stoneybrook_ice

Susan felt massive, and sticky, and gross. This was a very humid summer, and she was a very pregnant lady. She was only seven months along, but she felt like she already was a whale. She hated to see what she'd look like in two months time.

She curled up in bed with only a sheet covering her, praying that the fan would circulate the air sufficiently in the tiny bedroom. As usual, before she went to bed she had to spray the pillow she hugged with Bart's cologne, a bottle that he'd left behind by accident. The smell comforted her, and in her dreams she could pretend that she was truly hugging him to her.

"Smell that?" she asked of the baby, rubbing her hand gently over the swell of her belly. The baby squirmed in excitement, and kicked her foot. "That's your daddy's smell." Or your daddy could be that unknown man that Mommy slept with, but we'll go with Bart being your daddy for now. "Do you miss him, baby? I do."

She'd taken, in the last couple of months, to talking to her belly, because it was her only company so much of the time. "Then again, I suppose you haven't met him yet. Well, just know that your daddy will love you," she promised. The baby kicked her as soon as she said it, and she smiled and rubbed the spot. Sometimes when the baby kicked it hurt, but tonight it didn't. It was like he or she was just trying to let her know he was there, and listening. At least someone was.

Susan had been stressing over this day for the whole week, and it had finally arrived. Friday.

She was even unsure of what to wear. Finally she settled on her favorite warm sweater, and left her hair down. She didn't want to look like she'd purposely dressed up for him or anything. Plus, the sweater hid the extra bit of weight that she'd gained (which she already hated. She couldn't imagine how she'd feel at the end of nine months).

She had just finished eating dinner and was drinking a cup of tea when she heard a knock on the door.

It made her sad that he wouldn't even just come in anymore.

She opened the door and stepped back to let him inside.

Susan had picked up her cell phone so many times to call Bart, but she'd never worked up the nerve to dial the full number before slamming it shut again.

Okay. I've really gotta do this.

She sat down resolutely at the kitchen table, flipped open her cell phone, and dialed his number with a shaking hand.

"Are you sure?" Susan asked in a trembling voice, staring at the doctor. This would explain the nausea she had been feeling for the past few mornings and, of course, the fact that her normally extremely regular period was a few days late and showing no signs of appearing anytime soon. She'd taken a home test, but she had tried not to put too much stake in the positive sign that had appeared. She'd told herself that those things mess up all the time.

( Evidently, it hadn't this time.Collapse )

Bart had spent the last however many days it had been, with two friends. Mack, from his high school baseball team, and Jack Daniels, who needed no introduction. Every time he thought about Susan, he took a swig, so it was no surprise that he'd been wasted practically the whole time.

She'd been calling, and calling, and Bart let it ring out each time, but  he didn't turn his phone off. Let her worry.

Finally, he decided to answer. Mack had gone to go get some food, and Bart was sufficiently wasted.

So he answered, bu didn't say anything.

Susan blinked, the rays of the sun hitting her face at a different angle than was expected and producing a throbbing headache. She had been living in the same apartment with Bart for a long time now, and she'd never woken up to the sun in her face before.

Whaaa... are the curtains pulled aside or something?

She shuffled her way over to the window and drew the curtains together, one hand placed over her half-closed eyes.

She turned around, and was startled to find herself in a completely different room ... with a completely strange man lying on the bed.

She gasped and dove for her clothes, which were strewn around the room. Her heart was pounding furiously, and tears were stinging her eyes.

She didn't ... she couldn't ... but she had. But how? Why?

Stifling a sob, she dressed as quickly as she could. The little room was dirty, and Susan felt repulsed. She checked herself, making sure she had everything. Underwear, bra, socks, pants ... wait ... my wedding ring!

Where is it? She searched the room frantically.

She never went anywhere without her wedding ring, and she never took it off unless she was doing the dishes or showering. Unless...

She felt in her pants pockets, and her fingers grasped the cool metal. Her sobs escalated. I ... I hid him on purpose.

She felt lower than she'd ever felt in her life.