Ours: Book 2 In The Winterburg Series

by Linzvon C

  Irritated all of the time....

  I must be due on my period soon. But that had never made me sick before.

  Sickness....

  I stared at my reflection, the realisation hitting me.

  Where was my period?

  I closed my eyes and jumped when someone tried the handle of the door, opening to reveal Cal.

  “Are you alright? You’ve been in here a while-”

  “I think I’m pregnant,” I whispered as his eyes met mine slowly.

  “What?” his voice was low as he dropped the bags he was holding onto the floor beside him. I didn’t speak, but to my horror I began to cry.

  “Hey, Raven, don’t cry,” he strode over to me, taking me in his arms.

  “I can’t remember when I had my last period and-”

  “Ssshhh. It’s ok. Let’s just get out of the airport then we can talk ok? We’ve got this baby, don’t worry,” he said soothingly as he kissed me softly. I nodded as I sniffed, watching as he gathered our belongings onto a nearby trolley. He slid his arm around me protectively as he guided me out of the airport and towards a waiting cab, barking an address at the driver who scurried to the driver’s seat as Cal put our luggage into the boot.

  I laid against him as we drove, aware that we were nearing home. Cal paid the driver as he handed me the keys to our home, watching me carefully.

  “Don’t carry anything,” he ordered as I leaned down to drag my suitcase.

  “Cal,” I sighed as he looked at me sternly, and I knew better than to argue.

  I walked in, the familiar smell of our house greeting me as I made a beeline for the kitchen, grabbing the wall calendar. I searched with my finger until I saw the little red dot that indicated my periods due date. Cal stood in the doorway, watching me intently.

  “I’ve missed my period.” I whisper as my eyes widen, realising it was more than that. Being away had distracted me, how had I not realised?!

  “Fuck. I’ve missed two.”

  Chapter 26: Whatever Is Right.

  Gretchen

  “You need to keep calm, my love.”

  He rubbed my knee reassuringly as my leg jigged with nerves, my eyes glued to the black screen above the reception, waiting for my name to scroll along in red pixels. I was sweating and chewing on my lip, yet Cal was an oasis of calm. He was flicking through a home magazine, turning it this way and that to assess the photographs with interest as I felt bile rise in my throat and I sipped my water, praying that I was seen soon. Suddenly there was soft ping, and there was my name, Miss Gretchen Red swirling on the screen as I felt dizzy with fear.

  “Do you want me to come in with you?” he asked and I shook my head.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m right here,” he said, kissing my hand as I nodded numbly, walking down the pale corridor to the room indicated on the screen. I knocked softly out of courtesy as I heard a soft voice call me in. I pushed open the door and smiled, whilst my legs felt like jelly. The doctor was in her fifties, soft grey hair curled under her chin as she glanced at me kind eyes.

  “Hi Gretchen. What can I do for you today?”

  I swallowed and held out my first urine of the day bottle, my hands shaking.

  “I have missed two periods. I think I may be pregnant,” I whispered as she nodded, turning back to the screen.

  “Ok, what was the date of your last period?”

  I answered her questions robotically as she took the sample, dipping a thin stick into it then placing it on top whilst she stood watching it, her hands on her hips. I stared at the floor, feeling about ten years old suddenly, sat in the headteachers office about to be given a dressing down.

  “You are indeed pregnant.”

  I closed my eyes as I heard her shuffling over to the desk, tapping onto her computer as she glanced at me.

  “Is this good news to you?” she smiled kindly as I looked at her in shock.

  “I’m not entirely sure how I feel. I’m sorry.”

  She held her hand up as she turned a calendar in her hands then looking up at me.

  “That’s an entirely normal reaction. From my calculations you are approximately eight weeks pregnant. A scan will confirm that though, but we don’t offer them until twelve weeks. Are you in a relationship?”

  “I am, yes. He’s in the waiting room.”

  She nodded as she handed me some leaflets, her eyes crinkling as she smiled.

  “Ok well you will receive an appointment from the midwife when you reach twelve weeks. If you need any further information from us just call. Is there anything you want to ask now?”

  I shook my head as she smiled.

  “Ok then, congratulations.”

  I turned and walked out of the door, my heart in my throat as I walked back down the corridor.

  I was pregnant? I was going to be a mummy?

  Cal has his hands laced behind his head, jumping up when he saw me.

  “Are you ok?” he asked gruffly, and I nodded, pulling him to the exit. When we got outside, I began to cry, and his eyes filled with worry.

  “Baby, whatever the doctor said, we can get through it. I swear. Come here.”

  He held me in his arms, and I cried before pulling away from him, looking up into his eyes, my heart thumping in my throat.

  “You’re going to be a daddy, Cal.”

  He blinked, a broad smile spreading over his face.

  “No fucking way.”

