Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
ELENA
Consciousness seeped into my being.
The first sensation to register was the baby pressing against my bladder and the overwhelming need to pee. With all the grace of a beached whale, I flopped out of bed and padded to the bathroom where I peed for approximately seventeen minutes. Unreal.
After I flushed and washed my hands, I peered into the mirror to take stock of my appearance.
My eyes were puffy from unleashing the torrent of tears I’d kept bottled up for months, but the ever-present circles under my eyes were gone and my cheeks had more color than usual.
Some might’ve said I was finally glowing.
It was as if a weight had been lifted now that Chase was home and knew about the baby. There was so much more to discuss, to figure out. But he was home, and he’d tucked me safely into bed.
I unplugged my cell from its charger on my bedside table and took it to the couch, where I nestled under a plush blanket.
Flutters in my stomach told me baby girl had the hiccups, and a smile stretched across my face.
For months, I’d survived by staying ahead of every moment.
Now, for the first time, I let myself linger in one.
With one hand, I rub gentle circles over the swell of my belly.
With the other, I unlocked my device to find several texts.
It was after eleven—I’d slept nearly ten hours after Chase went home.
The first thread I opened was the group chat with the girls—Tessa, Natalie, and Charlie.
TESSA
Anyone wanna do lunch?
CHARLIE
Sorry, can’t! I’m at the bookstore today.
NATALIE
I’m in. Rosie’s?
TESSA
Yessss, I need soup. It’s fucking cold.
How about you, Mama Bear?
Lane? You alive?
ELENA
Sorry, just woke up. Lunch sounds good.
NATALIE
Just woke up? Who are you and what have you done with Elena Ventura?
ELENA
I was up late. Will tell you all about it at lunch.
CHARLIE
Hey, what about me?! I wanna know!
ELENA
Chase was here pretty late.
CHARLIE
Oooh-la-la.
ELENA
It wasn’t like that.
Have you seen him yet?
CHARLIE
Not yet. I’m giving him his space. He’ll come to me when he’s ready.
TESSA
You’re a good sister, Chuck.
CHARLIE
I know.
After we’d agreed on a time for lunch, I moved on to the next thread, this one from Chase’s mom.
EMMA
I’m so sorry, honey, but I accidentally spilled the beans.
ELENA
Are we talking literal beans, or…?
EMMA
Chase was adamant about paying us back for rehab…
ELENA
Ah, I see.
EMMA
I’m sorry.
There was nothing for her to apologize for.
In truth, Emma Everton had been my saving grace over the last three months.
With my own mother gone, she ended up being the second person I told I was pregnant, after Tessa.
My best friend had been figuratively adopted by Emma before she and Elliot even got married, and she assured me that the love and support of Jay and Emma Everton could soothe even the most broken hearts.
So I’d told them everything, and they’d listened intently, crying alongside Tessa as I recounted the worst parts of my life in cold, detached detail.
After that, Emma had added me to the family group chat, issued a standing invitation to Sunday brunch, and stopped by with homemade meals at least twice a week.
She was an exceptional woman, and my mother would have loved her.
ELENA
Don’t apologize. It’s okay. I figured he’d find out eventually. I just hoped we’d have a little more time to navigate… everything else first.
EMMA
You two will figure it out. I just know it.
Call me if you need to talk.
I love you, sweetheart.
The final message was one I was even less prepared for. Our last messages were exchanged more than four months ago—before I’d asked him for time and space and to take care of himself.
CHASE
I hope you and baby slept well.
ELENA
Thanks, we did.
CHASE
What are your plans for the day?
ELENA
I’m having lunch with Tessa and Natalie, then I work at 7.
CHASE
Nights?
ELENA
Yes, but only for another week, thank god.
CHASE
Well, I hope you have a good day.
The conversation was awkward, stilted—nothing like our previous banter. I supposed it would take more than one evening spent together to undo months of pain and separation. But I missed Chase—my Chase.