Always With Me

Part 12- Dahlia Parker

 I stayed one last night with Becca before I moved into Ellie's room with her. I went alone to move all of my clothes and shoes into my car to take them to Ellie's. I looked into my untouched room one last time before I locked the house and drove away without turning back. Although I expected to feel sad, I was too overwhelmed by everything else going on in my life to feel anything. I kept my eyes on the road as I took the familiar drive to Ellie's house.

         I put all of my things away before my phone rang beside me on the bed. I looked at the caller ID and saw Brent's name. I calmed down my voice before I answered, hoping to cover up the panic that was fighting to overtake my voice.

        "Hello?" I asked when I was able to calm my breathing, also.

         "Hey. What are you doing?" He asked.

         "Just hanging out with Ellie," I lied, sitting down on the bed. The room was empty because Ellie was at work.

         "Oh, okay. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. Do you want to do something tonight?" He asked.

        "I can't. I'm sorry! I promised Ellie that I would help her move around the furniture in her room." I felt horrible about lying to him, but I didn't think that I could talk to him without showing that something was wrong. He deserved to know, but I wasn't ready yet to tell him. I was good at concealing secrets with everyone expect Brent. He would notice immediately that something was wrong, and I wasn't ready to explain to him that his life was about to change... forever. I would have given anything to have him hold me and tell me that everything would be okay, but I don't think that he would want to after I told him that I was having a baby. His baby.

         "Alright," he said, clearly annoyed.

         "Brent, I love you so much." I choked back tears as I listened for his response.

         "I love you too, Dahlia," he finally said.

        We got off of the phone and I was too restless to sit on my new bed, so I got into my car and drove around for a while. When I couldn't do that anymore, I called Brent again. I felt like I was finally able to compose myself enough to be with him. I had to be with him.

        "Can we do something tonight?" I asked.

        "I thought you had plans," he said. I could sense the agitation in his voice.

         "I don't anymore. Please? I just need to be with you."

         "Okay, you can come over."

         I drove to his house and pulled up against the road. His mom was outside the house when I got out of my car.

         "Dahlia! Hey!" She yelled when she saw me. She pulled me into a tight hug when I walked up to the porch.

        "Hey Ms. Harwood! How are you?" I asked. She was a young woman with long black hair and deep blue eyes. She has a loud personality, and I loved having her in my life. She is a successful lawyer and very independent. Once she found out that her son got me pregnant, she would be devastated. I shivered at the thought of that conversation.

        "I am great! Please keep Brent company for a while. I have to run back to the office and go over a new case. I'll be home later." She sighed, "I hate leaving him here alone, but things are tough around the office and I have no choice. But you are here, so make good choices!" She kissed my cheek and strode down to her car. I sighed before I walked into the house. If only I'd listened to that advice a long time ago. Brent was sitting on the couch with his shirt off and a pair of sweatpants on. He had obviously just gotten out of the shower and he smelled very good. I walked over to the couch and he sat up to give me enough room to sit down.