29 June 2012
-NATE-
"You really don't look great, what happened?" Joe said to me, looking at my bruising. "It's a really long story" I replied, not wanting to go into any details. "So what's broken?" he asked again, trying to make conversation. "Two ribs and a few more are cracked. My shoulder was dislocated. But I'm all patched up now" "So come on, what's the news you had to tell me?" "Well, first of all I'm now engaged" "Seriously? Oh mate that's incredible! Good job!" he said, coming closer to hug me. "What else can top that?" "Not only have I got a fiancée, but I've also got a child on the way" I said, brimming with excitement. Every time I uttered those words a pang of delight passed through me. "Holy..." Joe said, elongating the word and staring into space in amazement. "Wow. Oh my god congratulations! Nate this is incredible! What did mum say when you told her?" "She was really delighted with the marriage" I said, the smile slowly being wiped off my face. "And the baby?" "She, umm, well, she hated the idea. She left as soon as we told her" I said, sinking down into the bed. "Oh I'm sorry" "It's not your fault" I said, still slumped into the bed sheets. "She should be more supportive. So wait, out of all the people you've told I've been the only happy one?" "Well as I've only told you and mum, yes" "That's rough. I'm sorry" Joe said, slumping in his chair too. "Hey, don't be sorry, you've been amazing! Seriously, I was considering discussing an abortion with Tiffany until you supported us" I said, starting to sit up again. "You wanted an abortion?" joe asked in shock. "No no, of course not. This child has made me happier than I've ever been, and so has she. But if we weren't going to be supported, the whole pregnancy and birth was going to be too stressful for her" I said, thinking increasingly about Tiffany. "How far gone is she?" Joe asked. "We think a few weeks maximum, so there was going to be no issue with the abortion. I'm just over the moon it doesn't have to happen now" Just as I'd finished uttering those words, I heard the two girls enter the room and pull back the curtain. "Hey you two" Joe said, smiling across at Ellie and letting her know that he knew too. "We've got some news of our own" Ellie said to the two of us. "What's that then?" said Joe, knowing nothing could top what I had just told him. "We're moving back to New York" she said. "Well I am, it's up to you, but Tiffany and I have pooled some of our money together and we're going to buy an apartment for the four, I mean five of us" she said, looking down at Tiffany's stomach before correcting herself. "That's such a great idea!" I said, smiling up at the two of them. "That's what we thought, so as soon as you're out of hospital, we're going to start looking for places" Tiffany said, coming to sit next to me. "I love you" I said, placing my hand on her cheek and tracing a line down to her stomach, where I knew our unborn child was laying. "You're so amazing" "And you're okay with this?" Joe said to Ellie. "Yeah, in fact this is just perfect for us" she said, walking over to him and sitting on his lap. "Then that's absolutely fine with me too" he said, leaning in to kiss her. I didn't see them though, I was too busy looking into my girlfriend's eyes and seeing the unborn child within her. I was dying to kiss her right now, so I shuffled across on the bed, towards Joe and Ellie, fighting through the pain that was cursing through my rib cage, and I patted the bed alongside me. Tiffany gently climbed up and allowed me to put my good arm around her shoulders. I squeezed her in tight, trying my hardest not to openly show him much pain I was in. "Where can I put my head?" she said, clearly asking me where it would hurt the least. "Anywhere" I said "I really don't mind" I hope she knew that I said that because she could never hurt me, but I knew she could. She rested her head lightly down onto where my chest meets my shoulder on the good side of my body and she gently rested her hand on my hip. She rubbed it lightly, making me relax totally. "This is perfect you know" I said, looking down at her slightly and kissing her on the forehead. "I know" she replied, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.
Love You Too: PART THIRTY ONE • Opuss № I