A Tough Choice

Chapter Fifty Three

I ran and ran, tears blurring my vision as it finally began to sink in. I felt sick even thinking about it. I had to know the truth, and I knew Caleb was the one to ask.

"Caleb!" I called as I reached the car park and saw him climbing into his car.

He froze when he saw me and quickly climbed back out of the car.

"What's wrong?" he called.

"What the....hell...is..this?" I asked slightly out of breath.

I silently handed him my notes and watched his face closely. I gasped as he suddenly turned pale.

"I can explain." he said sadly.

I stared at him for a moment, he hadn't denied it, he hadn't told me it wasn't true like I'd hoped he would. That meant it must be true. I fell to my knees and began to sob. I felt Caleb kneel beside me and gently wrap his arms around my shoulders.

"Go away." I sobbed.

I couldn't believe it, I was gutted. How could this have happened. I was going to be a mother and because of my stupid actions the baby was gone forever. I felt an overwhelming sense of grief and loss. How could Caleb have kept that from me.

"We should talk somewhere in private." he said as he glanced around the car park.

I sat numbly as he gently lifted me to my feet and helped me into the passenger seat. I glanced at him as he sat in the driver's seat and watched me closely.

"I'm really sorry." he whispered.

"You're sorry!" I shouted.

He nodded sadly.

"If I hadn't found out, would you ever have told me?" I asked him.

"To be honest probably not." he admitted.

I sniffed sadly and quickly wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"You're my friend, I didn't want to hurt you." he sighed.

"You should have told me!" I cried.

I sat for a moment, crying silently.

"Ethan is going to hate me!" I sobbed.

"Why on earth would he hate you?" he asked quietly.

"It was my fault, I killed his baby!" I sobbed.

"It wasn't your fault." he argued.

"It was me that stepped into the road without looking!" I protested.

"It was an accident, it was nobody's fault." he reassured me.

I looked up as he leant over and pulled me into his arms. I sobbed against his chest.

"Sssh it wasn't your fault." he whispered.

"He can't know about this." I said quietly.

"What?" he asked.

"I can't bear to see him hate me." I whispered.

"He won't, he knows it was an accident." he said.

"I can't take that risk, I can't lose him too." I whispered.

"Please don't tell him." I insisted.

"I won't." he sighed.

We sat in silence for a while, both lost in thought.

"I'll give you a lift home." he said eventually.

"No I'll be fine." I protested.

"I insist." he said.

I let go of him and stared out of the window as he started the car and pulled away.

The car journey passed painfully slowly. I just wanted get home and be alone. To curl up in a ball and escape the pain.

After what felt like an age we reached my house.

"Thanks for the lift." I said numbly.

"Do you want me to come in and keep you company for a bit?" he offered.

"No, I'll be fine." I said smiling falsely.

I quickly climbed out of the car and walked indoors.

Caleb's POV

I sighed as she climbed out of the car. I knew that she was hurting and it was partly my fault. Ethan wouldn't be happy when he found out that she knows. I'd been placed in an awful position. They had both asked me not to tell the other what had happened. Yet they both knew anyway. I had no idea what to do for the best. Emma would be devastated if she found out that Ethan knew, I couldn't cause her more pain. I'd just keep out of it and let them sort things out themselves. Hopefully it will all blow over and I wouldn't hear anymore about it.