A Little Bit Like Heaven

Chapter 21: Little Angel

CAROLINE

I sat with Victoria in the all white office of Dr. Whitfield a close friend of my Aunt Sarah who agreed to see me in private. Her office had been closed off for an entire morning because of my appointment. It would simply be too dangerous for people to see me in a gynecologist clinic. The publicists already spun the story in the right direction and right now Zayn and I were the headline couple of fifteen different magazines. Caption read; “Caroline Dagenham and Zayn Malik secret romance for years?” or “Long time secret couple, engaged!” it was all so daunting. Victoria flipped through the magazine and stopped when she saw my picture.

“Is this you? With Zayn?” She showed me the picture of me with Zayn in a motorcycle. The memory gave me a surge of warmth and I had to stop myself from smiling at the memory.

“Yes.” I said simply.

“Looks like you had a good time. Up until the last second anyway.” Victoria mumbled the last sentence.

“Vicky!” I exclaimed. She rolled her eyes and smiled at me.

“Come on, give this lad a chance.” She said mocking my British accent. Dr. Whitfield an attractive twenty something ginger woman swung open her doors and walked towards us.

“Caroline, hi nice to see you again!” Dr. Whitfield extended her hand and without second thought I stood up and shook back her hand with vigor.

“Thank you for seeing us, like this.” I smiled sheepishly.

“No, problem I know how high profile the Dagenhams, I know because I’ve been friends with your mom too.” She winked at me and motioned for me to follow her in her office.

“Impressive.” Victoria nodded at the modern styled office of Dr. Whitfield.

“I presume you’re Victoria Dagenham? The other Dagenham in the US, I’ve heard quite a lot about you.” She smiled.

“So, where’s the father?” Dr. Whitfield started to set up the equipment while Victoria and I stood a couple of feet away. I cast my eyes down refusing to answer the question. 

“Umm, he’s not here.” Victoria chimed in for me. Dr. Whitfield looked at me with a knowing expression and went back to her work wordlessly. 

I was nervous. What if the baby had an extra limb or a heart condition or a one in a million genetic disease? If Zayn were here… if Zayn were here I wouldn’t be too nervous. I was right, he had a right to know, he was the father and I foolishly kept extracting him from my life. 

“Excuse me, I have to make a call.” I said.

“But, Caroline—“ Victoria called after me but I was already in the hallway punching out Zayn’s familiar number. The phone rang exactly five long times before he picked up.

“Hello?” He answered a little bit breathless.

“Hi, Zayn it’s me Caroline.” I said. There was a long pause on the other line and I could feel Zayn’s hesitation from all the way up here.

“Why are you calling me?” His voice was filled with an icy cold quality that he never used on me before. I instantly regretted the words I uttered to him last night, I hurt his feelings and my dream of a friendship, of any future relationship with him disappeared that very moment.

“I-I wanted to say I’m sorry for last night, and if you’re still interested I’m at the doctor right now.” Again my statement was met by silence. 

“I can’t.” He said simply and hung up the phone. He didn’t even try to supply me reasons or excuses which led me to think that he just didn’t want to come here.