King of my Heart

TWENTY-THREE

Jocelyn looked around the now empty apartment. It was a bitter sweet moment, but she was excited for the next journey. Jocelyn had spent the last two hours cleaning every surface and vacuuming all the carpet in the space with the help of Morgan and Taylor. Ty didn't want her to do it alone, but he had obligations that prevented him from being there with her. Of course, Taylor and Morgan were there to help their friend.
"I can't believe it." Taylor said, coming up behind Jocelyn. "You guys are starting a new chapter in your lives."
"I can't believe it either. This has all felt like a dream the last few months."
"I am so glad you decided to come back home." Morgan said, Taylor nodding her head in agreement. Home. Jocelyn didn't know how to explain it, but as soon as she moved here three years ago, it always felt like home.
"This is home, isn't it?"
"We're going to have to throw you a baby shower. And you need to have a house warming party, and..."
"Taylor." Taylor let out a giggle.
"Sorry."
"You do not know how to slow down, do you?"
"Absolutely not. The last 7 weeks of my pregnancy with Bennett was so boring." The door opened as both Christopher and Ross walked in the door.
"You guys done in here?" Christopher asked.
"Yeah, I think so. I'm going to take a lap around the apartment. Y'all can leave." Taylor and Morgan both gave her a hug good bye. Jocelyn now found herself in the apartment alone. She took a lap around the place, checking every room. Everything was out and everything was cleaned. This was it. Jocelyn headed towards the door, officially closing the chapter on that part of their lives. Jocelyn headed to the elevator to drop off the keys at the front office. Jocelyn had a little bit of time until she needed to head out for her appointment with the specialist. She still hadn't fully wrapped her mind around the pregnancy. Jocelyn stepped off the elevator and took the right towards the front office. She dropped the keys off the the building manager before heading outside to her car. She had to drive into Charlotte, so Jocelyn sped a little to get there a few minutes early. Jocelyn found a parking spot close to the hospital thankfully. She headed inside and got into the elevator. As soon as she stepped off the elevator, she took the left and headed down the hall. As soon as she pushed open the door, Jocelyn was greeted with the most relaxed group of receptionists and nurse.
"Jocelyn Gibbs to see Dr. Hansen." Jocelyn said as she stepped up to the desk. The receptionist tapped the keys on her computer.
"You are all checked in, Mrs. Gibbs. Go ahead and take a seat." Jocelyn gave her a smile before taking a seat. She didn't wait long, maybe 10 minutes before she was called back. Just at her regular OB's office, Jocelyn had to give them a sample. She was definitely not going to get used to that. Afterwards, Jocelyn was led back to an exam room. She had her vitals taken before the nurse left her alone.
"You must be Jocelyn." Jocelyn heard a few minutes later as the door swung open.
"That's me."
"Let's take a look at baby, shall we?" Jocelyn laid back on the exam table. "Okay, lift up your shirt for me please." Jocelyn did what she was told. "Someone is a bit active today." She said, showing Jocelyn the screen. "Everything looks good. Heartbeat is strong."
"That's great to hear." She got clean up before sitting back up.
"I know you've been unlucky in the fertility department, but I can assure you that we will do everything we can to make sure this pregnancy goes by smoothly, okay?" Dr. Hansen handed her the sonogram photos she printed before leaving. Jocelyn sent Ty a text telling him everything looked good. She slipped her phone into her purse before leaving the exam room. She headed out of women's center, right into the last person she'd thought she'd ever run into.
"Elsie."
"Jocelyn. What are you doing here?"
"I...uh..." Elsie looked down, seeing the sonogram photos.
"Oh my gosh. You're pregnant."
"Elsie..."
"Now I feel so much worse than I did before."
"Elsie, please."
"He didn't tell me that you were expecting."
"He didn't know, Elsie. I found out that day." Elsie covered her mouth with her hand. "Do you want to talk?"
"You are not going to go all therapist on me." Elsie turned away from Jocelyn, but turned back around. "You messed Ty up when you left."
"I know."
"Like really badly." Jocelyn nodded. "I put him back together."
"Thank you."
"Thank you? That's all you can say? Thank you?"
"What else do you want me to say, Elsie? I didn't ask him to leave you. You two weren't together when he found out I was back." Elsie sighed. "Let's go talk. I won't go therapist on you. Promise."
"Fine. We'll go down to the cafeteria." If you would have told Jocelyn that she'd be sitting in a Charlotte hospital cafeteria with her husband's ex-girlfriend, she would have called you crazy. There she was, sitting with Elsie. Two cups of coffee and two slices of the strawberry pie sitting on the table in front of them. Elsie said it was the best.
"Whay are you doing here at the hospital?"
"I kind of work here. Sometimes in the chapel, but I also get called by families of patients on hospice, in a coma, things like that. I come in and I pray with the families."
"That sounds really sweet of you."
"Thanks. So, how far along are you?"
"15 weeks."
"And you just found out last week?"
"I know. You never think you'd be the one to find out later, but here we are."
"He was hung up on your for months after you left."
"I know. Morgan and Taylor used to tell me things when they'd call."
"He didn't go to one of his best friend's weddings because of you."
"I know. Taylor is like a big sister to him."
"And you just showed back up here and he forgot about all of that."
"I didn't ask him to." They sat in silence for a few minutes as they finished their pie. "You were right."
"About?"
"That pie was amazing." Elsie managed a smile. "I'm sorry that all this has happened. I didn't mean for all of this. I didn't think he and I would get back together. I thought I was just going to come back, keep my distance for the summer, and then go back to Toronto."
"You somehow managed to get him to do something I wanted from him."
"What's that?" Elsie reached over and tapped the engagement ring on her finger. "Elsie..."
"I always knew he'd never take that step with me. I just thought if I could wear him down enough, he'd do it. I know it sounds bad, but..." Elsie let out a sigh. Jocelyn reached out and placed her hand on hers.
"I am truly sorry about all of this."
"Can you do me one thing, Jocelyn?" She asked.
"Of course. Anything."
"Don't hurt him again."
"I couldn't even imagine doing that again. Promise."