It’s strange…how easy it feels.
The front door creaks open, and I head toward it, knowing it’s Ella. I want to catch her first, give her a little backstory on Karissa before anyone else does.
Her blonde hair falls in front of her face as she slips off her shoes. I step closer.
“Hey,” I say quietly.
She looks up at me, eyebrows pulling together. “Hey…what’s wrong?”
She pauses, reading my face.
“Can I talk to you outside?”
She blinks, but nods and follows me out onto the porch. I can tell she’s nervous. I lean against the railing. “I brought a girl home from the bar last night who’s on the run from an abusive ex.”
Ella’s brows lift. “Oh?”
“She’s pregnant. Due in six weeks, June, I think.”
“Is she from here?”
I go on to tell Ella the whole story, everything I know, anyway. She listens quietly, but I can see the concern start to build, especially when I mention that Karissa was planning to have the baby alone…in Canada.
Ella’s a mom; she knows that’s a bad idea. She’ll be the first to tell you how important it is to have help, that trying to do it alone is a recipe for disaster.
That’s why I need her to talk to Karissa. It can’t come from me.
Ella follows me back inside. Jesse’s standing just inside the doorway, holding Cora so she can see her mom.
Ella smiles, takes her daughter for a minute, then follows me into the living room to meet Karissa.
They hit it off almost instantly. Ella’s great with people—warm, calm, the kind of person who makes you feel like you’ve known her forever.
I glance over to where Mom and Addison are standing nearby, hovering a little too close. I give them a subtle nod and a look that saysscram.
They get the message.
“Would you let me look you over for any significant injuries?” Ella asks her.
“Yeah, I’d be fine with that. I don’t have anything besides bruising, some scratches.”
“Yeah. And the baby? Have you felt movement?”
Karissa nods. “Oh yeah. She’s definitely okay.” She laughs.
Ella stays serious. “When was your last OB appointment?”
“Oh, I’m not sure. I missed my last two…and I think the one before that…” Karissa trails off, a little unsure.
Ella’s expression shifts. “Okay, you need to get in with our OB. The last few weeks of appointments are really important.”
“Yeah,” Karissa murmurs, glancing away. I don’t think Ella meant to sound so firm, but it came out that way. Still, she’s right—and I’m sure Karissa knows that.
“If you want, I can go with you?” Ella offers gently.
“I definitely don’t want to go by myself,” Karissa admits with a small laugh. “I don’t know where I am and I really don’t want to get lost.”
“We’ll call tomorrow,” Ella says, reassuring her. “I’ll give them my name and make sure they squeeze you in.” She softens a little more, eyes flicking to Karissa’s belly. “Do you know what you’re having?”
