Beach Love [Sequel to Unexpected Love]

Beach Love part 21

Please comment, vote, and fan!!(: I always appreciate it!

_______________________

*two years later*

                I stroked Mitchell’s head as he lay in his crib, fighting sleep. “Mitchell, it’s time for bed. Honey, you’re going to be tired tomorrow.” I whispered. He cried slightly still but I could tell my touch was putting him right to bed. I began to hum a little tune and within minutes later, he was sound asleep.

                I sighed, exhausted myself from the day we had. Mitchell’s birthday was a success. My family came, including grandparents from my mom’s side, Monica and Jordan came also, who now had a permanent spot on the college basketball team.

The couple had, to my dismay, moved back up to Oregon full time. Not having Monica here was rather hard on me, but I’ve been getting through it: Monica texts me twenty four seven though, which I don’t mind at all. She was telling me about her and Jordan’s up-and-coming wedding plans. Monica was going to college as well, training to become either a teacher or a doctor.

It was nice to see them. AJ was talking about possibly moving up there soon, back up to Oregon. At this point, I wouldn’t mind. I’ve just begun to realize how lucky my childhood was growing up. Our house I had was completely perfect being right on the beach, whereas the house AJ and I were renting was not. I couldn’t stand our house. It was too enclosed. I needed a place more open. I think AJ thought that through when he bought the place…that I wouldn’t be able to live here for too long.

The only one that didn’t show up to Mitchell’s birthday was Brady. My mom had convinced me to invite his family; his mom showed up and so did his sister, Bethany, who was in the car accident. Bethany was doing a lot better; some things still don’t seem to click with her though. Every time I looked at either one of them I thought I was going to be sick. I knew how much I hurt Brady, and it took everything in me to stand in the same room as his family.

“Is he asleep,” AJ poke his head through the crack of the door. I smiled. “Yes, he’s finally asleep. I think it was from all the excitement today.” I walked out of the room and closed the door gently behind me, wrapping my arms around AJ’s waist.

                “I love you,” I said, pecking him on the lips. He smiled. “I know, and I love our child.” AJ said. My heart fluttered a little and it began to race, my blood pulsed through my veins. “Yeah,” I said, lowering my hands to my side. Thinking will just make everything worse, Amber. Just don’t think about it. You have to play it cool.

                Of course, my little pep talk to myself didn’t help very much. All night the only thing I could think about was those two little words: I love our child. I tossed and turned all night long until it finally hit 7am. AJ had to get up at that time to go to work, so I decided to get up and make him breakfast, since I couldn’t sleep anyways.

                I waited around the house all day, letting Mitchell relax after yesterday and being surrounded by my thoughts. I wish I could just jump out of my brain, there was no escaping this. The guilt and fear I felt was too overwhelming, but I couldn’t tell a soul. If I did, everything I hold dear and close to me could be destroyed.

                “Hey babe,” I said when AJ settled down from work. “Yeah,” He said looking through the refrigerator. “What are we going to have for dinner by the way? It doesn’t look like we have anything good to eat.” AJ said a little deflated. “Well, that’s what I was going to ask. Do you think we could have dinner at my mother’s tonight?” I said. AJ closed the fridge and shrugged. “Fine by me, I don’t think Mitch would mind either,” He said smiling down at the little boy playing with his tractor he had gotten for his birthday.

                From the look on AJ’s face when he looked I me, I could tell he knew there was something more about this dinner. “What’s up? Just get it all out on the table now.” AJ sighed. I hated how he could read me as easily as a book. “Well…Brady’s family is supposed to be there, along with Brady. So…I don’t know, I guess I just want to see them again. It would be nice to make up with Brady already. I haven’t spoken to him in what, two years now; maybe even more…the wedding day. That was the last day.” I started rambling. AJ stopped me. “Alright, that’s fine with me. Why didn’t you just tell me in the first place?” He asked. I sighed. “I don’t know.”

                When we arrived at my parent’s place, my mother was just putting in the chicken that we were to have. “Oh, you decided to come! Good! There’s going to be plenty for everyone!” My mom said smiling. “Hi mom,” She gave me and AJ a hug. My father came down the stairs holding little Veronica. It was weird seeing him with small children; he just looked so comfortable and happy with them. “Oh, look who’s here: Aunt Amber and Uncle AJ.” My dad picked up Veronica’s hand and tried to make her wave at us. “Hello gorgeous girl,” I waved back. I wonder when Brady and his family were going to get here.

                “No, I don’t want to go, Amber could be there.” I said as my mom grabbed a whole bowl of freshly baked potato salad. “Look, Brady. We don’t have much time left together before you go off to another year of college. Please come, Amber’s not going to be there.” My mom begged. Finally, I gave in. I was such a push over when it came to my mom.

                We got completely ready and then we walked along the beach to the Ashturn household. Like always, the back door to their house was wide open. My mom walked in first and I heard a whole bunch of “why hello!” and “good to see you!” Mrs. Ashturn met us at the door and greeted us. “Why, hello Brady! I’m glad you could make it!” Mrs. Ashturn smiled at me and gave me a heartwarming hug. However, I couldn’t form a “hello,” response back because our eyes had met: the eyes of the girl who stole my heart and never gave it back.

                My face flooded with heat and anger. My mom said she wasn’t going to be here. “Hello Brady,” Amber said in her sweet tone. The next thing I noticed was a small child holding onto her leg. It definitely wasn’t Veronica, no, this was a male. He had dark skin like me, brown hair like me, and bright blue piercing eyes like me. “I’d like you to meet Mitchell, my son.” She said.

                I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This kid, who was the son of Amber and AJ, looked like a clone of me when I was little. How could that be? AJ and I look nothing alike and neither do Amber and I. Where did he get those blue eyes from? My face must have been in complete shock at this point.

                I bent down to examine the kid closer. His face even looked like the structure of mine. I was tempted to run home and grab a picture of me as a child, but then again, I was staring right at a version.

                Finally, when my head got on straight, I stood back up again. When I met eyes with Amber, the truth came out immediately. All I could read from her expression was that inside she was screaming “Please don’t say anything, I’m begging you!” and from that moment it hit me: I was not looking at AJ and Amber’s kid; I was looking at mine and Amber’s kid.