I sat up, “You aren't going to come to the appointments when Chase does? I need you two there.” I looked between her and Bree.
“No sweetie, you may not understand it yet, but the first time he's there, trust me when I say you'll want it to just be the two of you.”
“Okay? Well I'm ready whenever you guys are.”
Bree jumped up and pulled me with her, “I'm ready! Let's go see my niece or nephew!”
I laughed and looked at my stomach, “You hear that? We're coming to see you Gummy Bear!”
Claire and Bree both laughed as we walked to the car. I was thrilled to see my baby again, but my heart hurt knowing Chase wouldn't be there, that he didn't even know about it. Next time, I promised myself, he'll for sure be there next time.
We were silent throughout the appointment as we watched my gummy bear, who now actually looked like a baby, sleep in my stomach. The heartbeat was strong and once again I closed my eyes so the only thing I was aware of was that beautiful sound.
“Well, let's make another appointment for four more weeks, you'll be sixteen weeks then and if baby is cooperative we might be able to find out the sex of the baby.” Dr. Lowdry said as we walked out of the room.
“Really? I'm sorry I just didn't realize we could find out that soon!” I definitely needed to tell Chase. If there was one appointment in particular I wanted him there for, it was to find out if we were having a boy or girl. I told Claire and Bree as much when we got in the car and they both sighed happily knowing within a month Chase and I would be together. I wanted to bring up the fact that we still didn't know if he would want the baby or me after he found out, but they were so dang happy I couldn't bring myself to sour the mood again. “I'd like to give him some time before the appointment, just in case he needs to think about things, but I never see him anymore unless we're at school and I don't want to do it there either. Do you think if he hasn't come around on his own by my birthday, we could invite him to whatever we're doing? I'll tell him then.”
“I can call and tell him he has to come to family day this Sunday sweetie.”
“No Mom, I don't want him to be forced to come over. I would prefer if he comes to see me on his own, but if he hasn't by then, then we can invite him to dinner on something. I doubt he'd miss my birthday.”
“April fifth...two weeks? These are going to be the longest two weeks of our lives.” Bree groaned.
“Hey I just set a deadline for myself, I thought you would be a little happier than this.” I joked with her.
“I am, but whenever I see him now I'm going to be freaking out, knowing that he's finding out soon.”
“Well we don't see him much, so hopefully you won't have many freak-outs.”
Okay so there weren't many freak-outs, but there were three more than I was expecting there to be. Which meant there were a total of three. All at school. The first wasn't a big deal, Bree and I were running to a class and we saw him walk out of the building. He reached out to brush my hand as we ran past, his face lit up with a gorgeous smile as Bree and I barely managed hellos before pushing open the door to the lecture we were late to. The next two were borderline dangerous, considering my current state.
“Damn Princess,” Drew laughed, “You trying to pack on a few pounds there?”
I froze when Chase smacked him across the back of the head on the way to his seat. I hadn't been trying to eat for two, since I knew there really wasn't a reason to yet, but I was so hungry all the freaking time. This was just the first time Chase had been around, and the first time anyone had said something besides Bree and her parents. My hand immediately went down to my stomach, thinking he'd somehow see the bump even though I was hidden behind the table, thankfully Bree snatched my hand and put it to my side before I could look awkward covering myself. Which, by the way, I was definitely doing more of, all my tight shirts were starting to show my now obvious bump, so everything I wore was loose or flowy around my hips. I wasn't in maternity clothes yet, by any means, I was just being careful until Chase knew. Brandon's eyes darted quickly to mine and with a hard sigh he got up from the table and left. I wanted to die.
That had been the first time I'd seen Brandon since we’d broken up, and it had been emotional to say the least. I'd stopped dead in my tracks when I saw him sitting at the table, but Bree had told me I needed to do this at some point. I knew she was right, but seeing him again made me want to take him away somewhere and beg him to take me back, even though I'd just told Bree I could never do that to him. I did love Chase, and I knew that if I were to be with anyone, it needed to be him. But I was still completely in love with Brandon. I wouldn’t tell Bree this, but I still thought of him when I thought of my future, if he were to ask me today, I would marry him. But obviously that day would never come now. That thought ripped my heart to a million pieces, even though I’d done this to myself. Throughout the tense five minutes we'd been at the table, I'd watched him for four and a half and I continued to watch him until he was out of the café.
“Bree,” I whispered leaning into her side, “we might need to leave soon before I freak out instead of you.”
As if on cue, Derek's girlfriend, Maci, and one of her other friends sat down at the table. “Wow Harper, you look amazing today.” Maci said with wide eyes, “I mean, not that you aren't pretty all the time, but I swear you're glowing.”