Shadows in Me Page 13

  “Wow, when did you turn into this wonder woman?”

  “About ten minutes ago before you scared the living shit out of me.”

  I finished my bath and then Heather had a shower, we decided a “sleepover” would be in order for the night.

  I woke up the next morning with Heathers arm over my head and no blankets over me; this was obviously going to be the last night we sleep in the same bed together. There was an amazing smell coming from downstairs. Oh yes, my mum’s home and she was obviously making pancakes for breakfast. I flipped Heather’s arm off me, waking her up in the process.

  “Oh God Caitlin, I love your mother. I need food, race you to the kitchen.” Heather jumped out of bed and rushed out the door.

  Just as I was about to make my way down, the horrid morning sickness hit again, I managed to make it to the bathroom just in time. I sat for the next five minutes puking my lungs out. Obviously Heather realised I was missing in action, and in no time at all they were standing behind me watching me puke. Great, what a way to start the morning.

  “Oh my darling, I had terrible morning sickness when I was pregnant with you, Nanna always gave me some tea with ginger biscuits, the ginger helped.”

  “I don’t have ginger biscuits in the house.” I said.

  “Don’t worry, I brought some with me.” My mother stood very calmly, her arms folded over her chest.

  My head snapped back, Heathers mouth was open; she was as shocked as I was.

  “Why would you bring ginger biscuits with you, I’ve never eaten ginger biscuits.”

  “Well, like I said to you last night, I knew that you needed me, and something in my gut told me to bring the biscuits. A mother knows these things; you’ll learn that very soon.

  After I got cleaned up and brushed my teeth I went downstairs to find Heather and my mum cleaning up the kitchen. There was no sign of my mums amazing pancakes, only a cup of tea and a plate of biscuits.

  “Where’s the pancakes, I want pancakes?” I pouted, hoping they would feel sorry for me.

  “I didn’t think you wanted any, sorry my baby.”

  “Will this morning sickness ever stop?” I was at my end I needed good food, I was starving.

  “I think it should be over soon, I had it till I was fifteen weeks pregnant with you. You’re twelve weeks now if I remember correctly.”

  I sat at the table and finished my tea and biscuits. Heather ran upstairs go get ready for work.

  “Caitlin, I spoke to your father this morning.” My mum used her serious voice again.

  “Did you tell him?”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Thank you, I was really worried about telling him. Was he angry?”

  “Yes, he’s very angry, but he will calm down soon, you know how he can get. Well we were wondering how you would feel about coming back home with me. Just for a while, things have been really upside down for you and we’re worried about you, and of course now the baby. We’re not saying you have to, but we just thought you might want to.”

  “I don’t know mum, that’s a very big decision, I don’t want it to look like I’m running away, and I should look for a job and start earning money so I’m able to look after the baby.”

  “I understand what you are saying my darling, but in your profession it’s not going to be so easy. Companies are funny, the moment they realise you’re pregnant, things change and you won’t be able to hide it for much longer.”

  I knew my mother was right, but the thought of leaving everything behind, including Vincent, was hard. I didn’t know if I was ready to make that decision. “You don’t need to decide right now, I’m still in town for a few days. When I do decide to go back, you can either come with me or you can stay. Whatever you decide, we will stand by you. Dad and I will make sure your accounts are paid and you’re both taken care of until you can stand on your own feet. We won’t let you down.”

  “Thank you Mum.”

  Chapter 20

  Caitlin

  Spending the next day with my mother was the best thing for me. We decided that it would be ok to start buying things for the baby; I was over the danger period.

  My mum decided that it would be a good idea if we set up two nurseries. One at my home and one at theirs, and obviously they would need to look identical. So the process started. My poor dad, if he had known that sending my mum for a visit was going to turn out like this, he would have kept her at home. Firstly he had found out that his baby girl was pregnant, with no husband to look after her, and now my mother was breaking the bank. But I was having fun, I liked being spoilt. There was a lot of walking though, and many toilet breaks.

