Appreciated

Chapter 14

Charley's POV

I stood at the doorway of Eliza's bedroom, while I was away she had painted the room a dusty rose color and had painted the lyrics to Colors of the wind from Pocahontas on one wall. She was curled up on the bed with a book covering her face and was lightly snoring, she must have read herself to sleep last night.

Eliza was now big enough that we could no longer hide it. Luckily she was in grad school and it was a time in most peoples lives when they start the whole family thing so she was accepted easily.

I noticed a familiar looking periwinkle and blue polka dot lump in one of Eliza's arms, I shook my head 21 years and she still slept with- no, could she really?

I had remembered why I was standing in her door way and approached her, I gently grabbed her hand and took her book from her face "Eliza, you have to get up now" I squeezed her hand lightly and poked her side. She was a light sleeper so I dropped her hand and poked her side and was met with the same hand hitting me lightly in the stomach.

"Is the appointment today" she yawned and I nodded my head. I helped her to stand up and I walk to the bathroom, tired Eliza doesn't differ much from pregnant Eliza.

I sat in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee, she came out in about half an hour. I must admit, she can make maternity wear look like Alexander McQueen.

I stood up and smiled "today we find out" her tone was confusing, excited yet full of dread and dissapointment. I grabbed her hand and we walked out to the car.

We were halfway there when Eliza broke the silence "promise me you'll love it no matter what."

"What?"

"The baby, tell me, promise me, that no matter what you will love this baby."

"Why would you doubt that I would?"

"Just promise me" she began to cry.

"I promise, no matter what happens, I will love this child."

"Don't ever leave it, horrible things happen when you leave, don't leave it ever!" She screamed hysterically.

"I won't" I took one hand and pulled her closer to me. I don't know what happened when I was gone but Eliza had never mentioned it before, nor did her family.

"Eliza, while I was gone, did anything happen?" I felt scared, I would hate myself if anything happened to her as a result of me not being there. She shook her head hard as if both answering and dismissing the question.

"Charley, you were gone when I started college, during my second year, I was walking home from the library one night."