The Bridge

Chapter 43

Aurelia

Two months later

I had been out of work for some time and I felt it necessary to start my job search. I had no clue what I was going to do. I don't think I ever really thought about my career aspirations before. I was too busy caring for my grandmother and when she passed my parents selling the family home forced me to scramble to find work to care for myself. I miss her so much. It wasn't that I didn't love my mother. I did and I still do regardless of our issues but my grandmother raised me. I was adopted into her family and she treated me with such compassion and loved me since she laid eyes on upon me. I was hers. She was mine.

A french fry hitting my face brought me back to the present.

"You payin' attention? I've been talkin' to myself for ten minutes", Aubrey smiled brightly.

"Yes, sorry. Just thinking about my grandma. What were you saying?" I resumed my job hunt on my laptop as Aubrey stared across from me at the dining table enjoying what was left of his burger and fries. I picked up the one he threw at my face from where it landed on the T-shirt of his that I was wearing and shoved it in my mouth.

He chuckled at my actions, "I said what are you doing?"

"I am searching for work", I said sounding rather chipper.

I looked up from my computer to Aubrey's frowning face.

"Why?"

I sighed deeply, " I thought you supported me finding work?"

"Yeah...but you don't need to. I have more than enough to take care you. I just want to see you out and enjoying life. Plus...when we start a family I kinda envisioned you staying home", he shrugged.

I stared at him blankly, "You already have one baby mama with that lifestyle, you sure you want two?"

His face fell and he nodded trying to hold back his building frustration with me. I knew he was trying. Trying to get us somewhat back on track but I would always get a few digs in when I could, especially on days like this where he had to meet with her.

"Look...I know this is hard Aurelia but if we gonna move past this, you gotta quit with the sly shit", he pleaded.

I sank back in my chair, my eyes lowered and nodded. Aubrey stood from the table, taking his unfinished meal and throwing it in the trash. He walked back to me to stand behind my chair before lowering to kiss the top of my head.

"I gotta go. I will see you when I get back...okay?"

"Mhm."

With that he grabbed his keys off of the console table and walked out of the door.

Aubrey

"Wow."

I covered my mouth as the ultrasound tech was monitoring the growth and development of our child. I was amazed by the things I was seeing. The heart was fluttering and the baby sort of resembled an alien but it was beautiful nonetheless.

"Would you like to hear the heart beat?" the tech smiled.

Charlie and I spoke enthusiastically at the same time, "Yes!"

It had to be the most melodic thing I had ever heard. Charlie raised a hand to my face and wiped a tear that I hadn't realized had fallen,

"Thanks."

"Of course baby." She said as she had a few of her own fall.

The tech removed the wand from inside Charlie.