  We decided that we would start with all white décor, I still wasn’t too sure if I wanted to find out the sex of the baby, but my gut was telling me it was going to be a little boy. My mum on the other hand believed it would be a girl.

  My house was already decorated in a Rustic Vintage look, and I wanted the nursery to look the same. We bought all the furniture first.

  The crib was an old fashioned iron crib painted white, almost like the ones you would find in the early 19th century hospitals. We found a changing table that looked like an old chest of drawers, with the changing mat on top. The baby bath was in the first drawer, plumbing include. This table had a matching bookshelf with a stunning little side table.

  My mom decided we were going to need a big rocking chair to go with it, so that I’d be comfortable at feeding time. Everything was pure white, once baby was here we would add the colour. My mum arranged for the furniture to be delivered to my house in a day or two, and her batch delivered to her house in two weeks. It gave us enough time to set up my nursery and then I would go home with her to set up the nursery there.

  After the furniture, we did linen and clothes. I eventually had to stop my mom. I thought I was bad when it came to spending money, but she took the cake. I didn’t think there was enough space in my car for all the stuff we had bought, and then it hit me, how was I going to unload my car without Vincent seeing it? On our way home I quickly sent Heather a message, to check if Vincent was at the shop.

  Me: Hey bestie, so is your boss at work right now?

  Heather: Which one?

  Me: The big one

  Heather: They’re both quite big

  Me: H E A T H E R

  Heather: Ok, ok, I was just pulling your leg

  Me: So is he there?

  Heather: Yes where else would he be?

  Me: Oh fuck, send him to go do something.

  Heather: Why

  Me: My mother went crazy and my car’s packed full of baby stuff, I don’t want to take the chance that he sees it

  Heather: Why was I not invited

  Me: Cause you have a job

  Heather: Whatever. What time do you want me to send him out?

  Me: Like right now

  Heather: Let me see what I could do.

  Me: Thanks

  After about twenty minutes Heather gave me the all clear. I stopped my car in front of the house and very quickly unpacked it. My mum was taking her freaking time, and I just needed to get it done before Vincent got back. Just as I was taking out the giant giraffe, I saw his car pull up. I jumped out of my skin. I rushed up the stairs into the house. When I looked back, I could see him standing next to his car looking at me. I threw the giraffe down on the ground but I didn’t move away from the door. I could almost hear the wheels turning in his head. I pulled my phone out my pocket and texted Heather.

  Me: Right now you are going have to be the best actress you can be. Vincent saw me. You need to tell him we are planning a baby shower for one of our friends.

  Heather: Oh shit, Ok, he just walked in I better go.

  Holy shit this was what I wanted to avoid, knowing him he will jump to his own conclusions. He still believes Brent and I had a relationship, and if he found out I was pregnant, he would think it was Brent’s.

  Heather was being kicked out of her upstairs room because th
at was now going to be the nursery. My mom spoke to her about it in the morning, and had arranged go get all her things moved to the downstairs room. My mom had it all worked out. The furniture was going to be delivered the next day. We asked them to pack the furniture in such a way that it would not be damaged, but also that you could not identify what it was by just looking at the packaging. I didn’t know what to do about the branding on the truck though.

  I needed Heather to make a plan again, so I sent her another message.

  Me: Heather do you think you could get him to do something again tomorrow say between eleven and one.

  Heather: You are killing me here, what for

  Me: They will be delivering the furniture, my mother went crazy

  Heather: Are you setting up the nursery already?, So you kick me out my room and then ask me for favours. Nice one.

  Me: I’m sorry but help

  Heather: Ok, just joking your mother already phoned me about it, she’s organised.

  Me: Oh wonderful. So what happened earlier?

  Heather: He did see you, and yes he did ask. I think he believed me though; he was fine afterwards he didn’t look upset.

  Me: Oh thank god, thank you so much.

