Seeking Relief
1288 Words
*Ariella*
I stared at the little black and white reel of pictures. The little bean-shaped blob within the picture confirmed what I had dreaded for the last few days… I was in fact pregnant… gestation for werewolves is 6 months. Dr. La Font gave me my due date and sent me on my way with the little print out of the ultrasound and a bottle of prenatals.
“How’d it go, Chère?” Miss Anna said as I climbed into the truck.
“Good…” I said as I leaned over and handed her the black and white photo. “Everything appears healthy…”
“Oh! Look at that little bean!” She squealed, tapping her feet on the floorboard of the truck. “I miss bein’ round babies.” She sighed with a smile, “little angels sent from heaven.”
“Well… you’ll have to come visit when I give birth.” I tried to force a smile, but I was terrified.
“Oh, Miss Anna gon’ spoil that lil’ babe!” She cheered happily as she put the car in drive and started back on the road to the hotel. “Na’ child, you text or call me any time, I’ll help you with whatever you need baby.”
“Thank you Miss Anna.” I responded as I hopped from the truck. She came around the drivers side and pulled me into a hug, kissing my cheeks.
“And, you tell that Mason to be easy on you, or He gon’ have to deal with Miss Anna.” She waved her fist but winked.
I laughed and nodded. “Thank you for your help ma’am.”
“Na’ get up and get you some sleep, Chère.” She waved goodbye to me. I watched after her as she pulled from the parking lot. A concierge passed me with a rolling cart of suitcases. I was frozen looking after her, missing her cheery attitude already and again falling into a desperately lonely feeling.
A woman in a dark skirted suit bumped into me. My ultrasound photo slipped from my fingers and landed on her pink designer bag.
“I am so sorry!” She squealed as we both knelt to the ground.
“Oh, no it’s my fault, I wasn’t paying attention.”
She picked up her bag and plucked the ultrasound picture from the top. She took a glance and smiled at it before handing it back as we rose back to our feet. “Congrats.” She said as our eyes met. A familiar hazel green colour met me. She had a ponytail of messy waves high on her head and striking features. She had long legs and perfectly manicured nails and makeup. She looked like a model and she stood at least 6 feet tall in her 6inch heels.
I smiled and nodded “Thank you.”
“Gwen! C’mon!” A voice called and she raced after a man who was about the same height and built like a Russian mafia boss. But he smiled warmly and pecked her lips before tapping her back side as they walked through the sliding door. She giggled and swatted his hand away.
I tucked my ultrasound to my chest with one hand before turning and walking back into the hotel. Passing them as they stood at the front desk. The woman looked back as I passed and smiled with a small wave goodbye. I gave her a wave back as I waited for the elevator.
“Hey kiddo…” I heard Mason start. It was late at night, I couldn’t sleep, and after soaking myself in a warm bath and tossing relentlessly for a few hours. My phone finally rang, it was just after 11 o’clock. I recognized the caller ID immediately.
“Hey Mason…”
“Carter will be leaving in the morning, he should be there tomorrow evening…”
“Okay…”
“Are you doing okay?” He asked.
“I’m… home sick again…”
“I know Kiddo… I’m sorry…” he sighed. “What can I do to help?”
There was nothing he could do. “No… it’ll be here till I get home.”
He paused with a little hum. “How’s the baby?”
“He’s good…”
“He?” Mason let out a laugh.
I laughed back, shrugging as I leaned back on the headboard “I just feel it’ll be a boy.”
“We’ll have a betting pool for when you find out.” He teased me.
“Do you want to see the ultrasound?” I asked.
“Yeah, sure.” He said. I put the phone on speaker as I grabbed the picture from the bedside table and snapped a picture, sending it over text to him.
“Wow…” he let out a breathy exclamation. “It’s just a tiny bean.”
We laughed. “That’s what the OB said.” I laughed.
“You’ll be a great mom Ari. And you know everyone at the Farm will help you.”
“I know…”
“Can’t believe I’m gonna be a grandpa at 36.”
I laughed, “Well, it’s not my fault you decided to take in a 10 year old at 25.” I teased back.
“If I had to, I’d do it all again kiddo.” He responded. “No matter what the outcome is, I would repeat these last 10 years over and over again for you.”
Another round of tears started. I didn’t believe I could cry as much as I had the last few days, it was getting ridiculous.
“Thank you Mason…” I gushed as my heart swelled with warmth, “I needed to hear that…”
“Why don’t you try and get some sleep Kiddo.” He responded in a sad voice. “You need your rest. I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay .”
“Yeah, I’m okay…”
“I love you Kiddo. Goodnight.”
“I love you too Mason. Night.” I responded before the phone clicked off
I knew I wouldn’t sleep tonight. It has been impossible for me to sleep recently. Last night was the first in 3 days, and for some reason, even though I was exhausted I was sure I wouldn’t fall asleep tonight. Another hour of tossing and turning.
It was well after 1 am and I desperately just wanted to sleep. My head pounded, my heart rate hadn’t settled almost all night, nausea was gripping my insides and I couldn’t even stomach a small snack when I had gotten back to the hotel room. So I was still nauseatingly hungry in addition to being so sick I wanted to vomit.
I opened my eyes and sighed, staring at the ceiling while I mulled over my options. Then I cursed myself knowing I was about to make a horrible choice when I pulled my phone up and typed a text to Miss Anna. Pausing as my finger hovered over the send button. My finger quivered, but I suddenly forced it down and the message was sent… I couldn’t take it back now.
To my surprise my phone rang.
“Evenin’ Chère.” Her smooth Cajun voice greeted.
“Hi ma’am… sorry if I woke you…”
“Contrary. Insomnia had me up all night. I was just preppin’ a pot’a gumbo.” Her voice held excitement. “Whatcha need baby?”
“Uhm… I was… wondering if you could drive me somewhere…”
“Right now?” She asked.
“If it… isn’t too much trouble… I… need to see the baby's father…
- Writer
