Murder was the Case they Gave Me

Chapter 20

"What name are you going to give your baby?" Henry asked.

            "I'm not sure yet," I said. "Henry and I will come up with names, but Beth is definitely a runner in the competition."

            "Emma," Henry sighed softly, "I'm sorry but I think it's time you start thinking without Eli being here."

            "What if he comes back and doesn't like the name I choose?" I asked.

            "You could always change it," he said. "The hardest part is choosing the surname."

            "What do you mean?" I asked. "I want to go the traditional route and take his name."

            "Well, yes, but what if you give the baby his name but he doesn't come back and you two don't get married?" He asked. "And then the baby has a different last name than you."

            I looked at him sadly before looking down.

            "So, who do you want in the delivery room with you?" He asked.

            "I guess that if Eli isn't back then I only want you and Adrianna there," I said.

            "I'm sorry but I don't think that Eli is going to be back in time for the baby to be born," Henry said. "You have to think about this for when Eli's not here. It'd be a miracle if Eli comes back in time for the baby to be born. It would be a miracle for him to come back in time."

            "This little baby is a miracle," I said. "if one miracle happened then why can't another?"

            Henry didn't say anything, and I knew it was a long shot.

            "I'm tired," I whispered. "I think I'm gonna head to sleep. I have to wake up about every two or three hours to pee, I'm so tired."

            Henry nodded, giving me a hug before I went back to the bedroom to lay down in my bed. I've learned not to sleep on my left side, the baby kicks and moves more than when I'm on my right side. Although not completely displeasing, it was sometimes bothersome while I'm trying to sleep. I have had to make a lot of adjustments to my life ever since I found out I was carrying a child.

            But, after laying here for a while, I realized I now couldn't fall asleep. I got up and went to my closet, opening the safe. I putted out the backpack and grabbed the black notebook out of it. I froze when I saw a picture taped to the cover of it.

            It depicted Eli, his boy lying in a large puddle of dark red blood. His eyes were closed, the kitten stuffed animal held limp in his hand. There was so much blood on the ground, too much blood loss to ever survive. This was it, this was the end of the game.

            I sobbed, burying my head in my hands. I missed the chance to get him home. He was dead now. I never got to say goodbye or tell him I love him. I let out a soft scream, pulling at my hair. The baby didn't move, almost as if she could sense my own distress. I took a few deep breaths, rubbing my stomach as I tried to calm down. I had to stay calm for the baby.

            "It's okay," I whispered. "Everything's gonna be just fine, cupcake. I am going to be the best damn single mom I can ever be. I love you so much. It's going to be okay no matter what happens to us."

            I thought I felt a soft little flutter of movement.

            "You have to keep your head, Emma," I whispered to myself. "Stay calm for the baby."

            Maybe I can think more like Tanya. I can do this. I have to do this for my baby.

            I took a deep breath, looking at the photo again as I choked back a sob. But this time I noticed something else. His cheeks still had a rosy color to them and his skin was a normal color. There didn't seem to be any sort of major wound to his body where he could bleed out like that. They didn't kill him, that's just fake blood to mess with me.