The Patchwork Heart

Chapter 6

As the weeks passed, I read everything about pregnancy I could get my hands on. I had started to show by that time, so I couldn't deny it anymore. People in town had started looking at me with sympathy again but I didn't let that get to me. I knew the community wanted to be supportive, they just didn't have the words to offer. My therapist had mixed feelings about my pregnancy, but she had to admit it had raised my spirits so that was a positive thing.

When I told Jess and Garrett they were both shocked. Jess cried, which I found odd at the time. She was far more emotional about it then I would have expected. She actually had to leave my house she was so upset. I followed her out my front door, "Jess, are you ok?" She didn't respond, she just shook her head and ran to her car. I called after her, "Jessica!" As her car drove away, I was left standing by my front door dumbstruck.

Garrett took it better then Jess had. He just offered me a hug and his support. Anything I was craving, I just had to send Garrett and text message and he brought it to me within minutes. I tried not to abuse it but in my last trimester when it was getting harder to move around I texted Garrett quite a bit. He proved to be a loyal friend to Dex and I. I was pleased he was there by my side for whatever I needed. He truly was the ultimate wing man.

Jess disappeared on me until about half way through my third trimester. She didn't respond to my calls or messages. I couldn't figure out what was going on with her so I stopped trying. It wasn't as though I didn't have enough on my plate. I was at work restocking some shelves with canned goods when she walked through the door.

I stared at her and when she met my eyes, Jess just started crying again, "I'm sorry Bree. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you, I just didn't know how to process all this. It's so much to deal with."

I scoffed, "Do you honestly think I don't know that? Are you kidding?" I shook my head and walked toward the back of the store. Jess followed me. When she reached me she whispered, "You aren't the only one who lost Dex. He was my friend too."

I spun around and glared at her, "I know that. I know everyone has their own way of dealing with things. Right now, I have too much on my plate. I told you because you are supposed to be my best friend and you bailed on me."

Her tears streaked down her face, "I'm sorry, Bree. I just couldn't deal with it. I'm really sorry and I'm here now." I crossed my arms over my chest. I knew it accentuated my pregnant belly but I didn't care. I told her, "I know you are. It just really hurt."

She nodded and stared at my belly. Slowly she reached out and ran her fingertips over the baby bump in wonder. I smiled and took her hand, placing it flat against my stomach. Jess' eyes filled with awe as she felt the movement inside me. I whispered to her, "Don't disappear on us again, Jess." She only nodded but continued to touch my belly.

It was a Sunday afternoon when I heard a truck pull up in front of our house. My parents were at the store doing inventory so I was home alone. I waddled to the front door to open it. Mitchell was half way up the front path, he stopped in his tracks and smiled sheepishly at me. He didn't usually visit me without his mother so I was surprised.

"Hey." He muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. Mitchell didn't have a way with words. He was gruff and quite. I could tell he had cleaned up a bit before coming to see me. He was wearing clean jeans and boots. His winter jacket wasn't the barn one he often wore; it was a nice navy North Face down. I wasn't sure what he was doing there but I offered him a wide smile.

"Do you want to come in?" I asked, considering he was standing out in the cold, half way up my front path. Mitchell shook his head and told me, "Get your jacket, I've got something to show you."