From Her Perspective (BWWM)

XXIV

Auriella Devereaux

9 months ago

I laughed as Elias twirled me in the middle of his living room with a warm smile.
"I knew that dress would look beautiful on you," Julie commented on the dress she talked me into buying last night.
     "Thank you,"
     "Can I offer you two a drink?" Elias asked.
     "I'll have a glass of red, please," I said.
     "I'll take a water. I'm driving us home," Jamison said.
     After a while, the four of us were chatting about a complicated birth she had assisted in at work. She's a Certified Professional Midwife who owns a midwife practice.
     "Do you think you want kids, Auri?" Julie asked. Before I could tell her I wasn't sure, a sharp pain in my abdomen caused me to nearly double over as I groaned.
     "Auriella, are you okay?" Jamison asked as he rushed to me, kneeling in front of me.
"Something's wrong," I managed to cry out. Julie immediately leaned down and pressed on my stomach that I was clutching.
"Have you felt any pain here?" she asked as felt around.
"I've had cramps all day, but they never hurt this bad. I—" I paused as I felt wetness spreading around my thighs and dripping down my legs.
"What is that? Did I just piss myself?" I asked as Julie stared at me with wide eyes.
"Sweetheart, I think you're in labor,"

Present

"You were pregnant," he whispered. I stared at him as my eyes watered from his heartbroken expression.
"Billy, I swear I didn't know,"
"What do you mean you didn't know, Ella? Look at him. How old is he?"
"Okay, how about I take Theo into the office, so you two can talk?" he suggested more toward me. I gave him a slight nod, so he pushed the stroller towards the door he came out of. I walked over and flipped the welcome sign to say closed before slightly closing the blinds.
"I know that I owe you a lot of answers,"
"You knew that I would've wanted him. You knew that I would've been there for you and him. Why would you not tell me you were pregnant?"
"I never knew I was pregnant. I had something called a cryptic pregnancy. I never showed any signs. I didn't have a baby bump or morning sickness. My period's always been irregular, so I never batted an eye when I didn't get it. I didn't know I was pregnant until I was giving birth on Elias' couch,"
"How old is he?"
"Nine months. He was three months premature,"
"Why didn't you call me as soon as you had him? Did you think I wouldn't have wanted him?"
"Billy, you have finally gotten everything you worked hard for at your company. You just got free of me. I was afraid to ruin everything for you and afraid of what your father would do. I thought this would be best,"
"How is not knowing my son for the best? We talked about kids before. You knew that I would've dropped everything and rushed to the both of you in a heartbeat. You knew there would've been nothing my father could've done to stop me,"
"I know that I should have handled this better. I'm so sorry, Billy. I wanted to call you so many times. Every time I picked up the phone, I just backed out. Every time I dialed your number, I just thought about how this would disrupt your life. You just got everything you dreamed of. You finally got free of me. You finally got your dad and the media off your back. I was afraid to ruin that,"
"You think I'll ever be free of you? You are so fucking selfish, Auriella. You were willing to take away his opportunity to have a father in his life. After the way we both grew up, I would think that you would be more reasonable,"
"I'm so sorry," I said as I wiped away my tears. He looked away as he clenched his jaw.
"I want to meet him," he said, staring at the door to the office where Theo and Jamison were in. I nodded before walking over, and opening the door. Jamison was playing peek-a-boo with Theo. He looked at me and glanced back at my son.
"Are you sure?" he asked as he stood with Theo.
"He deserves to meet his son," I said as I picked Theo up and headed towards Billy.
"This is Theo Oliver Devereaux," I bounced our son, before allowing Billy to pick him up.
     "Theo," he whispered as he sat down on a bench. Theo stared up at him with wonder as he fisted Billy's tie.
"I've missed so much already," he said as he looked up at me. I nodded before sitting beside him.
"I know. I won't keep him from you. We can work out a schedule and figure out a way to make this work with me being here and you in New York,"
"I'm not going back to New York. I'm not leaving," he said, staring at our son.
"What do you mean? Your whole life is there,"
"My whole life is right here in my arms. I'm not leaving him,"
"What about your dad and Grandfather?"
"Father will be fine. He's been wanting me out for a while anyway."
     "But your Grandfather w—"
     "He died, Auriella," he spoke softly. My eyes widened as my breath hitched.
     "When?"
     "Six months ago. He went in his sleep. There's nothing for me there. I need to be with my son,"
     "I have a spare bedroom while you look for a place. It's not much, but—"
     "—Thank you,"