Are You The One?

Chapter 6

She got there early and nervously sipped her coffee. Then she remembered that she had read somewhere that coffee was bad for the fetus. She shook her head. She was already failing at this motherhood thing. Cliff arrived a half an hour later looking dashing as usual in his gray suit. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. This is what got you in this mess in the first place, she thought to herself.

When Cliff saw Brittany he broke out into a wide grin and made his way towards her. She returned his smile with difficulty.

“Brittany,” he said taking a seat.

“Hello Cliff,” she replied.

“I have been thinking about you. I know you wanted space but I…” he began.

“Cliff we really need to talk,” she interrupted.

Cliff frowned at the seriousness in her tone.

“Is everything okay?’ he asked.

The waitress appeared suddenly to take his order. Brit asked for a bottle of water as she pushed her coffee aside.

“Cliff I don’t know how to say this except to say it. I went to the doctor and I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

The shock on his face spoke volumes. There was an awkward silence for a few minutes before he finally spoke.

“Pregnant?” he repeated.

“Yes,” she stated simply.

“But how did this happen. I thought you were on birth control,” he said.

“I was. Apparently some antibiotics I was taking for a flu interacted with my birth control and made it less effective.”

“I see.”

“I didn’t do this on purpose. I didn’t know that could happen,” she shot back defensively.

“I wasn’t accusing you of anything,” Cliff said gently. “So what do you want to do?” he asked when she said nothing.

“I… I wanted your opinion,” she admitted.

“Brit this is your choice. Your body. I will of course support any decision you make,” he said.

“I’m glad you see it that way because Cliff I can’t do this. I’m not in the right place in my life to have a child. I want to have an abortion,” she said silent tears streaming down her face.

“Are you sure?” he asked grasping her hands.

“I’m sure,” she said after a while.

“I’ll pay for everything,” he said sadly.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said wiping away fresh tears.

“You didn’t do this to yourself,” he argued.

“I didn’t come to you for that. I thought you should know,” Brit sobbed.

“I’m glad you told me. Do you want me to go with you to the hospital?” he asked.

“Yes. Please. I don’t think I could handle it on my own.”

“Of course Brittany. Anything you need.”

One week later Brittany and Cliff sat at the clinic waiting to be called in for their appointment.  She had not wanted to involve her insurance company so Cliff was paying for everything. She was grateful to him for that. She had wanted to pay half but he insisted that it was the least he could do. She had consented to let him hold her hand. She was terrified but somehow Cliff’s presence made her calm.  He didn’t say much but Brit could sense that he was sad. She knew exactly how he was feeling. She had not gotten much sleep over the last week and the little she did was plagued by nightmares.

Suddenly the lights went off causing a few people to scream. Brit grasped Cliff’s hand tighter in a panic. Moments later the emergency generator turned on. There were lights but the waiting room was cast in a low blue light.  A nurse came out to speak with them after what seemed an eternity.

“Everyone I’m sorry to tell you but there has been an accident that knocked out a transformer. The entire grid is without power and the electric company does not have an estimated time when it will be fixed.”

The people waiting murmured in protest.

“We will be calling everyone today to reschedule. Our computer system is also down,” she informed them.

Cliff looked at Brittany who had started to cry again.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

“I just wanted to get it over with,” she admitted.

“Why don’t we go get something to eat? There’s nothing we can do today,” he said helping her to her feet.

They found a little cafe a few blocks away and ordered lunch. Neither seemed to be very hungry and played with their food. After an hour Cliff asked Brittany if she wanted to go home. She nodded silently. He paid the check and led her back to the car. They were halfway to her apartment before she spoke.

“Cliff?” she asked.

“Yes?”

“Will you stay with me? Until they call? I don’t want to be alone,” she said quietly.

“Brit of course I will. I wasn’t planning on leaving you anyway,” he teased.

Brit gave him a small smile.

When they reached her apartment she sat on the couch.

“Would you like me to make you some tea?” he asked.

“That would be nice,” she said gratefully.

Cliff rummaged around the cupboards until he found mugs and teabags. He put the kettle on. He returned with a tray of tea and some cookies he found during his forage.

Brit looked pale. And tired. Cliff sat next to her and pulled her close.

“Everything will be all right Brittany,” he whispered against her hair.

“I didn’t know I would feel so terrible,” she admitted.

“I don’t feel that great about it either honestly,” he returned.

For a while they sat in silence, Brit leaning against Cliff. She felt so safe next to him.

“Talk to me,” she said suddenly.

“About what?” he asked.

“Anything. I just want to keep my mind off of things,” she explained.

Cliff talked to Brit about the one thing he was passionate about. His charity organization. He told her about how they built schools and orphanages around the world. Aided third world countries with lifesaving vaccines and told her about the time he spent abroad.