Page 63 of Love By The Falls

“I’m sure this is pretty straightforward.”

“It sure is.” She smiles and turns to me. “Congratulations, Charlotte. Charlie’s going to be a big brother.”

I shake my head and my hands tremble in my lap. “Dr. Gibbons, that can’t be right. I don’t understand. You told me I couldn’t have any more children. You said—”

“I said it would be very difficult for you to conceive, and that you would most likely need fertility treatments if you wanted to have another baby. But you didn’t need any assistance.”

I stare at her, at the smiling creases around her eyes and lips. And I can’t seem to muster the same excitement.

All I can think is, how will I tell my parents that I got knocked up again? And this time, I don’t even know the father’s last name.

I cringe. But it’s the truth, and it’s the first thing that came to mind. They were disappointed the first time, but immediately loved Charlie as soon as he was born. I know they’ll do the same with this child. It’s just, I don’t know, it’s not what any of us planned for our future.

And Charlie… What will I tell him? He’s old enough to understand where babies come from. I know Jane teaches it in her health class. What will he think of me knowing I’m pregnant and unmarried? Hell, I don’t even have a boyfriend.

I drop my head in my hands. The whole town is going to wonder and gossip about who the father is.

“Charlotte, are you okay?”

“No. I’m not okay. Do you have anything you can prescribe for humiliation?”

16

Charlotte

The scent of fried bacon hits me when I walk through the front door, and I hold my breath, preparing for the oncoming sickness, but when I take a gulp of air, my stomach isn’t queasy.

Oh, thank God.

“Hey, you’re back,” says Sage. Her curly hair is tied up in a messy bun, and she’s wearing an apron that says ‘I like it hot’.

“Yep.” I throw my jacket toward the coat rack but miss. Of course, I do. “I just can’t seem to catch a break.”

Sage turns off the stove and walks toward me. She’s about to pick up the jacket, but I stop her. “It’s okay. I’ve got it.”

“So, what did Dr. Gibbons say?”

I sigh and then paste a smile on my face. “She said, ‘congratulations’.”

Sage squeals and throws a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. But aren’t you even a bit excited about this?”

I close my eyes, searching for the words to express how I’m feeling, but I can’t describe what’s inside meright now. “I don’t know what I feel. It’s all such a shock. I can’t believe I’m back here eleven years later.”

“But you’re not, Char. You’re not the same person. And this man isn’t Jason.”

“Right. Because at least I knew Jason’s last name.” I drop the back of my head onto the couch and cover my eyes with my arm. “What are people going to say?”

The couch dips beside me, and Sage’s voice is in my ear. “We’re going to find him, Char. I can feel it.”

“You’re not psychic, Sage. And I don’t think any smudging will conjure up a last name.”

“I may not be psychic, but I am intuitive. And I feel it here.” She grabs my hand and puts it to her chest. Her heart beats quickly. “We’re going to find the baby’s father.”

I peek beneath my arm. “Do you really believe that?”

She nods. I sigh and slide my arm back over my eyes.

Sage leaves the couch but returns only a few minutes later with a pen and paper. “Okay, so tell me everything you know about this guy.”

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