Constantine: Britain’s Story Part 2 (Spearhead Lake)

Chapter 28

Britain

“Okay, then,” I let loose a long sigh, “let’s work on packing up when we get back to the house. Your Dad will be here this afternoon and he can drive us down, okay?”

“What, Mom? No! I want to stay!” Elodie exclaims, getting worked up.

“I understand, Elodie, but if I’m not getting back together with Liam, I can’t stay here. It’s too hard and confusing, okay?”

We keep walking in silence and I crinkle my nose as I fight the urge to cry. We come to a break in the trees, revealing a small trail, and I lead them to the end. The trees part the closer we get to the water, eventually revealing a massive boulder with a view of the entire lake. I sit atop the boulder and pat the spaces beside me, and they both join me, one on either side. I stare out at the water, watching boats zoom by and birds fly overhead. I breathe in the smell of the pines, and I mentally say a small farewell to the lake and to the spirit of Georgia whose ashes have blended with the wind and the water here.

It takes Elodie wiping a tear off my face to realize I’m crying. “Don’t cry, Mom.”

I sniffle, and try my best to hold it in. I can’t talk about this anymore. “So, have you decided who you’re taking to Taylor Swift?” I overheard Liam mention he got them six tickets, so they could each take a friend.

“Do you think Liam will still give us the tickets?” Elodie asks, disappointment apparent in her tone.

“Oh, um, I can always buy them off of him…” I say, trying to repress the tears. “Hey, wh-what if you guys ask Summer if she’d want to go?” They’ll have more fun with her anyways.

Elodie just shrugs, “I guess,” and Caroline doesn’t say anything at all.

My phone pings and I look down to see a text from Damian.

Damian

I’ll be there within the hour!

“Well, we should probably head back, okay? Your dad said he’ll be here within the hour.” I stand up, dusting the pine needles and debris off my butt. We all stay silent on the walk back, but as we near the house, I ask them to do a few things.

“Please pack up. Pick up the room you were staying in, and I’d like you to write a thank you note to Liam for letting us stay here for a couple days, okay?” They both nod. When we get back to the house, Liam is waiting on the front porch. He gives me a smile, and when I don’t return it, he knows. His smile slides right off his face.

Caroline doesn’t miss it. She looks at me, then looks at him, and as soon as we’re at the front porch, she walks quickly inside, avoiding eye contact with Liam. I push for Elodie to follow her sister.

“I’ll be up in a couple minutes, okay? Can you go tell Jess to get ready, please?” Elodie nods and shoots Liam a tight half smile. Once they’re out of ear shot, Liam launches in.

“Doesn’t look like it went the way you hoped.” I shake my head.

“No…it didn’t. Um, we’re going to move back to the Robles house today.” His face falls. “Thank you for letting us stay here while I recovered.” I have to stop talking to keep the sob from coming out. Liam just stands there not saying anything at all.

“I-I should probably go get packing, but, um, I’ll still see you at the ultrasound tomorrow, okay?”

When it becomes clear, he isn’t going to say anything back, I drop my head and walk into the house, heading upstairs and straight to my closet floor. I let the tears fall silently as I fold clothes and put them in my suitcase. A gentle knock on the door frame makes me wipe the tears away, and I turn to see Elodie and Caroline staring down at me.

“Oh, wow, you guys are fast,” I laugh out, between a cry. “Come help me then.”

“Mom,” Caroline says, “can you stop packing? I don’t want to go.”

I pause my folding. “Caroline, don’t feel sorry or change your mind just because you see me cry, okay?”

“It’s not that, Mom. I just, what I said on the walk, I didn’t mean it. I guess…I just wanted to feel like I had some control and then you mentioned Summer, and I realized I’m not being fair. You gave us a vote, but dad never did. And that makes me mad, and I’m taking that out on you. I’m sorry.” Oh, baby.

“Honey, I’m sorry. I wish we would’ve never put you in this situation in the first place.”

“It’s not your fault, Mom, it’s Dad’s–”

I cut her off. “It is both of our faults, okay?” I set down the clothes and stand up to face them. “I want you to be honest with me, even if it hurts, okay? I can take it, and I know you both can, too, which is why I wanted you to have a say. So just be honest with me, Caroline.”

