Professor Cumberbatch

Part 23

Two days into being home, I decided to call Janessa. I hadn't talked to Benedict, other than telling him that I'd arrived home safely, and I was feeling more alone now than I had been on the train.

"Amelia, hey! How are you? How's your Christmas going so far?" She asked a bit too enthusiastically right after answering the phone.

"Um... It's going fine, I guess. My mum is at work right now, but my sister and I are going to make dinner for us all later." I replied.

"Aw well that's nice of you! I'm sure your mum will appreciate that. I know I would." I heard some clattering in the background and before I could ask what it was, Janessa responded, "We're baking Christmas cookies right now."

"Oh, maybe now isn't a good time then... Should I call you back later?"

By now, I was pacing back and forth in my room. I really wanted to tell her about me being pregnant now, but I didn't want to ruin her time with her family.

"No, no! I can talk right now! They just took the cookies out of the oven, so we have to wait for them to cool before we can decorate them anyway."

"In that case, you might want to go up to your room or something. Somewhere private."

"I'm one step ahead of you. I'm walking up now." Janessa opened her door and walked into her room, then closed the door and plopped down on her bed. "Okay so what's really the matter?"

"I um..." I sat down and closed my eyes before sighing deeply. "I'm pregnant."

Janessa was completely silent on the other end of the phone.

"I only found out the morning I was leaving. I don't think I'm more than two months along, but I haven't been to see a doctor yet, so I don't know."

"What does Benedict think?"

At this, tears started streaming down my face. "He doesn't know. It all happened so fast. I found out just before leaving, and I was so nervous that I couldn't do it. And I haven't told him yet because I just can't do it over the phone. So I haven't really talked to him at all since I've been back."

She sighed and started tapping her foot against the wall. "So I'm the only person you've told then? Because I know you haven't told your mum if you haven't told Benedict."

"Janessa, I don't know what to do. If I tell my mum, she's going to be so angry. There's no way she'll let me go back to university, whether she knows about Benedict or not. And I know I need to tell Benedict, but he'll get so worried, and I don't want him showing up out of the blue."

"Amelia, just take a deep breath and relax. Don't tell them right now if you aren't ready, but at least find a doctor you can meet with to at least confirm that you're pregnant and tell you what your next steps are. Okay?"

"Okay. I'll find one." I put my hand over my slightly swollen stomach and closed my eyes once again. "Thank you, Janessa."

"You're welcome. Please call me if you need anything. I wish I could hug you in person, but just know that I'm here for you, girl. Now get some rest."

We ended the phone call and I laid my head down on my pillow, quickly falling asleep.

END OF CHAPTER