  I nodded as his eyes searched mine anxiously.

  “Are you happy? Whatever you want-” He began his supportive spiel, which I interrupted suddenly, kissing his mouth.

  “I want. I’m in shock, but Cal, a mini us.”

  Suddenly I felt the floor disappear from beneath my feet as he lifted me into the air, swirling me around.

  “Oh baby, I’m so fucking happy right now, you’ve got no idea.”

  I bit my lip as our lips met, a new feeling enveloping me as I saw his eyes gazing at me like they did the first time he saw me.

  “I couldn’t wish for anyone better than you to be a mother to my child.”

  I felt tears fill my eyes again as he pulled me close, kissing my head as his arms circled me protectively.

  “The baby is due in seven months Cal, what am I going to do about school?” I chewed on my fingernail as he sighed, guiding me towards his car.

  “We can speak with the college, see what your options are. What are you thinking of doing?”

  I couldn’t think, my head too busy with images of our unborn child, would he or she have my eyes or Cals?

  “Oh God, our parents,” I groaned as he smiled, almost as though he had already thought it through.

  “I need to be honest. I have booked to take you away, to Paris. I’m not entirely sure that it’s the best idea, considering how ill you have been. I’d rather not take you on a flight over the Atlantic to a foreign country,” he grimaced as he thought about it, his eyes filled with anxiety. My heart swelled with love for him, and I reached for his hand.

  “You’re so romantic. Paris? For my birthday?”

  His lips kissed my hand softly, his green eyes piercing into mine and making my skin heat up instantly.

  “You have many more birthdays. I’ll take you, and our baby around the world if that’s what you want,” his hands fell to my stomach, caressing it softly. I didn’t think I could have felt more love for him than I did right now, and I threw my arms around him.

  “Shall we get you home?”

  He opened the car door and gazed at me as I climbed in gingerly, suddenly aware I was carrying a tiny human in my womb. He shut the door carefully before making his way to the driver’s side, climbing in beside me and grinning inanely at me.

  “I’m so fucking happy, Raven. I want to go and buy a whole new nursery for the little bean.”

  “Bean?” I laughed as he drove, his hand on my thigh lovingly.

  “Yeah, it’s like, the size of a kidney bean. I looked it up last night whilst
you were sleeping,” he looked over at me and blushed as I laughed.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah, you said you had missed two periods, so I guessed you were about two months pregnant. Either that or a whole host of other terrifying things that could be wrong with you,” his jaw clenched as I watched him drive, his thumb now running circles on my thigh.

  “Is our house big enough for a baby? Is it in the right area?” I suddenly panicked at the thought of being a mother in New York. I had visions of me hauling a screaming baby onto the subway whilst sweating buckets, everyone sneering at how bad a mother I was. A smile played at his lips as he glanced at me, before focusing back on the road.

  “Listen to me Gretchen, you and this baby will want for nothing. Anything you want, or need, you’ve got it. Just tell me.”

  “What if it means no more mafia stuff?” I bit my lip as his eyes hardened, his posture deflating as he let out a sigh. He pushed his hair back in irritation before answering me.

  “Whatever is right for us. As a family.”

  Relief coursed through me as we sat in traffic, my eyes darting around the streets around us looking for babies and mothers. Cal would be as good as his word, that I knew. I just also knew that there was a side to him I was either going to have to accept that I didn’t know it, or decide if he needed to change it.

  If that was even possible.

  Chapter 27: Anything

  Cals Pov

  I was going to be a daddy.

  I had always known I’d want a family at some point, but I didn’t anticipate it being so soon. I couldn’t be happier though, the most incredible woman in the world was going to have my child. I watched her sleep, her full lips parted slightly as she breathed, her chest rising and falling with a steady rhythm. She was so pale though, and it was killing me seeing her suffer through something that was supposed to be natural. She didn’t want anyone to know until the scan proved that everything was ok, which meant she didn’t have any other women to talk to. I wanted her to tell her mother at least, but she was stubborn. My eyes trailed down her chest to her exposed stomach, my chest aching with love and adoration for what was growing in there. I stood and quietly walked to the window, staring out at the city.

  I didn’t want our child growing up here.

  I didn’t want our child to be a target from all of those that had issues with me-and there were many. The only reason I was here was because of Gretchen and her studies, but she could study somewhere else if she wanted to. I glanced back over at her, the moonlight from the window falling on her in the darkness, illuminating her like an angel. Too much had happened to her already. If it as up to me she would be on need rest for the rest of her pregnancy. She had addressed my line of work s free weeks ago and at that time I was filled with shame. This woman deserved an honest man, who worked his fingers to the bone to put food on the table, not someone who pulled the trigger on a gun when someone needed to pay a debt.

  It was this city. When I was here, this is what I did. She deserved better.

