I Ate the Apple

Chapter 17

It's mid March and I'm sitting on the counter, staring at the little plus sign on the test in my hand.

I'm pregnant.

Channing is in the kitchen in our new house with our friends and parents and siblings.

Extended family isn't here.

I slip out of the bathroom and hide the test the best I can.

I'm in the process of having CC22 rebuilt.

Fuck, I'm pregnant.

I'm overjoyed, but I don't want to tell anyone until I have to.

Not even Channing.

I decide to go outside.

It's still cold and there's still snow on the ground, so I put a coat on and go sit on the back porch.

We were fortunate enough to find a house on the lake.

So, I'm sitting out here, watching the ice floating on the lake, and then I see it.

There's a young girl clutching a puppy.

It's cute, so I start recording, moving so I can see her standing on the boardwalk.

I zoom in.

Her mother is screaming at her.

Now, this little girl, she's easily only three years old.

And I watch in agony as the mother pushes her child in the lake, puppy and all.

Te water is just melted, but there's still chunks of ice.

And then the mother takes off.

"Oh my god!" I yell. "Channing!"

He comes running, along with our friends and parents.

I set my phone up to keep recording.

Channing follows me as I jump into the canoe we have. He doesn't get in the boat.

He's demanding answers.

I row as hard as I can towards the little girl.

She obviously doesn't know jjow to swim

The puppy is above water, but the little girl has gone under.

I grab the puppy and put it in the boat, and then I get into the ice cold water and swim around, looking for her.

I find her and I pull her to the surface.

She's alive still.

I put her in the boat and climb back in.

Channing is shouting at everyone to get towels.

I row hard.

The girl is trembling.

Channing helps to pull me out of the boat, and I grab the little girl and her puppy.

Channing rushes us in the house and gives me dry clothes.

He gives the little girl one of my long sleeve shirts.

She luckily wears underwear.

He helps her dress as I dress, and then I dry off the puppy.

He wraps the girl in multiple blankets and I wrap one around myself.

"Why did auntie do that?" the little girl asks, crying. "She's mean!"

"I don't know sweetie." Channing whispers, looking at me for an explanation.

I remember my phone, and I grab it off the back porch and stop the video.

I show everyone what I saw.

"She's outside." Kyle says.

She looks right at our canoe, and then she runs back to her house.

"We need to get her to the police station." Channing whispers.

Nodding, I pick up the little girl and carry her to my truck.

Everyone comes and Channing drives.

We go to the police station and I show them what happened.

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They asked us information and we told them all that we could.

They arrested the mother, who turned out to be the aunt.

They're talking to the little girl, and my head is in my hands.

"This story is too familiar, Channing. I don't want her in the system."

He shrugs. "Let's adopt her."

I look at him, shocked.

He doesn't know I'm pregnant.

"I need to talk to you." I say.

"Okay." He stands up.

That's the end. I'm gonna make a sequel.