  Thank goodness for Heather, not telling Vincent was proving to be harder than I had thought. Maybe going home with my mum was the best thing I could do, I realised though that I wasn't quite ready to tell him. By the time I walked back into the kitchen, my mum had prepared an amazing lunch for us. Grilled chicken salad with ginger beer. She was really taking this whole ginger thing a little far; I was hoping the nausea would stay away just long enough for me to enjoy my food.

  Heather had asked me the night before if I was going to tell Brent about the baby. I really wanted to share my news with him, but just like Vincent, I wasn’t too sure how he would react. At least he would know who the father was.

  After lunch I went upstairs to take a nap. I wasn’t feeling too great. I thought it was just because of the amount of walking I had done, added to my nerves. Having to dodge Vincent had really taken its toll on me.

  My mom came to check on me and brought me some tea. The pain was not going away and I was really getting worried. My mom phoned the doctor but we could only get an appointment much later. Maybe a warm bath would help, my mom started pouring my bath when the front door bell rang. I was just about to get into the bath when I heard my father’s voice. I shut the water off and made my way down to the kitchen.

  “Daddy! What are you doing here?” I walked over to give my dad a kiss.

  “Your mother was spending all my money so I thought I had better come and see for myself what she’s doing.” He turned to my mum and in a playful way smacked her on the ass.

  “Hey, watch it mister, that money is as much mine as it is yours, I’ve had to sit with your nonsenses for many years. Caitlin, how are you feeling? You shouldn’t have come downstairs.”

  “I’m fine mum, what time is the doctors appoint …..” There was a knock on the door, who the hell could that have been. I didn’t even look before I opened the door.

  “VINCENT!! What are you doing here?” Holy crap, my father and Vincent in the same room, not a very good idea. I needed to get him out of there.

  “What the hell’s going on here Caitlin?” Vincent was angry; his eyes were bloodshot, like he hadn’t had a good night sleep in weeks. So it wasn’t just me.

  “You need to get out of here, my father has just arrived.” I tried to push him away from the front door, I didn’t want my dad to hear us.

  “I’m not scared of your dad, I respect him but I’m not scared of him.” Before I could even get a word in, the front door flung open and my dad walked out.

  “Young man, I think my daughter asked you to leave.” My dad was a scary man at the best of times, but when he was angry you needed to stay out of his way.

  “Henry, let the kids talk.” My mum had my dad by the hand and was trying to get him back into the house with her.

  I could see it in my mum’s eyes; it was time to tell Vincent the truth.

  “Sir, no disrespect to you, but this is between your daughter and I. I would appreciate it if you minded your own business.” Holy fuck!! Was the man crazy speaking to my father like that? Now my dad, in general, was not a violent man but something snapped inside of him. He shrugged my mother’s hand from his and came storming towards Vincent. Without thinking, I tried to step in front of him but my foot hooked on a loose piece of flooring and I went falling down the steps. It all happened in slow motion; I heard my mother scream as she rushed forward to get to me, pushing Vincent out of the way in the process. I tried to shield my tummy, but I fell half on the last step and half on the concrete walkway, with my head hitting the ground.

  OMG!!! My baby!! I felt a warm sensation between my legs and when I looked down all I saw, was blood.

  “Henry, call 911 and then call Heather. Tell her to get Caitlin’s doctor to meet us at the hospital.” My mother was frantic, screaming at my dad.

  Vincent stood dead still on the steps, his face as white as snow. His face was the last thing I saw before I passed out.

  Chapter 21

  Vincent

  What the hell just happened? I had just come to talk to Caitlin and all hell broke loose.

  After seeing her yesterday in the window I knew I had to fix things between us, life had been hell without her. I had been a total idiot with this whole Brent thing. He had come to see me the day before and had told me that nothing had happened between them, as much as he had wanted it to. Caitlin was in love with me. But they were just good friends. I hated the guy, but Heather had been telling me the same thing since we had broken up.

