Dressing Up

Chapter 9: Searching

The next day Lizzie woke up. Ryan was quietly tiptoeing around the tiny kitchenette/ dining room/ living room. She sat up guilty and pulled herself off the couch.  “No need to be quiet, I’m awake.”

He smiled in obvious relief. “Oh great. I’ll put the coffee machine on.” Lizzie grabbed some clothes from her suitcase and went into the bathroom to get changed. The apartment was micro sized but perfect for the couple. But there wasn’t enough room for the three of them, let alone a baby. Lizzie needed to sort out somewhere to live as soon as possible. What if the baby came early? Lizzie groaned and pulled her hair into a high ponytail. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and pulled her top tighter. She changed the angle and examined her reflection. Yep, no doubt about it, there was definitely a little person growing in there. Her phone beeped and Lizzie picked it up. It was a message from Tish, wishing her the best and telling her, her door was always open if she needed help. Lizzie smiled. Looked like there were more good people out there. She quickly typed a thank you note and promised to keep in touch. 

When she came out of the bathroom she squeezed past Ryan, as he went in to brush his teeth. Yep, this place was definitely too small to fit her. As Cynth came out of her bedroom stretching and yawning, Lizzie stepped out onto the minuscule balcony to give the couple a bit of privacy. She looked down at the busy street below. Auckland was such a big city, where was she going to start?

After a few minutes of daydreaming, she heard Ryan call out his goodbyes. She turned and waved to him and tried not to watch the adorable scene of Cynth kissing him goodbye. Once the door closed she came back into the living room. Cynth handed her a tea and Lizzie smiled in appreciation. Cynth was the best. Lizzie examined her friend’s dressing gown and frowned, “When do you have to be at work?”

Cynth grinned, “I’m pulling a sickie.”

Relief washed over Lizzie. She wasn’t going to have to figure this out on her own. She hugged her friend tightly, “You're the best.”

Cynth laughed, “You know it.” She picked up her coil notebook, “Okay, you ready for this?”

Lizzie nodded and sipped her tea. They moved over to the couch and Cynth pulled out a pen and opened the book. “Okay so #1 See a doctor. There’s a walk-in clinic just around the corner so we can do that at…” she checked her watch, “ten when they open.”

Lizzie nodded expectantly. Cynth wrote it down and then tapped her pen in thought, “My sister always had to take prenatal vitamins, so we should probably go to the chemist.” She wrote down #2 Chemist vitamins.

Lizzie chewed her lip in worry. Vitamins sounded kind of important. Would the baby be okay, not having had those for the last few months?

Cynth put down her pen, “Ah, something I should probably ask you uh… before we go too much further with the list.” She paused and gave Lizzie a worried look.

Lizzie put down her tea, “Spit it out.”

Cynth nodded her head, then awkwardly asked, “Are you planning on… uh... keeping the baby?” She quickly added, “Cause Ryan and I will help you regardless, whatever you choose.”

Lizzie smiled sadly, “I’m too far along for options.”

Cynth blinked, “Oh, okay.”

Lizzie nodded, “Yep, this baby is coming into the world.”

Cynth nodded and tapped her pen. “Do you know how far along you are?”

“21 weeks”

“Okay. Wow, so more than halfway.” Cynth counted on her fingers, “So you’re due in July. Wow.”