Page 50 of In Ruins
“Well then, you’re going to be my new best friend.”
“I’d like that. I could use one of those. How old are you?
“I’m twenty. You?
“Eighteen.”
“Not bad. We’re still going to be best friends! Come on! Let me give you my own tour around this place,” she tells me, when we’re finished eating. Since I have nothing else to do, why not?
“Let’s do it!”
It’s beentwo weeks since I’ve been here, and I’m officially eighteen weeks pregnant. The bump isn’t all that much bigger, but it’s definitely more noticeable now. I’ve been miserable the whole time I’ve been here, and it doesn’t look like it will ever get better.
Being around the sisters all the time is kind of depressing, to be honest. Though there is one good thing to come from the two weeks here so far, and it’s my friendship with Isabella. I guess we were both lonely, and that made our bond grow. She never asked about my bruises, even though you couldn’t miss them, which I was thankful for. I really didn’t want to talk about it. I’m sure she was glad I didn’t pry into why she was here either. We’ve been inseparable since that first day in the dining hall. Plus, the bonus is the fact that her room is right next to mine.
Right now, we’re both in our religious studies class, and I’m ready to fall asleep. The deep drone of Father Andrew’s voice just keeps going on and on. I look over to where Isa is sitting, and she’s focused—well, more like hanging—on every word he’s saying.
She must feel my eyes on her because she turns to look at me. I just grin and wink at her, and she blushes before turning to look at him again. I know exactly why she’s so focused on everything he’s saying. It’s because she has a huge crush on him.
I can’t deny the fact that Father Andrews is hot as sin, but even with all that hotness, he does absolutely nothing for me. All I can think about is a certain tattooed off-limits bad boy.
At long last, the class is finally over. I stand from my seat, and so does Isa. She hooks her arm in mine as we begin to walk out of the room.
“Have a nice day, Father Andrews,” she says to him before turning to me. “Are you excited for today?”
“Yes! I’ve been dying to find out what I’m having.”
“What do you think it is?”
“Mm, I don’t know, but I just have a feeling it’s going to be a little girl.”
“Ooo! If you do have a little girl, I’m sure she’s going to be pretty just like her mama,” she says.
“Meh, I’m not all that. But she will be, since her father is the hottest and most gorgeous man I’ve ever laid my eyes on,” I tell her with a dreamy sigh.
We make our way to the courtyard, and one of the sisters motions for us to follow her down the pathway to the street, where a car is already waiting for us. Sister Mary gets into the front with the driver while we get in the back. I’m so glad Isa offered to come with me today.
Even though it’s an easy appointment, I didn’t want to do it alone. I wish Enzo were here to go through it with me, but he isn’t. Hell, I don’t even know whether he’s aware that I’m gone by now. I just wish things were different.
It only takes about ten minutes to get downtown, and the driver parks right in front of the doctor’s office. Both of us get out, while Sister Mary stays in the car. We only have a ten-minute wait before I’m called and shown into the room, pulling Isabella along with me. I take a seat on the examination table just as the doctor walks in.
“Hello again, Aria. How are we doing today? I see that you’re in for an ultrasound,” Dr. Michaels says.
I’ve already been here before. The day after I got here, I made an appointment to see the doctor because I wanted to double-check and make sure my baby was fine. They had an appointment available that afternoon, and since Isa and I were hanging out all day, she came with me then, too. Thankfully, nothing was wrong.
“I’m doing well. I’m just excited to finally find out what I’m having,” I tell him with excitement in my voice, and he laughs.
“Well, let’s not keep you waiting. Shall we get started?” he asks.
“I’m ready,” I tell him. I lie down on the exam table and lift my shirt. He squirts the gel onto my stomach, then places the wand on it and moves it around.
“Everything still looks good. The baby’s development is as it should be,” he tells me, pointing to the baby on the screen. Holy moly! I still can’t believe there’s an actual baby in there! The head and tiny body make my eyes fill with tears because it’s such a beautiful moment to get to see my little nugget again. “Are you ready to find out what you’re having?”
“Yes, please, I’m more than ready!” I murmur in excitement as he moves the wand around a little more.
“Congratulations! You’re having a girl!” he tells me, and the tears that I was holding in stream down my face.
“I knew it!” I mumble through the tears.