  “Cal?”

  Her soft voice broke into my tormented thoughts, as I turned to see her rubbing her eyes sleepily.

  “Go back to sleep baby, it’s early,” I made my way over to the bed as she yawned, looking at me with those beautiful eyes. She still made me have those damn butterflies in my stomach, and that’s how I had known she was The One. Many girls were beautiful, and kind. Most are great in bed too, and eager to please. But Gretchen was just, different. She made me want to be a better man.

  “I’m hungry,” she pouted, and I began to laugh.

  “At three am?” I couldn’t hide the disbelief in my voice as she nodded enthusiastically.

  “Yup. Bean must be hungry.”

  I leaned over her, my lips brushing against the soft skin of her tummy as I addressed said Bean.

  “What would Bean like? Waking mummy up for food and all.”

  “Bacon.” She declared, her hands on my hair as I looked at her in surprise.

  “Bacon at three am. Ok Bean, I’m going to cook some bacon. Anything mummy wants, mummy gets.” I pushed up onto my forearms as she held her hands out, pulling me into an embrace.

  “Thankyou.”

  I kissed her tenderly as I heard her tummy rumble. Our eyes met and I did a mock salute before climbing off the bed, pulling my thin hoody over my head as she watched me hungrily.

  “Then can I have you for dessert?” She bit her lip as I winked at her.

  “As I said, anything you want.”

  Chapter 28: Infinite

  Gretchen

  The craving for coffee was ridiculous. I pushed open the doors of Starbucks, my nostrils inhaling the intoxicating scent. Cal wouldn’t approve, but I had done my research. I could have a small coffee. I almost ran to the barista who blinked at me in surprise as my order tumbled from my mouth hungrily. I spied the lemon muffin and demanded one of those too. I paid and went to sit at a table by the window, feeling giddy that I was finally going to get my caffeine fix. The nausea was starting to fade now, but cravings were kicking in big time.

  My phone vibrated on the table as I saw Cals name and a message asking where I was. I considered lying for a moment as I wondered where I could say I was. The barista called my name and I stood eagerly, only to see someone standing in my way.

  Someone heavenly. Who smelt amazing.

  “You didn’t reply to my text,” he said softly as he turned to get the coffee and muffin from the gazing barista.

  “Cal,” I squeaked as he examined my cup.

  “Decaff?”

  I shifted on my feet as I snatched it from him, holding it to my chest protectively.

  “It’s small,” I snapped defensively as he chuckled softly.

  “But strong. Like you,” he guided me back to my table, sitting in front of me as he watched me carefully.

  “I’m not a Faberge egg.”

  “You’re pregnant with my child, in New York City. Yes, you are.”

  My eyes met his then and my heart swelled with love for him. Suddenly I frowned.

  “Why are you here though? You’re always busy,” I pushed the muffin into my mouth eagerly as the citrus flavours exploded on my tongue. Why had I not had one of these daily prior to pregnancy? It was delicious.

  “Because I’ve considered your request.”

  He spoke quietly, his eyes on me whilst I swallowed, sipping the coffee and shivering with delight.

  “Oh my God that’s so good.”

  He folded his arms as he watched me with interest.

  “Oh? Better than sex?” he questioned innocently as I laughed in response.

  “Almost?” I offered as he scoffed, clearly offended.

  “Bullshit.”

  I laughed as he ran his hand threw his hair.

  “Baby, listen. I’ve been thinking.”

  I felt my breath catch in my throat as he studied me.

  “How do you feel about moving back to Winterburg? I could find work locally, you will be close to your family. It’s up to you entirely, I know we moved here so you could study-”

  “Yes.” I said instantly, tears welling up in my eyes. “I would love to move back there with you. It would be a whole different existence for you though Cal. I can take my studies back up there after the baby is born,” I shrugged, having already done my research. I could study therapy anywhere, but New York had the best programme. I had studied for long enough to feel I could graduate with a good enough grade to qualify if I finished off studying when our child was born. It would mean squeezing my lectures into less days, but my tutor had been fantastic.

  “We have the scan soon,” Cal smiled and I grinned.

  “Three days until we get to see Bean.”

  “Do you want to move? If so, when? I don’t want you travelling when you are heavily pregnant. I don’t want you in New York City pregnant full stop to be honest.”

  I stared at him as I ran a hand over my stomach. He was right, as always. I had
been kidnapped barely three months ago. But could he really give up the life he was accustomed to for me? He was never without money, and I didn’t work. Not yet. So, I voiced these concerns to him and he grabbed both my hands.

  “You and this child are everything I have in this world. Money isn’t an issue, I have a lot of it. I just won’t be making it illegally anymore. I’ve got the sale from the house so I can buy us a home easily. Don’t worry. I’ll get work locally, I’ve got all kinds of skills.”