“I want to stay and I think it’s okay if you get back with Liam…” she trails off, then looks down at the floor.

“Are you sure?” I ask.

“I am.” She seems to gain some resolve. Looking back up at me, “I want you to be happy, Mom. Really.” I nod my head, and then bring them both in for a hug.

“Should we go let Jess know to stop packing?” I release them, reluctantly, from my embrace.

Elodie pipes up first, “I never told her we were leaving.” Then flashes me a radiant smile and I laugh.

“Okay, alright then. Um, maybe I should go talk to Liam then?” They both nod and head towards the bedroom door. As they walk out, Liam walks in. He just gives the girls a sad smile, leaving extra room for them to walk past.

“Do you need any help?” he asks calmly.

I shake my head and whisper, “No.” He moves in, taking me in his arms.

“It’s my fault, Britain. I’m sor–”

I cut him off, though.

“No, we changed our minds. We’re staying.” He pulls me back and stares into my eyes. His look just like mine, tear-filled.

“Thank Christ,” he says, then pulls me back in, tightly. I giggle, then squeeze a hand between us to wipe away my tears. “Bambi, I don’t want to be apart from you, ever.” He kisses the top of my head, giving me a tight squeeze.

“I don’t want to be away from you either…but, speaking of, don’t you need to go into work?”

“Nah, I'm not too worried about that right now. I have more important things going on.” He looks down at me, smiling, his beautiful blue eyes looking luminous. He tugs my hand and leads me over to the armchair by the fireplace, settling me into his lap. We sit there silently, him stroking my hair, and me just holding on tight for a while.

“So, which one was it that voted me off the island?” he finally asks.

I laugh. “Does it matter?”

“I just need to know who I’m buying a puppy for.”

I laugh even harder. “I will murder you if you get us a dog.”

He gives me a side eye. “It’s inevitable, Britain, but I think it’s cute you think we have a choice.”

I lean back. “So you’re going to get up with the dog at 4:00 A.M. to take it out to tinkle? And who watches the dog when we travel to Virginia, and stay there for extended periods?” I’m making a lot of assumptions here, based on the last time we were together. “I mean, that’s if you come to Virginia.”

“Well, that’s easy. Yes, I’ll get up with the dog, and then we fly private and the dog comes with us. And obviously I’ll be coming to Virginia with you.” He sets a palm on my bump. “Where you and the baby are is where I’ll be.” I nod my head up and down, so grateful for him, so madly in love with him.

I know now is the right time. “I love you, Liam Millar,” I whisper to him.

He nudges his nose against mine and whispers back, “I love you more.”

“Are you excited?” I look over to Liam as he drives us down the mountain for our appointment with Silas. He nods, looks over at me, then back at the road.

“And nervous,” he says a bit quietly.

“Don’t be nervous. If anyone should be nervous, it’s me! Silas is going to be pissed if I’ve lost any weight.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. He just moves his hand over, placing it on my thigh, and we both relax into the touch. The rest of the drive is spent talking about Damian and Summer, our newest house guests.

“It really doesn’t bother you to see them together?” Liam asks.

“No, not even a little. I think it probably would’ve at some point, but not now that I have you.”

“Huh, alright,” is all he says.

“Damian is the girls’ dad. He’s a really good dad at that, and he’s still one of my closest friends and I’m trying to make an effort with Summer, too. The girls deserve a family where everyone gets along and we can enjoy being around each other. Listen, I’m a bit of a package deal, Liam. I come with a lot of side characters. If it’s too much, you just have to be honest and upfront with me now.”

“What?” he asks. “No, god, I don’t care that you want Damian to be an active part of the kids’ lives. Not at all. I’m glad that you can have them staying with us and it’s not a big deal. I was just curious because Alex mentioned to me once that this wasn’t the first time Damian had done something like this. And, well, I wondered if it was hard for you to — I don’t know — see it or relive it.”

The first time. I think about it, but the sting is brief, barely palpable. So much has changed since then. “Not anymore,” I say, then give him a soft smile.

