Found Along The Way

Chapter seven

Jorge Valentino had been Lina's first kiss, but her first magical kiss began a relationship that would last three years, on and off. He was called Joey, a rich doctor, Anya was shocked when Lina started seeing him, he just wasn't her type. But when Lina was around him she opened up in a way nobody had ever seen before. He was smart, sexy, always smiling and lighting up Lina's face, if you could have seen them together you wouldn't be able to help but agree that they were meant to be.

It had been six weeks since Lina had seen Joey, and she was stood at his door picking her nail-polish anxiously.

She knocked, quietly at first, her hands shaking, but nobody came. She knocked again, and he opened the door mid knock, his face lighting up at seeing her.

"Lina, baby, I've missed you." When they hugged he could feel how she was shaking and pulled away to hold her face.

"Sweetheart are you okay? You're pale as anything, come inside."

"Yeah I'm fine, just..." He sat her down on the couch and perched on the coffee table in front of her, holding her hands.

"Lina what's going on, are you sick?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about actually."

He looked at her with a worried expression on his face, his hands even tighter on hers now. He was a doctor, so immediately jumped into care mode whenever something seemed wrong with Lina. She wasn't the kind to like being fussed over, but it was endearing. She accepted it from him, but no-one else, and God knows she needed it now.

"I'm pregnant." Lina's eyes began to fill with tears, as Joey sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her.

They sat holding each other in silence for a minute, Lina's breaths quivering.

"So did you take a test?"

"Yeah, but only the one."

"I have a test in my bathroom, let's take that too, just to be sure."

"Ok."

They walked into the bathroom and Lina took the test. After 2 minutes the timer went off and Joey picked it up, she didn't want to look.

"It's positive Lina."

She breathed deeply, in and out, the way she'd tell Anya to so she'd avoid panic.

"I'm so sorry Joe, this wasn't meant to happen."

"We'll work it out... we have options, it'll be okay."

"I'm too young to be a mom Joey, I mean I don't even have a steady job. The diner doesn't pay enough, how can I provide for something so small and fragile when I'm not even-"

"Lina, hey, you're spiraling. We'll work it out ok? Together." He held her in his arms once again. "Together."

Joey had taken it well, but it didn't calm Lina's fear. Her fear that everyone around her would judge, and tell her how irresponsible and stupid she'd been. But the fear of people's responses was nothing compared to the feeling she had knowing there was a whole new life beginning inside her. It was more overwhelming than anything she'd ever known. More overwhelming than her first kiss.

She walked through the door of her house, leaving the night outside of it. Her home was dark, with streams of street-lamp light streaming through her window. Her hands tingling and her eyes red from crying, she dragged her exhausted body upstairs and silently pushed the bedroom door open. She couldn't have been more relieved to see Anya, sat there waiting for her.

"Lady you look like you've had one hell of a day."

Her voice was warm, friendly, and caused her to burst into tears at the thought of her caring enough to wait for her. She could've gone to sleep, it was late and dark, but Anya knew Lina well enough to wait for her because she needed her.

"Ann... I have to tell you something, and I don't know what I'm gonna do."

She crashed on the bed, laying her head on Anya's lap.

"I know sweetie, I found the test. You told Joey right?"

"Yeah, he was great. So great."

"I bet he told you it would be fine, huh?"

"He did, but... I don't know, It's just a lot Ann. I'm so exhausted."

"Come on hun." Anya tucked her best friend into bed, "Forget about it for now, just rest, we'll talk more in the morning." She whispered, stroking Lina's hair until she fell asleep.

The next morning she woke up to the sound of Anya's favourite classical music and the smell of bacon.

She felt renewed and a whole lot clearer after she slept, walking down the stairs to see Anya cooking breakfast.

"I see you're feeling much better!" Anya said greeting her with a smile.

"Yeah, I- is that- eggs?"

"Yeah fried eggs for breakfast if you want them."

But she couldn't respond, she rushed to the sink and Anya pulled her hair out of her face.

"Lina come sit down, just take some deep breaths."

She held her head in her hands while Anya attempted to get rid of the breakfast smell. As she was starting to come round a bit there was a knock at the door. The small shock of the sudden sound made her feel even worse, and Anya rushed to answer it.

"Joey hey! What's up?" Anya tried to keep the door as closed as possible while talking to him, so he wouldn't see Lina in her nauseated state.

"Is Lina home? I want to talk to her."

"Uh yeah, she's just not feeling so good." The sound of Lina hyperventilating startled Joey and he pushed past Anya to see Lina sat there crying.

"Woah, hey what's going on?"

"I can't- I feel so bad." She cried, trying to get her words out.

"Lina breathe with me, ok?" He said calmly, holding her hand.

"Joe she's so pale."

"I know. Morning sickness is normal but Lina's just panicking."

"Here put this on her head." Anya said, handing Joey a cold cloth. He held it on her face, seeing her calm down, thinking about how this little problem was becoming a huge deal. He hated himself for what he said next, but it had to be heard.

"Lina come on sweetheart, can't you see what it's doing to you? I hate seeing you like this, maybe just consider... You know..."

"An abortion?" Anya chimed in. "No way, I mean it's her choice, but she couldn't possibly..."

"Anya come on she's so sick, I don't think her body could take it for the amount of time this'll last."

Lina rested her head on Joey's shoulder.

"Anya's right Joe, I just couldn't do that."

"But we're not ready for this. You're not ready for this, look I can book you into the clinic this afternoon and get it sorted so fast. It's so early on, it doesn't even have a brain yet."

Lina leaned forward, thinking, trying to stay calm.

Anya's thoughts twisted from whether her choice or wellbeing was more important,

"Lina maybe he's right, look how it's hurting you."

"Why are you two so against me right now?" She mumbled.

"Sweetheart we aren't-"

"Joey just go. Please get out." He was taken by surprise at her harsh words, and got up to walk out the door.

He turned around.

"Look, Lina just consider it. Be smart." The door shut behind him.