You & I

You & I Chapter Sixteen

"Mama, I'll be back in a couple of days." Billie said as she packed up her suitcase.

She was heading to New York because her colleague had given her a second chance for to audition for his podcast. And she figured this was a much-needed distraction from all of her troubles. Plus she needed an excuse to get out of dodge because some her aunts and cousins were beginning to grow suspicious of her newfound appearance.

"I just don't like the idea of you running around that filthy city in your condition." Iris said.

"I'll be fine. I wish you could come with me so you can see that they city isn't that bad."

"I do have some vacation time lined up, but I'll pass."

Then Iris gave her a cute Macho Man Randy Savage onesie and a copy of What to expect when you're expecting.

"You should definitely read that on the plane." She said.

Billie cringed but reluctantly took her mother's gift. And she rolled her eyes while her mom nagged her about her next doctor's appointment. Yet when she pulled up the calendar on her phone, her heart fell into her stomach. And she realized that Chris's birthday was in the next few days.

Iris knew that she was still pining over him, and she told her to call him that day as a sign of good faith. But Billie was hesitant and she actually wondered if his family was still planning on throwing him a surprise party.

"How is Lisa doing by the way?" Iris wondered.

"She's okay. She's been busy with her summer workshops, but she's really worried about her son." Billie felt guilty that Chris wasn't in a great place mentally.

Iris wasn't surprised because she knew how much he loved her. And Billie admitted that she still loved him deeply. But as much as she wanted to forgive him, she couldn't erase the image of him cheating on her.

"Sweetie, you shouldn't hold onto such bitterness. It'll give you premature wrinkles." Iris then hugged her and said, "But I give you full permission to stomp that bitch out if you ever see her again."

Billie laughed and said that if she wasn't pregnant she'd probably take her advice. Afterwards she said her goodbyes and her stepfather Hank drove her to the airport. They rode in silence for most of the way but then Billie asked if he could keep an eye on Dodger while she was gone.

"He'll be fine! He's such a good boy but it's a damn shame he can't stay with us for good." Hank said.

Billie loved he had taken a liking to her dog. But because she shared custody, it wasn't her decision to make. And she recalled the day that Dodger came into her life on that fateful Christmas Eve. But then she started to cry because it was the only time where she felt truly content. And she thought that she was finally getting her fairy tale ending.

Hank handed her an old handkerchief from his glove compartment, and he said that he was tired of seeing her unhappy. But then he told her to stop being so single-minded about her situation.

"I'm not trying to come down on you, but you two are gonna have a kid together. And I'm not condoning what he did. In fact I'm pissed off at him, but I know that people make mistakes. And you two aren't perfect people. But if Chris can admit that he was wrong, then you should hold onto him because he's a good man." Then he told her to let go of the notion of having a faultless relationship and to appreciate the good and qualities they both shared.

Billie took his words to heart and she actually considered texting Chris before she boarded. But alas she wasn't ready to deal with their emotional baggage. Luckily she slept throughout her entire flight and she was able to clear her head.