“Thanks.” Ellie says.
“Hey, no problem.” Denice says, not making a big deal out ofher departure, thankfully. It seems like Ellie is walking a fineline.
As soonas the door closes, I take a step towards Ellie, unsure of what todo. Thank God the onesie is nowhere in sight, but the ultrasoundphotograph is still on the refrigerator, and I take a step towardsit, nonchalantly, as she stares out the window that offers a viewto the driveway. I take the picture and place it inside thecupboard, out of sight, trying like hell not to look at it, so Ican stay strong for Ellie. I walk towards her and rest my hands onher shoulders, from behind. “That’s a pretty view you’ve gotthere.” I say numbly, feeling the knots in hershoulders.
Loweringher head, I watch her shut her eyes closed tight, and gasp. Turningher around, I wrap my arms around her, swallowing down my emotions,fighting the lump in my throat. I was as happy about that baby asshe was, but I know that there’s something way more that a motherfeels. She just lost her first child, and I don’t discount that.“Maverick, I’m so sorry.” She whispers through tears. “I’m so sorryI lost our baby.”
“Shhh…love.” My voice cracks, as my heart breaks for her, forour baby, and for what could have been. “It wasn’t meant to be isall, darlin’. It isn’t your fault.”
Shesobs, crying into my chest, as I hold her tight to me, rocking hergently, rubbing her back, and it tears my fucking heartout.
“I’m so sorry.” She repeats, only this time, she’s graspingthe hair at the back of my neck, sobbing so hard I’m afraid she’llhyperventilate, and I lose it. The tears come.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for, Ellie.” I sob. “Sometimesthings just don’t turn out.” My voice is ragged as I weep with her,feeling her pain like it’s my own, and part of it is. It was mybaby, too. Was. The baby’s gone. And the more that I think aboutit, the more I feel the tears run down my cheeks. We were going tohave a baby together. I’d made my mama so happy. And now…now it’sgone. Now I have to face my mama and my brothers, knowing thatthere is no baby anymore.
Nobodyasked for this. Nobody expected this. Nobody knew what was tocome.
…and never in my wildest dreams did I expect what happensnext.
Chapter 10
Ellie
Neverthought I would take this so hard. I lost a baby I never reallywanted in the beginning, anyway. Maverick was the one thatconvinced me to keep it. He wanted it so dang bad, how could I sayno? Sure, he cried with me, but it was his baby. After blubberinglike a sissy for a half an hour, I’d had enough of listening tomyself. My phone is ringing off the hook with work calls, andthat’s exactly what I need, I say to myself. I need to get back towork and back to life. Get out of the clouds and back down to earthagain.
Truthis, Maverick will move on, forget about me, and in the end, he’llonly ever see me as the woman he knocked up and then she ended uplosing the baby, anyway. I’ll bet money that that’s what’s going tohappen. Na, this wasn’t meant to be is all. It’s too soon after mydivorce to have moved on that quickly and happily ever after. Thatsort of shit only happens in the movies, not in real life. There’sno way I could fall in love so fast, have a baby, and erase all theshit that happened between me and Will. Stop living in Candyland,Ellie, I keep saying to myself.
“I should get back to work, and you should, too, Maverick.” Isay to him. His eyes are as red as mine. He’s a wreck. And what’sworse is it’s all my fucking fault.
“I don’t really care about work right now, Ellie. I just wantto make sure that you’re okay.” He slides a finger down my cheek.“You look like hell, darlin’. Why don’t you take a sick day orsomething, huh?”
“I don’t do sick days, Maverick. I’m a commodities broker. Ihave clients that rely on me day in and day out to look after theirstocks and bonds. I’m basically self-employed.”
“I’m sure one day won’t hurt. Or even just the rest of themorning.”
“I don’t need it, Maverick. I’m fine.”
“Well, doesn’t your body need time to heal?”
“It’s fine. I was only seven weeks along. The doctor says thatI’ll be as good as new in a week.” He looks at me, as if I’msomeone else, and maybe I am. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll befine.”
“Are you sure?” he asks, searching my eyes.
“Yeah.” I exhale quickly. “I just need a shower and to get onwith work is all.”
“Okay.” He rakes a hand through his hair. “What’s say I bringyou dinner tonight?”
Come up with an excuse…dammit. “Um,with me missing work this morning, I’ve got a lot of phone calls tocatch up on. I don’t think I’ll be able to spare thetime.”
“How about lunch tomorrow?”
“Why don’t you give me a call and I can let youknow.”
Hefrowns. “Fair enough.” He leans in and kisses me chastely on themouth. “How about you give me a call if you need anything tonight,okay?”
“I sure will.” I say, too brightly.
As Iwatch him leave, I stand there, as he walks down thedriveway.
