Are You The One?

“I’m sorry I have to get out of here.”

Brit grabbed her car keys and sprinted to the door ignoring the sea of shocked faces she left in her wake. She couldn’t help but glance back to see the intense pain across Cliff’s face however.

Brit drove around aimlessly for hours. Around two in the morning she stopped at a twenty-four-hour diner and ordered a hot chocolate and a slice of pound cake. She wondered how the baby shower cake tasted. She ate as slow as possible but after almost two hours she knew she couldn’t stay there forever. She found a cheap motel and rented a room. She was exhausted. She slept until almost one the next afternoon. She didn’t know what to do. She had turned off her phone after the countless calls from Cliff, Tara and her mother. Holly had even called twice. She turned it back on and called her mother. After a lengthy conversation she convinced her parents to keep their original plans and return to Virginia. She blamed her hormones and they seemed to accept that explanation. Finally, she had no choice but to head home. Sure enough, sitting on the stairs Cliff was waiting. She could tell by his expression that he was sad and also worried sick.

“Britt thank God,” he said rising to meet her.

He walked her back to the door and opened it with his key.

“Cliff I’m sorry. Can we talk?” she said softly following him into the apartment.

“Only if you want. I’m sorry I put you on the spot like that,” he said quietly.

“Yes you did put me on the spot and Cliff I don’t want to marry you. I’m sorry,” Brit said her voice breaking.

“I don’t believe you. Don’t you love me Brittany?” he asked.

“I care about you because you are the father of our daughter,” she answered hollowly.

“I see,” Cliff said crestfallen.

“You can still be involved with the baby as much as….ahh,” she cried out.

“Brit are you okay?” he asked rushing to her.

“Yes. I’m fine. I’ve been having Braxton Hicks contractions, nothing to worry about. It’s very common,” she reassured him.

“Well I’m glad you’re okay. Do you want me to stay with you?” he asked.

“No. I just want to rest,” she said.

“I don’t want to leave you alone,” he stated.

“Tara will come by later. I’ve spoken to her,” Brit reasoned.

“Yes. She told me you were on your way home,” he said softly.

“I just want to sleep. We’ll talk later,” Brit said fighting tears.

For the next week Brit and Cliff were only on polite terms. He called to check on her like usual but the calls were forced and short. She was still having pains which normally she would tell him but for some reason decided against it. She knew that was silly of her but she wanted to get used to Cliff not taking care of her. She always cried after their conversations. She wondered if Cliff missed her or if he was relieved that she turned him down and gave him a way out.

Brit spent most of her days depressed and sleeping for the next two weeks until she woke up and could barely move. The pain was too intense. She felt a wetness between her legs and wondered if her water had broken in the middle of the night. She was hit with another intense sharp pang and turned on the lamp beside her bed. She was shocked to discover her nightgown soaked in blood. Brit began to hyperventilate. Her first thought was of her baby and hoping she was okay. The second was of Cliff. She needed Cliff.

“Hello?” Cliff answered groggily.

“Cliff?” Brit replied, panic in her voice.

He looked at the clock. It was three in the morning.

“What’s wrong?” he asked fully alert now.

“Something’s wrong. I’m bleeding,” Brit answered sobbing.

“Call an ambulance. I’ll meet you at the hospital. Where’s Tara?” he asked as he slipped on a t-shirt.

“She’s at her house.”

“I thought she was spending the night? Never mind. Wake her up. She is a lot closer, have her meet you there so you’re not alone. I’m calling an ambulance and I’ll be there as fast as I can,” he assured her.

Brit hung up the phone and called Tara.

“Everything okay?” she asked still half-asleep.

“I’m bleeding,” Brit responded.

“Oh my goodness Brittany. I’ll be right there,” she assured her as she shook Eric awake.

“I called Cliff. He called an ambulance. Just meet me at the hospital please,” Brit begged.

“Of course. I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone today no matter what you said. I’m so sorry.”

Within ten minutes Brit was in the back of the ambulance heading for St. Anthony’s hospital. They gave Brit oxygen which alarmed her and hooked her up to a fetal monitor. Tara and Eric were there waiting when she arrived.

Cliff arrived twenty minutes later looking disheveled.

“I need to see her. I am the father,” he said to the triage nurse.

“Are you her husband?” the nurse asked.

“Well no but she’s carrying my child,” Cliff explained.

“I’m sorry. You have to wait for the doctor. Please have a seat sir. I’ll call you as soon as possible,” the brunette nurse in Minnie Mouse scrubs informed him.

After what seems like an eternity the doctor finally came out to speak with Cliff.

“She’s fine. Sometimes stress can trigger these things. Her blood pressure is a little high so we’re keeping her overnight for observation. You can go in and see her now,” he said.

Cliff rushed to her room. Brit was resting peacefully. Seeing her there hooked up to the monitors scared him and he said a silent prayer that she was okay. He left only briefly to tell Tara and Eric that she was okay. He was going to spend the night at the hospital. He got a blanket from the nurse and made himself as comfortable as possible on the couch in her room.

Around four am a nurse came to check on her vitals, waking Brit up. The first thing she noticed was Cliff asleep in the corner. The nurse saw her watching him.

“That’s a great guy you have there. He was worried sick,” the nurse commented.

“Yeah he is,” Brit said tearing up.

Later that morning Cliff arose before Brit. He watched her sleep for a long while. He felt terrible about their argument, felt somewhat responsible. She stirred in her sleep and opened her eyes looking at him with a smile.

“Cliff,” she said softly.

“Brit,” he said, finally succumbing to tears. “Thank goodness you’re alright.”

“I’m sorry I scared you,” she said quietly.

“I’m sorry I put you under so much pressure. You asked me to take things slowly and I didn’t listen. Will you please forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. I overreacted. I guess I didn’t think you really loved me. I thought you asked me to marry you because of the baby. I didn’t want to feel like I trapped you,” Brittany explained.

“Brittany no. Yes, I love my child and I wanted to do the right thing but I asked you because I love you. Baby or no baby I can’t imagine my life without you Brit.”

“You really mean that?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes. I really do,” he said before kissing her.

“Ask me again Cliff,” she whispered.

“Brittany Angelina Spencer will you marry me?” Cliff asked pulling out the ring.

“You still carry that thing?” she whispered.

“Every day for the past three months,” he said grinning.

“Wow,” she said caught off guard.

“Brit will you be my wife?” he asked again.

“It’s about time,” Tara said from the doorway.

“Yes, it is,” Eric agreed. “Congratulations you two.”

“She didn’t answer the question,” Cliff reminded them.

“Yes. Yes, Cliff yes!” she exclaimed her tears flowing freely.

“Does this mean you’re coming home with me?” Cliff asked.

“Yes. Forever,” Brit said. 

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her. The heart monitor beeped. She assumed that Dylan approved.

The End.