"
"John," she says.
"Ashley," I say. "The doctor?"
"Why do you need to call the doctor?"
"Because I need to know if you're pregnant or not," I say. "If you're faking it what are you going to do after 9 months? How are you going to be pregnant? "
"Fine," she says. "You win."
"What do I win?" I ask.
"You know, John. Don't make me say it."
"Make you say what?" I ask.
"You know, John."
"If I knew I wouldn't have asked. So what don't you want to say? The truth?"
"You're such an ass," she says. I find it funny that I am the ass when she's the one lying about a pregnancy. "I'm not pregnant," she says. "There are you happy?"
"Why would I be happy that you lied to me about being pregnant? How long were you going to let this go on?"
"I don't know," she says. "I really don't know."
"How were you going to start showing when there was no baby? Use a sugar sack?"
"That's a good idea," she says, "I never thought of that. I was just going to get a pillow or something."
"Because I wouldn't have been able to see through a soft pillow. Do you think I'm stupid, Ashley?"
"No," she says.
"Then why did you lie to me?"
"Because I didn't want to lose you," she says.
"You didn't want to lose me? But you lied to me?"
"I'm sorry," she says.
"Sorry doesn't make up for the fact you're crazy. What were you going to do after 9 months? I would have expected the baby."
"I don't know. I didn't think that far ahead."
"You should think things out before you decide to lie like a pregnancy. You are vindictive. You were trying to trap me."
"You're right. I was trying to trap you," she says. "I will not let Natalie have you."
"What good does it do now? She's getting married because she thinks that I am with you."
"But you are," she says.
"Do you think I'm going to stay with you after this? You need help, Ashley. We're done. I want a divorce."
"John, no please don't," she says dropping her food on the floor. "Please no. Don't leave me."
"I'm sorry, Ashley. You're not right in the head."
"I'm sorry, John," she says as she begins to cry hysterically. "Please don't leave me!"
"I'm sorry, Ashley," I say. I have no sympathy. This has been a long time coming. I can't be with her. We shouldn't have been together in the first place. I have got to try to get Natalie back. I have to stop that wedding.
"JOHN!" she yells but I ignore her. I have nothing to say to her. I am done. I still can't believe she lied to me about the baby and about being pregnant. What kind of person does that and because of it I lost Natalie; possibly forever.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.