This Too Shall Pass

Chapter 14

Today is the day that Annabelle and I tell Mark and Amy that she is pregnant.

2 months today, according to Annabelle.

Annabelle is a wreck. She sits on the bed, hair in a messy bun and in a grey, oversized hoodie that reaches just above her knees and a mismatched pair of socks. Head in her hands, breathing deeply.

I however, am put together and ready. With my hair combed through and a pair of black earrings in. Wearing some of Daddy's merch and black ripped jeans.

Amy and Mark are downstairs, last I checked, Mark was editing some footage and Amy was doing some rearranging of plants. Perfect, they will both be in a good mood. One deep breath and I take Annabelle's arm, smiling. She gives a small and quick one back and adjusts her posture to a more confident stance before making her way down the staircase, we see Amy first, standing in front of the couch, admiring the work she has done.

"Amy?" Annabelle asks, getting her attention.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Amy sings back.

"Um... I have something I need to tell you and Mark, can you get him please?" Annabelle requests, staring down at her feet.

"Sure, is everything okay?" Amy asks, a slight worry in her voice.

Annabelle nods slowly. I play with the hem of my t-shirt, feeling like I shouldn't be here right now. Amy leaves to fetch Mark and Annabelle sits on a chair, nervously fiddling with a strand of hair that has fallen out of her bun. I choose to stand chair and lean on the back, arms crossed.

Amy returns with Mark, patient Chica enters the room as well with an energetic Bambi trying to jump onto her back. Bean is asleep on the floor, rolled onto her back with her paws in the air. Both Mark and Amy look a slight bit nervous but take a seat on the couch across from Annabelle and I.

"Hey, hon, what's up?" Mark asks, trying and failing to seem not worried.

"Um... I don't know how to tell you this," Annabelle starts, she looks up at me for some support and I just nod and place a hand on her shoulder.

She takes a deep breath and starts again.

"I need to know that you guys will always love me, no matter what," Annabelle says.

Both Amy and Mark nod. Eager to hear what Annabelle has to say.

"I'm... I'm..." tears start to flow, and she takes a shaky breath.

Cmon Annabelle, you got this!

"I'm pregnant." She states. Petrified of what her parents will think of her now.

"What?" Mark asks quietly, obviously stressed.

"Hang on... did I just hear that right?" Amy looks like she's about to faint.

Annabelle bursts into tears and I slowly hand Amy the test which was in my pocket, she stares at it in disbelief, she isn't mad, just shocked.

Mark however, is a different story. He is pacing the room, running his hands through his hair in obvious distress.

"How could you do this, Annabelle? We trust you with ONE BOY, and you do this! I cant believe this!" He is almost screaming now.

"I'm sorry, Mark, I didn't mean to!" Annabelle chokes in an attempt to speak.

Amy reaches over and engulfs Annabelle in a hug. Mark silently leaves the room to try to think, I decide to follow him and make sure everything is going to be okay.

"Mark?" I whisper, afraid to be yelled at for entering when he is angry.

"What, Claire?" He sighs, his head is in this hands as he stands at his desk.

"Are you okay?" I ask p, carefully.

Mark's body starts to shake and I realize he is crying. Quickly, I run over to him and pull him into a hug, I'm about up to his chin now.

"Amy always wanted a baby, now she's going to have one. But it's not hers." He sobs.

I rub circles in his back. "Are you mad at her?" I ask.

"Yes, but I'm going to help her through this. She's already going through so much, she can't be alone in this." He says. Straightening up, and leaving the room to go to a crying Annabelle.

He's a good father.