Ruined (completed) ✔️

90.

Knock, knock. Walking over to the door at my brother's house I open it and see Eliza standing there with her fiance. She places her hand on her stomach and looks at me. "You're mother told me you wanted to talk." She had her hand in Chad's. "I didn't want to come alone so I brought Chad with me. I hope you don't mind."

I don't mind at all. She needs to be with someone that can protect her and that's not messed up like I am.

"It's okay, Eliza. Let's sit in the dining room and talk." I lead the way to the dining room. "Do you want anything to drink?"

"Water, please," Eliza says.

"I'm all good. Thanks, Austin." Chad pulls the seat out for Eliza and then sits next to her. He lifts her hand and kisses it.

She smiles at him. "I love you, Chad. Thanks, for coming here with me."

Grabbing the bottle of water from the fridge I take it over to the table and slide it across to her. She catches the bottle and unscrews the cap and drinks from it. "Thanks, Austin. What do you want to talk about?"

Leaning forward I look at her and say. "I know you're carrying my child."

"Beverley gave me the heads up that she told you and she knew that you would want to talk to me about something too."

"I'm going home with Mom and Dad for a while. I don't know when I'll be returning to the City."

"Okay, what does that have to do with me?"

Sliding a manila envelope to her and watch as she opens it. A frown appears on her face. "What's this?"

"I'm signing my rights away for the child. Every decision about the child's future is up to you. You're the one fit enough to be a parent, while I'm messed up. There's one thing I want to ask of you."

Eliza grips Chad's hand. "What's that?"

"When our child is old enough I want her or him to know about me. I'd also like the opportunity to get to know him or her myself."

Chad looks at me and a smile spreads across his face. "Eliza's having a girl. We'd also like for you to get to know her."

"Austin, thank you for doing this for us. When the time does come she will know about you and how much you love her. When she asks to see you I'll make that happen. I wasn't expecting you to do this for me."

Standing up I move toward her. "I'm doing what's best for all of us. You have a great guy that loves you and you love him. Also, I need a new start on everything. My life, relationships and work. I'll reach out to you once I've figured everything out, Eliza." I kiss her temple. "Be happy. You deserve that."

Eliza pushes the seat back and stands up. She wraps her arms around me. "Thank you, Austin. This means the world to me." tears begin to fall down her beautiful face and I wipe them away.

I hate it when she cries. A beautiful woman like her should be happy and that's exactly what I'm giving her. A chance to be happy and live her life with someone good for her.

I've done a lot to hurt and I know when it's time to let things go. In my past, I have done many stupid things. Falling for Casey. Using Eliza the way I did. Cruelly leaving her. Going back to Casey. Letting her take up my entire life and losing everything to her. Losing my job and finally, the best thing I can do is let Eliza have our child, to herself.

She's going to make a great mother.

Chad stands up and moves towards Eliza. He wraps his arms around her and she continues to cry. "Thanks, Austin. I know this wouldn't have been an easy decision to come to."

"It wasn't. It's however the best thing for your family. Keep them safe and love them as they deserve it. I should get going. My parents are waiting in the car."

They follow me out of the house and head over to their car. Chad opens the door for her and she climbs inside. He rounds the car and climbs into the driver's seat. It doesn't take long before he's pulling away from the curb and taking them home.

Mom pulls the window down and looks at me. "Are you ready to go home, Austin?"

A smile spreads across my face. "Yes, I am." I climb into the car and Dad pulls the car away from the house.

Dad looks in the rearview mirror and says. "Your brother is going to bring the car around on the weekend."

"Okay, I think I shouldn't have access to a car for a couple of days anyway. I need to stop drinking and having a set of keys will make me drive to the store and get bourbon."

Mom turns towards me and adds. "The house has been cleaned of alcohol. We have nothing there for you. Also, I was given a list of therapists to call when we get home. I want you to see one that can take you in right away. The help you need can't wait."

"I know, Mom. You don't need to worry so much about me. I don't want to die. I have a daughter on the way and I want to be here for her. Do you think she'll want to get to know me when she's older?"

A smile spreads across her face. "Of course she will. When the times right you will see her and I hope you have a family of your own. She's going to need siblings."

"She will with Chad and Eliza being together. I can tell he wants to start a family with her. After all the way he looks at her is the same as Dad looks at you. I don't think I'm going to find someone that's like that to me."

"Austin Michael Wilde. You're going to find that person. Just not right now. You'll know when you find her. Recovering from everything that's happened is what we're going to deal with first. When we get home we're taking you to the hospital to get tested for STD's, STI's and whatever else that girl could have given you. We're not taking any chances that that girl wasn't safe during the times she was sexually active. Maybe, Eliza should be tested too. I just hope nothing happens to her baby."

"Mom, I'm sure she got tested. She's a smart woman who wouldn't let anything go amiss. Even, if she was with me." I look out the window as we drive out of the city. My shoulders relax a little as we move away from the place that turned my life upside down.

Mom watches me for a couple of minutes before she turns back to the front and looks out the window. She starts singing along to a song that's playing on the radio.