A Twist in Fate

Chapter five

Beth

I was sitting with Abbigail in the doctor's office, both of us waiting on our blood test results. We brought Mandy with us when I started to get anxious about possibly being pregnant. Abbigail made it sound like she wanted the extra support. Shawn was okay with us taking her car, knowing that we both probably needed a minute to ourselves after what we've been through these last few weeks since prom night.

Abbigail had calmed down with the drive here, but as we sat and waited for the results, my nerves have been on edge. I almost jumped out of my skin when the doctor entered the office and Mandy came to calm me down. Abbigail and I held hands while she opened both envelopes and smiles. Her lips moved, but no sound came out. I didn't need sound to know both of us were pregnant.

I gingerly pull my hand from Abbigail and step out in the hall. I bring my hands to either my stomach or my mouth as silent sobs escape my lips. I never expected to find out before she left to join the military. Can I handle this pregnancy without her when she's still here? Should I tell or or wait?

I shutter a calming breath when I feel Abbigail take me in a comforting embrace. "I'm going to tell Melanie when we get back, you should tell Shawn," she chokes quietly.

"I'm not sure I can wait two years for her to come home to our baby. I want them to know who she is. I need her with me Abbigail," I choke in broken sobs.

"Come on, I was about to find out how far along I am," she chokes in a soothing whisper.

Abbigail steps back and Mandy comes in my view with tears of joy in her eyes. She wipes my eyes and says with a smile, "Shawn is going to be happy when she hears the news. You should have seen her last night, talking about starting a family with you when she returned home."

"I don't want to lose her when I just got her," I choke between broken sobs and Mandy takes me in a comforting embrace.

"Beth, I've watched Shawn crush the shell she's been stuck in since freshman year. She's gained respect from most of the jocks and the cheer squad. There's been less bullying in our school since the beginning of the year and it's because of Shawn," Mandy says in a soothing tone.

I shutter a calming breath and look towards Abbigail waiting with the doctor. "I'm ready," I choke quietly and take Abbigail's hand. "Let's go see how far we are."

We follow the doctor to a room with an ultrasound machine and Mandy helps Abbigail first. Moments later the doctor is waving a wand over her lower abdomen and the screen shows her baby on the monitor. "You look around eight weeks pregnant and with a very healthy baby," the doctor says with a smile.

"Your birthday was eight weeks ago," I point out. "Was this before her parents...?"

"Yes," she chokes quietly and none of us finish my question, knowing it was before her parents chopper was shot down. "Your turn."

She climbs down with Mandy's help and I take my seat in the examination chair. I expose my stomach and watch the doctor squeeze the gel on my lower abdomen before waving the wand over the area. "You look about six weeks Beth, also with a healthy baby," the doctor says softly and I nod gingerly, keeping my eyes on the peanut shaped bubble in my womb.

Fresh tears fill my eyes as the monitor is switched off and moments later I'm handed a printout. I don't take my eyes off it and Mandy guides us both back to Shawn's car. I don't remember the drive back or pulling in the driveway.

My gaze is broken away from the printout in my hands when Shawn reaches in to undo my seatbelt with concern in her eyes. I meet her eyes as tears roll down my cheeks and she caresses my face. "Do you have to go in two weeks," I ask in a choked whisper.