Chapter 44
Elena
AFTER ENZO LEFT, I SPENT A LONG TIME THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD do moving forward.
There’s no way he would let me raise this child alone; not that I wanted to.
I do however, want time away from him and convincing him to give me the space I need while pregnant with his child is going to be a battle.
I need time though. Time to think things through, time to recover, time to heal both physically and emotionally.
My hands unconsciously move to my belly, my palm rests atop my still flat belly, fingers splayed across my abdomen. It’s almost surreal to imagine a human life growing inside of me. My baby… Our baby.
Ever since I found out two weeks ago, it’s been a constant battle to fight the urge to pick up the phone and just tell Enzo that we are going to be parents.
I have no idea how this happened but the Doctor said it’s not uncommon for birth control to fail when taking strong medication or when experiencing stress.
I’d come down with an ear infection weeks ago and I had been on a course of antibiotics for it, then there’s the stress of my book, so it could be any of those factors that contributed to my current predicament; but who’s to tell.
I rub my hand across my belly and can’t help but talk to my little jelly bean, hoping amongst all hope that he or she can hear me.
“Perhaps it was none of those things huh Jelly bean? Perhaps you were meant to be here all along.”
The Doctor comes in then to check up on me one last time before end of rounds and after instructing the nurse on duty to bring me a bowl of soup, fresh water and a course of pregnancy safe pain meds, he promptly left assuring me that I was well on my way to a full recovery and should be out of hospital in a few days.
The information welcomed and reassuring.
The nurse on duty mentioned a sonogram scheduled for early tomorrow morning just to make sure the baby is in good health before they can think about releasing me.
I need to talk to Evie. I need to make sure I go to my apartment from here. I refuse to go with Enzo to that house. It holds way too many memories for me.
Soft chatter pulls me from the darkness, bright white light bleeding through the cracks of my slumber as I slowly open my eyes.
I shift in bed, now almost awake, when I hear the familiar voice. The one I’ve been waiting to hear from the time I’d woken up after the surgery.
“Evie?”
My voice is groggy from sleep but otherwise normal. My body is still sore but I can manage to move around okay save for my left arm which is in a sling.
“Oh Ellie! I’m so glad you’re okay. You have no idea how worried I was. How worried we all were.”
“I’m sorry.” I know she must have been beside herself with worry and I hate to have been the one to put her in that position.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You just focus on getting well. I’ll be here.”
I look around the room and note Tony standing in the corner and to my left, ever the sentry; Enzo sits at my bedside.
“Glad to see you alive Bella. You gave us all quite the scare.”
“You haven’t lost your charm I see.”
“Never.” He flashes me his too bright smile all white teeth blindingly visible.
“He’s an ass.” Evie announces with more vigour than necessary and I frown wondering what it is that I’ve missed. I look to Enzo who simply shrugs.
I turn away from Enzo to look at Tony, only to find him with his gaze lowered. The too shiny floor must be extremely fascinating, having grabbed his attention and I also note, stolen his smile.
My heart tugs a bit at the sadness I feel vibrating off of him and I can’t help but wonder if something happened between him and Evie.
“Thank you all for being here for me. More importantly; thank you for finding me.”
They all look up at me then, their own hostilities momentarily forgotten as they all mumble words about how they would have done anything to find me.
“How did you find me?” I ask to no one in particular.
Enzo fills me in on how Evie tried calling him, then she called Tony who checked my apartment before going to Enzo’s office to get him before finally coming to the ring.”
At that I look at Evie, obviously it was her who put the pieces together. She knew what the ring looked like; she knew about the attack… it makes sense that she would put the pieces of the puzzle together.
“I can’t thank you enough; all of you. I tried so many times to get out of there but it was near impossible.
I don’t know what would have happened had you not come when you did.
” A tear slides down my cheek and Enzo is quick to wipe it away.
Taking my hand in his, he uses his other hand to turn my face towards him.
Our eyes lock, blue skies meeting lush green.
“I will always come for you.”
Right then; time to change the subject.
“I’m due for an ultrasound today.”
“I know, I’ve spoken to the nurse while you were asleep. Is it okay if… if I... that is if you’re okay with it.”
“Oh, for Christs sake Enzo this is your baby too, of course I want you there.”
Relief washes over his face and I suddenly feel like a total ass.
“Thank you.” He takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles. The gesture tightens my chest.
“That little blip you see right here is your baby; and that pulsing you see over here is your baby’s heartbeat. It’s too soon to tell the sex of the child but everything is looking good for now.”
“Thank you so much.”
The doctor nods and smiles at Enzo, slightly amused at the way he’s staring at the screen in awe of the life we’ve created.
“I wasn’t there for Angelo’s first ultrasound.”
“You weren’t?”
“No. Victoria was feeling under the weather and I was busy at the office so she went to the doctor alone. That’s when she found out she was pregnant.”
His mouth twitches with regret but he quickly shrugs it off.
“I promise that won’t happen with you. I’ll be here whenever you need me.”
“I know you will.”
“Listen Elena, I’ve been thinking. I know you want to be back at your own place. I spoke to Evelyn and she said she’ll stay with you until you’re well enough to be on your own… something about needing time away. Whatever. Anyway, as much as I want you back home with me, I know you need your space.”
“Thank you. Seriously Enzo, thank you.”
“Just call if you need me. Day or night and I’ll be there.”
“I will.”