The Cost for Freedom

Chapter 3

We had gotten into the city pretty late last night, but I had been asleep so by the time we arrived I was only conscious long enough to get into the bed. We were now all gathered around the breakfast table outside of our hotel in Nangis, France. The plan was to see the Chateau de la Motte, which was an old fortress located in the heart of the city. I was actually looking forward to doing something different than tour vineyards today.

The tour flew by, after which we walked part of the city and went to an early dinner. My mother and I wanted a calmer day so we decided to get a bottle of wine and cheese for an early evening snack. But we were barely our first glasses in when Jeff got a phone call.

"Well I just remember you Alex, and your face was like," Jeff continued his story as we all laughed watching him make a ridiculous face meant to imitate me. "Then dad had-" bells chimed from Jeff's pockets. He looked down as he pulled it out to see who it was, "Oh, sorry guys, its Melissa. I better take this," he said apologetically.

"Hmm, I wonder what she wants," my mother says.

"Yeah, she knows he is Europe, calling minutes are outrageous!" my dad said.

"Must be some kind of an emergency then," I wondered aloud.

It wasn't long before he came back with a somber expression on his face. "Dad, I need to try to get a taxi back to the airport, or maybe if you can give me a ride somehow... Mel is in trouble."

"What? What happened?" My dad says back to him.

"Jeff, honey, just sit back down. Tell us what Mel said."

My brother looked genuinely upset as he looked at my mother before continuing slowly. "Well, I, uh..." he looked uncomfortable.

"My god, Jeff. Just tell us what's so important that she really wants you to go back home." I say a little too firmly.

"Ok... Well. I just want you to know this happened after I had proposed. I love her, and this had nothing to do with-."

"Just get on with it Jeff. We can't help you until we know everything." My father encouraged him on.

"She was pregnant," he blurted out. He looked at all of us before continuing. "We weren't going to tell you because the wedding isn't for another month. It's only been five weeks. Anyways, she's just called because she is at the hospital." He was frowning now, concentrating at the ground. "It was a miscarriage."

"Oh," My mother gasped, placing both her hands on her heart. "Poor Mel."

I was speechless. That was serious. I had no idea she was pregnant, of course none of us did. But now...

"Jeff, son, I'll take you back to the airport."

"Thanks, Dad."

We continued on silently. I emptied my glass.

Jeff got up, "Alright Alex, I guess this is goodbye, I'm gonna go back and pack as quickly as I can. Dad, I can help you get a hotel for the night, I know it's late."

"What..." I got up as he embraced me.

"Love ya, Lex. I am sorry I have to go so soon like this," he pulled away from me as he looked at me somberly. "I know you were looking forward to this vacation."

I began to shake my head. "I just can't believe you didn't tell any of us!" I blurted out as I stepped away from him. "I mean, none of us knew. We had no idea. This is your first kid," I was throwing my hands up in the air. "I mean you were going to be a dad! And you were keeping that from your family? From me?" I couldn't help it. This hurt. There were some things that I would tell Jeff, but I wouldn't tell my parents. Jeff and I were close like that, I thought.