Saving Jasper: Unbroken | ✓ [COMPLETE]

Chapter 8

It was a warm and breezy day when I first learned I was pregnant. Six months had passed since Jasper and I had gotten married. Though I woke up that morning expecting none other than a fresh cup of coffee, and a jump-start on my day off that week, I was greeted with news that would change my life forever. Despite the nausea, the sudden weight gain, and the mood swings; it was the test that had finally snapped me back into reality. I was sitting on the closed toilet seat, quite numb to be honest.

“Charlie?” Jasper’s voice came from the other side of the door, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer him. I couldn’t even bring myself to look away from the two, parallel pink lines shown on the test itself. I closed my eyes for a moment and rubbed them vigorously with my free hand. When I opened them again, nothing had changed. I wasn’t sure why I was expecting anything to change, but a small part of me was hoping for something to.

“Charlotte,” he said again, his voice firmer. My gaze shifted towards the off-white door, but still I remained silent. How could I explain this to him? Surely, I should have known. I should have expected this to happen, but I’d paid no attention. In the moment, I had been too wrapped up in my own feelings and emotions, to stop and think of the rational thing to do. Jasper must have felt the same, for he didn’t try to stop me when we--

“If you don’t open this door right now, I’ll break the damn thing down myself! What are you doing?” As he shouted those words at me, I felt a light blush color my cheeks red. How could I be thinking about that at a time like this? After all, it was that that had, well, caused this.

Sighing, I forced myself to stand. “Jasper, I’m alright.” But, I swayed on my feet, feeling a mild sense of vertigo. I grasped the bathroom counter to steady myself, and concentrated on taking deep breaths.

A long silence followed. “Well, what are you doing?” His voice wasn’t firm now, but rather curious.  I bit my lower lip, once more finding myself at a loss for words. It was like any single thought in my head had vanished and disintegrated into thin air. Gone, just like that.

“I’m not feeling well,” I went with. It was partly the truth, of the current situation I was in. Over the course of the past seven or eight weeks, I’d woken up each morning with a twisting and churning stomach. Jasper readily believed me when I’d told him I’d had the stomach flu.

“You’re still sick, babe? Maybe we should see a doctor...” His voice trailed off into a mumble. I could perfectly picture his brow furrowing as he concentrated. The floorboards creaked as turned, and I let out a breath of relief. Then the doorknob rattled sporadically, almost frantic. Before he could say anything, I threw the test into the sink and hurriedly opened the door.

He stared down at me, confusion written all over his face. I felt guilty as I looked at the floor, unable to compose myself. His hands found my waist, but I held my ground as he attempted to pull me into his embrace.

“What’s wrong?” His voice was tender, caring. I wanted to spill it all out right then and there, but I refrained from doing so.

“Nothing,” I muttered. I froze as he stepped around me, into the bathroom. “What are you doing?”

“Brushing my teeth, I’ve got my final rounds of training in a few hours.” He sounded confused again as he looked into the mirror, running his hand through his hair tiredly. It stuck up in all different directions, as if he had stuck his finger into an electrical outlet. He looked adorable nonetheless, and my heart fluttered in my chest, skipping a few beats.

I spun around as his gaze lowered into the sink, catching sight of the pregnancy test; which I had thrown in there moments before.

   “Jasper--”