Dressing Up

Chapter 10: Another Surprise

Lizzie walked out of Common Sense, holding a large paper bag filled with goodies. Her mood hadn’t shifted, but she felt a kind of calm settle over her. Just knowing that she had tried, despite the fact that she had failed made her feel better. She pulled her coat tighter around her thin frame and carried on down the sidewalk towards Cynth’s car. 

She thought about all the errands she would need to do tomorrow. She needed to start a new list & make a new plan. This baby was coming whether or not she had her shit together. She needed to get strong fast. A car door slammed and Lizzie vaguely noticed someone move around the front of their car and step onto the sidewalk in front of her.

“Lizzie?”

She glanced up and then froze.

“Holy shit!” Lizzie fumbled with her bag and a few oranges fell to the ground. Tom reached down and scooped them up. He stood again, holding the fruit. He stared at her and Lizzie stared right back at him, completely dumbfounded. She had said she wouldn’t, but she had thought about Tom every night for the last 5 months; and now here he was, even more handsome than she remembered. His hair was short and his moustache was gone. He had a faint 5 o’clock shadow that made him look rugged. He looked so good. Her heart fluttered and she offered him a hesitant smile.

He held the oranges out to her and searched her face. Lizzie kicked herself, realising how strange she was being. She reached for the oranges, “Thanks.”

She put them back in the bag. Tom opened his mouth and shook his head. He gestured with his hands, “I can’t believe it’s you!”

Lizzie nodded. She tried to breathe normally but her heart was pounding too fast. He was here. Tom was here. Right in front of her. What were the chances? He smelled so good.  She had to tell him about the baby right away. Didn’t she? She had to. But how to broach the topic… by the way Tom you knocked me up and now I’m homeless- wanna go on a second date? She slowly remembered the fact that he had never called. Tom had never called. He wasn’t interested in her. It had just been sex. Lizzie blinked. 

Tom waved his hands with a big grin on his face, “Wow. How crazy is this?”

Lizzie nodded but the smile slowly fell from her face. He was so damn happy. That wouldn’t last once she told him the news. He was going to hate her and she was going to ruin his life. His girlfriend! Oh God, she was actually going to ruin his life.

He continued, “It’s been ages. How are you?”

Lizzie looked away and shrugged, “Still breathing.” She let out a low sigh and Tom narrowed his eyes.

“Is …everything okay?”

Lizzie opened her mouth but no words came out. How do you just ruin someone’s life with a few words?

“Oh shit, you don’t know.” He slapped his forehead, “Sorry, I’m such an idiot.”

Lizzie looked at him blankly.

He gestured to a park bench a few metres away. Lizzie followed him, then sat next to him, still holding the grocery bag in front of her. God she needed to tell him. Like now. Every second that she put this off, was only going to make it worse in the long run.

Tom turned and faced her, “I am so sorry I never called.”

Lizzie bristled. She didn’t want to hear this. Whatever weak ass excuse he had for not calling, it didn’t matter. He wasn’t into her, end of story. It stung to think about it, and she certainly didn’t need him lying to her face about it. They had bigger fish to fry right now.

She held up her hand, “Don’t worry. It’s fine. Really. I wasn’t bothered.”

Tom leaned back and frowned. “No, I don’t think you understand…”