Beneath a Moonless Sky - Book One (Moon Child Series)

Chapter Six

A couple of weeks have passed since I moved into the apartment above from Fergus and Connors studio and a lot has happened. The day after all the drama of having to leave my childhood home and finding my new family Fergus sat with me as I rang the doctor’s office. Dr Grace recommended I come in a couple of weeks to have my first ultrasound and have a proper chat about my options. After that phone call they helped me carry all my stuff up to my new home and after we unpacked, they took me grocery shopping. I protested when they paid for it, but they insisted. These guys have already done so much for me that I had to repay them somehow. So, I offered to stand in as receptionist for them. Which was lucky for them because they had just had their receptionist walk out on them the day I’d arrived. That had been why Fergus was behind the desk tapping away on the tablet, trying to find her replacement. They walked me through all the computer software, the phone system and filing. In the two weeks I’d been doing it I’d created my own system and upped efficiency by twenty percent. I was happy to not be mooching off of Fergus and Connor. 

I had learnt a lot about the two of them in these two weeks. Both Connor and Fergus were wolf Shifters part of the Blue Moon Pack located twenty minutes from their studio. They had met five years ago at a gathering of the packs that happened every ten years to build up alliances and bonds between packs. Connor had reminisced to me how their eyes met across the room and they just knew. They were mates. Which was the Shifters version of Chosen for witches. They were the cutest couple and I was a little jealous of the love they had for one another. I found myself thinking about what if Lucian hadn’t disappeared on me. If he hadn’t abandoned me and my love. If we would be like Fergus and Connor were, so in love and inseparable from each other. This would make my heart hurt so much I’d be a sobbing mess on the floor. I’ve given up on the what if’s now…. Kind of. 

In two weeks, I’d grown as an adult. At my parents’ home I’d been sheltered. Aside from that one job in high school, my parents would not let me get a job, obviously wanting me to get one in the coven once I was of age and began my training. That plan didn’t work out for them very well. With Fergus and Connor and my own space to flourish, I’d changed into a more grounded and mature adult. In two weeks, I’d found who I am. 

So now I had to decide my future. Today was the appointment I’d been nervous to attend. Today I would have my first ultrasound and see the baby that was growing inside of me. I had butterflies in my stomach. But I couldn’t tell if it was because of excitement or dread. What if after seeing it I still didn’t know what to do? Or what if I did? Was I ready to be a mum, or to give my child to another to raise? So many questions were buzzing through my head making me restless. I hadn’t slept at all and Fergus could tell the minute I came down the stairs. 

“Oh love, bad night?” I nodded and grateful took the takeaway mug he handed me. Lemon and honey tea. It had become my go to drink at the moment as the only thing to stop my nausea in its tracks. I think Fergus has magic dust that he sprinkled in the mug and that’s why I haven’t had morning sickness. Goddess bless Fergus O’Leary. 

I followed Fergus out to his car, and we were off to the witch doctors. I sipped nervously at my tea as we drew closer to the doctors and Fergus grabbed my hand squeezing it reassuringly. 

“Whatever happens love, you have us.” I felt the tension leave me as he pulled into the car park. We are led into an exam room where I’m sat on a blue plush table with paper on it and told the doctor will be with us momentarily. 

A few minutes passed and Dr Grace entered with a wide smile on her face. 

“Elaina, so good to see you again. How are you feeling? Any more morning sickness?” She placed her palm on my forehead and hummed as I answered. 

“Im feeling okay, haven’t had much nausea since drinking this tea.” I wasn’t even sure she heard me, but she smiled when she finished humming and sat in front of what I assumed was the ultrasound machine. She turned to Fergus and held out her hand which he shook, telling her his name. 

“I’m glad that the nausea is gone and that you have such a great friend to support you through this.” I smiled at Fergus, definitely appreciative of him. “Now, I know you weren’t too sure whether or not you wanted to go down the adoption route or not, but either way you choose we need to make sure that you and the baby are healthy. So, shall we take a look?” I nodded nervously and lay back on the table while pulling my shirt up and pulling my pants down a little so she could access my belly. The blue gel was warm to my surprise as I’ve usually heard it’s cold, and she began pressing a wand against my stomach. The grainy image appeared on the screen and I had no idea what was going on. Fergus stood by my side with a reassuring hand on my shoulder while Dr Grace pushed and pressed on my stomach at different angles, her fingers clicking away on the keyboard on the machine. After a few minutes of silence, she turned the screen my way. 

“Okay dear, let me show you what we’re working with.” She points to a large blob on the screen. “This is your baby.” I squint my eyes and turn my head this way and that to try and see a baby in the blob. But it was futile. All I saw was a blob. 

“Now it’s nothing to worry about, but the baby is measuring a bit too big for its gestation age, but no two babies are ever the same.” My face must have given away my confusion and she chuckled. “I know it’s hard to see more than just a blob right now. That’s why we’re not rushing you with any decisions. I want you to be 100% confident with any decision you make. Okay?” I nod, breathing out a bit. She hands me some paper towels and I wipe my stomach as I sit up. “Now give me a minute and I’ll print this out for you, and we can organise your next appointment. I recommend coming in next week same time. It’s not a concern, I would just like to keep an eye on baby’s growth if they are growing faster than normal.” I thank her as she heads out to get the pictures of the scan. Fergus sits next to me and squeezes my hand. 

