Smile Like You Mean It (One)

Chapter Thirty One

A month had passed, with Bryony coming to the end of her pregnancy. Her due date was in a week's time, as she counted down the days. She was ready to be a mother, reading up on everything to make sure that she was as prepared as she could be for the arrival of their son.

The relationship between Sal and Bryony may have ended, but they still remained close – they had to for the sake of their son. Sal had been working a lot more ever since graduating from high school. He had a plan of making enough money to be able to put a deposit on an apartment of his own. They were civil, but to Sal, it felt awkward living with the girl. He knew everything about her, he had seen things not many others had, and yet, he couldn't have her.

With the arrival of the baby nearing, the pair of them still had a discussion to have over what to name their son. They had procrastinated long enough, pushing the idea off in case things would lead to another argument that they didn't want, until one day, Sal brought the subject up, as they both lay in bed on a lazy Sunday morning.

"We still have to decide on a name for the little guy." Sal stated, placing his hand to her bump.

Bryony looked at him, shrugging her shoulders, as she shook her head. "Do you have any suggestions?"

"No," She answered. "I haven't even thought about it yet."

"Well, I've been thinking. I made a list and everything." Sal smiled, reaching across to his bedside table, pulling out a small piece of paper that had scribbles all over the contents of the page. He cleared his throat, turning to face Bryony once again. "What about Hunter Jay?"

"They're nice names, but I can't picture him being a Hunter."

"Okay," Sal nodded, scanning his eyes down the page, as he picked out another name. "Parker Michael?"

"Absolutely not." Bryony chuckled, as Sal slumped his shoulders.

"Well, why don't you give me some ideas then?" He sighed frustratingly, throwing his list of names onto the bed.

"I've always liked the name Theodore." She announced, as Sal scoffed, shaking his head.

"No way." He answered back, causing Bryony to roll her eyes. "What about Fletcher?"

"Get out of my house." Bryony replied, half joking and half serious, as she pointed towards the door, making Sal laugh.

"What's wrong with that?"

"What's right with it more like." Bryony answered, shaking her head. "I like the name Ellis, what do you think?"

"It's not bad, but I wouldn't say use it for a first name." Sal shrugged.

He took hold of his list of names once again, reading through them, as his eyes landed on the very last one on the list. He swallowed, looking up towards Bryony, as she waited for him to continue. "Dustin Ellis Irwin."

He watched, as a smile pulled at Bryony's lips, her cheeks blushing, as she nodded her head, the excitement writhing through her. Sal let a grin play on his features, as he pulled her into a hug, wrapping his arms firmly around her waist. He went to kiss at Bryony's cheek, before he stopped himself. He wasn't sure how far he could take things with the girl anymore.

"I love it!" Bryony exclaimed. "Dustin Ellis Irwin."

She repeated the name over and over, soon feeling a kick come from the baby, which startled her. Sal flinched, as she pulled at his hand, placing his palm against her baby bump, letting him feel his son kick once again. "Seems like he likes it too."

"We can call him Dusty for short." Sal chuckled, soon letting his smile fade. He looked at the girl, as Bryony watched him.

"What's wrong, Sal?" She asked worryingly, as Sal shook his head, breaking himself out of his daze.

"N-Nothing...no, it's nothing." He choked.

"I can tell that it's something."

Bryony reached her hand out to his, offering the boy comfort, as his eyes scavenged over her baby bump. Sal swallowed hard, finally looking Bryony in the eye.

"Well, it's just...I don't know...I kind of thought that he'd have my surname." He shrugged in defeat.

"Oh..." Bryony mumbled, as she avoided his stare. She didn't know what to say, being too scared to admit the real reason as to why Dustin would be taking her surname rather than Sal's.

"It's okay...I guess." Sal admitted reluctantly.

"It's just...I don't want him taking your name in case you abandon me, Sal."

"You still think I'm going to leave you? Bryony, how many times do I have to say it?" Sal sighed.

"But you could completely freak out once he's born, and just leave me to raise him alone."

"Okay," Sal nodded, trying his best to hold back his tears, as Bryony's heart sunk in her chest. She didn't mean to offend the boy. "I get it."

"Sal, I'm not trying to sta-"

"Whatever, I'm not dealing with this now. I need to get to work." He stood from the bed, stepping over to the archway to the bathroom, before coming to a stop, and turning to face Bryony once more. "Even after all we've been through, what we've fought for...and you still can't trust me. That's the last I'm saying on the matter."

**

Bryony sat alone in the living room, her mind still racing over the minor upset that her and Sal had been through that morning. He had been at work for no more than two hours, but her head was still ravelling around over his words. She felt bad deep down inside, she couldn't help the anxiety that she felt over it all. It was easy for Sal, he could just up and leave her whenever he wanted, but she was stuck, stuck with a baby and no one else to turn to. Her family had nothing to do with her, and the thought of Sal abandoning her was a living, breathing nightmare.

She went to stand from the sofa, feeling a sharp pain shoot through her body. Her hand clasped at her bump, as a small scream of pain passed her lips. She swallowed hard, screwing her eyes shut, as she shook her head.

"No," She panicked. "No, no, no, no. Not now, not while Sal's at work!"

Bryony managed to get herself into the bedroom, falling onto the bed, as she curled into a ball, trying her best to deal with the agony. Another contraction occurred not long after the first, as the first few tears began to spill from her eyes, and gradually roll down her cheek. She knew that she needed to get to the hospital, as she inched her way back out into the living room, clasping tightly at the phone that hung from the wall, dialling the only person she knew could get her there in record time.

Within the space of ten minutes, there was a pounding at the front door, as Bryony lay on the sofa, crying through the pain. She could hear the commotion happening out in the hall, as the knocking loudened, the panic of what was happening setting in.

"Bryony?! Can you get to the door?!" Beth shouted through to her.

"N-No! I can't move!" She called back, letting the cries overwhelm her.

"Brian's going to kick the door down, okay?"

"Do whatever it takes, just help me please!" Bryony cried out.

There was a bang at the door, as Brian kicked near the lock, knocking it slightly. He stepped back against the adjacent wall, giving himself as much room as he could, before he ran at the door, barging into it with his shoulder, managing to bust open the lock, and let the door swing open. The pair of them raced into the apartment in a panic.

"Where's your hospital bag?" Beth asked Bryony, as she pointed to the bedroom. Turning her attention to her boyfriend, Beth told him to get Bryony to the car. "You carry her down, I'll get the bag, and we'll call the others on the way there."

Brian nodded, watching, as Beth ran into their bedroom, retrieving the bag that Bryony had packed ready for this day, as Brian tended to her. He curled his arm under her knees, wrapping his free arm around her back, as he pulled Bryony up from the sofa, carrying her in his arms. Beth met them outside of the apartment, closing the door behind her, as they made their way back down to Brian's car that he had left running to save on time.