  Then when I had seen her again that morning I knew it was time. Heather mentioned some bullshit about Caitlin arranging a baby shower for a friend, and that the giraffe was part of the party. I had no clue what she was talking about, but I could see Heather was nervous, which made me think that there was something going on.

  I saw she had got a phone call a little after lunch, and was a little rattled. I had overheard her call some doctor to set up an appointment for Caitlin. I needed to know what was going on.

  Nothing made sense. The ambulance arrived in record time, there was blood all over the sidewalk and also all over Caitlin. I didn’t know what to do, I seemed to be in the way of everything and everybody. I didn’t like the looks Henry was giving me, and I kept hearing something about a baby or his baby, I don’t know.

  Both Heather and Cole arrived at the house before Caitlin was loaded into the ambulance. Heather was screaming at me to get in the car as we needed to get to the hospital. Cole eventually grabbed me by the arm and pushed me into his truck and we raced to the hospital. We got there before they did; both Henry and Jo were with Caitlin in the ambulance.

  I wasn’t allowed to go in with them because I wasn’t family. The three of us were left in the waiting room. Heather was crying so much I couldn’t get anything out of her; Cole looked as puzzled and worried as I did. What the hell had just happened? Caitlin had hit her head quite hard which must be what caused her to faint, but the blood? From what I could see, she hadn’t cut herself on anything and her head had a little bit of blood, but that didn’t explain the rest of it.

  About an hour later, Jo came out to talk to Heather, I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but I could see a relief on Heathers face.

  Hopefully that meant she was going to be ok. Now just to find out what the hell had happened? I walked to where Caitlin and Jo were talking, but before I could get to them, I was stopped by Henry.

  “I’m sorry for the way I reacted back at the house son. It was wrong of me.” Henry stuck out his hand to shake mine.

  I took his hand but he pulled me in for a hug. He patted my back and then said to me. “Caitlin wants to talk to you. She’s in room 501” My head snapped up and I could see the tears in his eyes.

  I walked through the big swing doors as if on auto pilot. I reach
ed room 501, but couldn’t get myself to go in. I was still standing in the doorway when a nurse walked out and smiled at me. “It’s all good, both mommy and baby are doing fine.” She announced.

  I walked through the door to find the doctor doing an ultrasound. What the hell was going on? Caitlin looked up at me as I walked in. She had tears in her eyes. She reached out to me. I went to stand next to her, and took her hand in mine. It was so cold, I looked down at her hand and then at her face. She was watching my every move. I could not get myself to look at the doctor; I needed to see if my baby was fine, she looked so pale against the white linen of the hospital bed. Tears were streaming down her face. The doctor was saying something but I didn’t hear a word. I lifted my hand and whipped the tears from her cheek with my thumb. The doctor spoke again, and Caitlin moved her face to look at the monitor.

  “The baby is fine, everything is where it should be, the heart rate is a little high but I think it’s because of the shock. You should however, stay in bed for a week or so, just to make sure.”

  Baby is fine? What the hell? I looked at the monitor but couldn’t make sense of anything.

  “Caitlin…are you…?” I looked at her before looking at the doctor.

  “Yes, I’m twelve weeks pregnant, and before you jump to any conclusions, yes, you are the father. I’m so sorry you hand to find out this way.”

  Fuck!!! Caitlin was pregnant. Holy shit that was the last thing on my mind when I went to see Caitlin earlier that afternoon. Oh god, the blood… it all made complete sense.

  “I think I’ll leave you two alone for now, I think you have a lot to talk about. I’ll leave my instructions with your mother. Good luck Miss Steward, I’ll see you in three weeks.” The doctor walked out the room closing the door behind her.

  “How are you feeling?” I lifted Caitlin’s hand and kissed the top of it. It felt so good to have her close to me again. I knew we had a lot to talk about, but I just wanted to make sure she was ok.