“Did it help a little, love?” I shake my head as tears prick at my eyes. 

“No Fergus. It just made me even more confused.” He rubs my back reassuringly as Dr Grace comes back in with the scans. I again thank her, and we head home. I’m more confused than ever now. But I would take the doctor’s advice and take my time. Either way I was giving birth to this baby. I just had to decide whether or not they would remain mine or I would give them to a new loving family. I had a lot to think about over the next week until my next appointment and I felt exhausted already. With a sigh I leant against the window as Fergus drives us home and close my eyes for just a second. I fall into blackness and drift off into a deep sleep where all I can dream of is Lucian turned away from me and me running to try and reach him with no hope of ever doing so. 

***

I was now a month into this pregnancy and a little bump had begun to form already. I was a bit concerned reading online that most women didn’t start showing until the end of their first trimester. But Dr Grace didn’t seem too concerned so I tried not to think about it. My appointments were the same as the first. Dr Grace would push that wand around my belly and show me blobs on the screen. I still couldn’t decide. I still had 8 more months to go and I had no idea whether or not to keep it or give it to another family. 

With a sigh I continued with the appointment scheduling I was working on. There had been a scheduling conflict with a big wedding that was paying Fergus a lot of money to shoot and a modelling contract that would put us on the map. Fergus was freaking out because the incompetent receptionist before me had fudged this up on purpose for her claim that she wasn’t being paid enough and that’s why she walked out. So, I was now left to clean up her mess. I’d noticed the scheduling conflict when I was re-entering all the schedules for the art studio into a new system, I’d made it more accessible and easier to use for if I wasn’t there and the boys had to access it. There were a few that she’d double booked to mess with Fergus and Connor, but I’d caught them before they happened. It was only this one that was causing us trouble. 

Getting frustrated that I hadn’t been able to solve it yet. I turned to my sketch book and began doodling, hoping some idea would jump out at me while I cleared my mind. I’d never really been into drawing much before I’d become pregnant. But something happened one day where I just felt the need to express myself through drawing. An alert pops up on the screen letting me know an invoice had arrived for Blackwood Enterprises, the modelling agency. I printed it out and walked through the black doors to the studio where Fergus was doing a baby photo shoot. I could tell he was already frustrated with the shoot as he just couldn’t get the shot that the crazy helicopter mum was demanding. Seeing me he told her to check up on the baby while he spoke to me. She didn’t seem happy but did it anyways. I handed him the invoice and a pen for his signature and smiled sympathetically at him as he signed. 

“Everything ok?” Fergus shook his head and pursed his lips in frustration. 

“I just can’t seem to nail this shot she’s requesting, and she says she’ll walk out and not pay if I can’t ‘get this simple shot’ that she wants.” He used air quotes as he spoke and I rubbed his arm, looking over at the mother and her baby. 

“What’s the shot she’s asking for? Maybe I can lend an eye.” I’d been watching Fergus work over the past month and had helped him a little when frustration was fogging his mind. We walk over and he asks the mum to explain what she wants exactly. After she explains I take a step back and look at the arrangement Fergus has made with the baby. After a little rearranging I got Fergus to take a shot. 

“It’s almost it, it’s just missing something.” The mum, Amanda I found out, said. I looked at the picture Fergus took. 

“Hey Ferg, do you reckon I could give it a try? I think I know what Amanda is picturing.” Fergus shrugged and handed me the camera. I focused into the lens and snapped a few pictures before turning to the computer screen. Amanda bounced up and down clapping her hands. 

“Oh! That’s it! That’s exactly what I wanted.” She hugged us both and then went to go pick up her daughter. “I’ll wire you the money tonight. I can’t wait to see the prints you send me.” She left beaming and Fergus pulled me into a tight hug. 

“Goddess bless you my petit little witch.” I giggled and pushed him away, putting the camera down. “Elaina?”

“Hmm?” I replied, checking the invoice was signed properly. 

“I want you to photograph the jewellery campaign.” I froze, not sure if I’d heard him right. 

“Huh?” I must have looked like a stunned mullet. Fergus chuckled at me looking at me seriously. 

“What you just did there was amazing. I want you to do the jewellery campaign for Blackwood Enterprises. It’ll solve our scheduling conflict and whatever we earn you can take a percentage.” I was stunned. Me?  Photograph one of the most important clients this studio has ever seen. What if I messed it up?! 

“I have faith in you love, you won’t mess it up. Please?” He pleaded, with puppy dog eyes. 

“Fergus, you know it’s not fair when you do the puppy dog eyes with me. I can never say no. Ugh! Fine! I’ll do it! Happy?” Pulling me into a tight hug he thanked me a thousand times. 

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever” I say as I walk back to my desk to scan, email and file the invoice. What the hell had I gotten myself into.