???
Noah:Please open the door, Luce.
Noah: …typing
…typing
Noah:I’m not giving up.
???
Noah:We can fix this.
Noah:Just talk to me.
Noah:I love you.
???
Noah:What the hell, Luce!
Noah:I showed up at Dr. Lee’s for your appointment and they said you’d rescheduled.
Noah:I understand that you’re upset with me, but don’t keep me from being there for our child.
Lucy:I would never do that. Once the baby is born we’ll sort out a schedule, but you don’t need to be at my exams anymore.
Noah:I don’t want a schedule, I want to be with you–both of you!
Lucy: …typing
…typing
…
???
Noah:Lucy! Please talk to me!
???
Voicemail:“Okay, Piper says I need to leave you alone. That I have to give you space. And I will … I’ll respect that. For now. But Lucy? This is not the end. Eventually we need to talk. For the baby … and forus. You’re my family and you’re all I want. I don’t give a fuck about my parents and it was never about being ashamed of you. It was about protecting you. Youandour child. If you believe anything, please believe that. Okay, well, I guess that’s it for now. Please, just think about it. And … call me when you’re ready. Love you.”
CHAPTER 23
NOAH
Thirty-two Weeks
Igot blackout drunk again, then woke up mid-afternoon the next day and scoured my place until everything had been thoroughly bleached but my mind. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done about my thoughts.
That was the first night without her.
Since then I’ve managed to resist the stress cleaning and I think it’s progress.
Lucy has avoided me for three and a half weeks.
I missed the baby shower. Not that I would have been invited, anyway, but I’m told the dad usually gets to make an appearance at the end to ‘ooh and ahh’ over all the gifts. Or something like that. There was no ‘oohing or ahhing’ for me, though. There was no celebrating. There was nothing but silence.