After a quick prenatal check, which revealed I did not lose any weight (thank heavens), Silas walks us to the room for the ultrasound.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well, Brit,” Silas says, helping me to lay back on the slightly reclined exam table.

“Thanks, Silas.”

“And I’m sorry my brother was a total ass to you. Really, super sorry.” I laugh awkwardly.

“Um, it’s okay. Water under the bridge.”

Silas just looks at me dead serious and says, “It was not okay.” I just nod, at a loss for how to respond. “The tech will be with you in just a second, okay? Just don’t forget to let them know if you want to find out the sex or not.”

Liam chimes in, “There’s a chance we could find out if the baby’s a girl or boy today?” He looks to Silas for the answer.

“Sometimes it can happen this early, but if not, 20-week ultrasound for sure. That’s why, just in case, let them know, alright?”

“We will,” I say to Silas as he moves to walk out. Liam stands up, giving him a handshake and a pat on the back before he says goodbye.

“So…” I look at Liam, “do you want to know or do you want to be surprised?” I ask.

“I mean, of course I want to know,” he looks a bit bashful, “but if you don’t, we won’t.”

“No, let’s find out. Just be prepared, we probably won’t know today. It’s still early. But, um, what do you hope it is?”

Liam shrugs. “I don’t know. I kinda like being a girl dad.” My heart beats harder. Fuck I love him. “But I’ll be happy either way.”

“Same,” I say, giving him a smile.

The ultrasound technician joins us a couple minutes later. She spreads the warm jelly across my abdomen and soon the rhythmic sound of the heartbeat can be heard. Liam slips his hand into mine, holding it tight. He’s completely fixated on the screen, but I can’t help but fixate on him. His eyes are watery and he’s wearing the brightest smile. It’s enough to make me want another baby.

“So…” the ultrasound tech starts, “did we want to know the sex today?” I look at Liam with a bit of surprise, but I nod my head, and he does, too. I let Liam answer for us.

“We do, if it’s possible. Um, if it’s not, you know, no big deal.” I smile at his awkward answer.

“Well, you’re in luck,” she says.

Liam squeezes my hand tighter, and I can feel that his pulse is as quick as mine. “Your little guy is in just the right spot. We can see his genitals right…there.” She clicks on the screen, taking a photo. “Congrats, Mom and Dad, it’s a boy!”

It’s a boy. All I see is the picture of Liam in Sandy’s house, the one where he’s on a tricycle. Bright blue eyes, blonde hair, and the biggest smile, and I can’t wait.

Liam squeezes my hand tight, looking between the screen and me, then finally he lets the tears fall. He leans down, kissing my forehead, and says, “I love you so much, Britain.”

I just nod, too scared I'll end up ugly crying if I try to speak.

There’s no holding the news in. As soon as we’re home, Liam announces to the household, “It’’s a boy!” He pulls out the good bourbon for Damian and himself, and Carly starts on a cake to celebrate.

Jess walks over, giving me a massive hug, nodding down to Eden and says, “Arranged marriage?”

I just laugh. “Like any daughter of yours could ever be forced to marry someone not of her own choosing.”

Jess nods, “True, true.”

The girls’ reactions surprise me the most, though. “I’m so glad it’s a boy,” Caroline says.

“I wanted a little sister,” Elodie seems deflated.

“That’s because you’ve never had one,” Caroline rolls her eyes. “Trust me, we’re better off with a brother.” We all laugh, and the girls hug me tight. Summer even makes her way over hesitantly for a quick hug and a word of congratulations.

Then, as if she has a sixth sense about these types of things, Sandy walks in on the celebration. “Okay y'all, what’s going on? I need to know!”

“It’s a boy, Sandy,” I tell her.

Her eyes instantly fill with tears, but then she clasps her hands together and lets out an excited shriek. “Carly! I need your help making a margarita, baby!” she yells out, and then heads straight towards the kitchen.

I look around for Liam, and find him staring straight back at me. He mouths to me “Thank you,” and I smile because, really, I should be thanking him. For making all my dreams of what our family could be come true. It’s just a shame Georgia isn’t here to see it.