Page 31 of Two Weeks
Elise did the same, her heart pounding.
“God, my friend Elise needs You. She’s pregnant and scared and... well, she doesn’t know what to do.” He hesitated. “I don’t, either. So please, would You help her? Please let her feel Your presence and please give her wisdom about what to do next. In Jesus’ name, amen.” He squeezed her hands ever so slightly and released them.
She wasn’t sure if it was the prayer or the way she felt safe with her hands in his, but Elise could breathe better now. Cole took her home then, and walked her up the snowy path to the front door. A quick hug and goodbye, and Elise walked inside.
Her aunt was already in the kitchen, making dinner. For the next few hours, Elise helped with the cooking and dishes, all the while pretending to be happy and carefree, a senior with her whole life ahead of her.
In her room that night, Elise began to think about the test. It was the cheapest one in the store. Plus she hadn’t used first morning urine. So maybe the results were wrong. She convinced herself of the possibility and three days later, early on a Saturday morning, Cole took her to Walgreens again, and once more he stayed in his Explorer and waited while she ran into Java on Main.
The test was easier this time. More familiar. And well before the one-minute limit, the pluses showed up. Two of them again. Bold and bright, as if to mock her for thinking there could’ve been an error.
“It could just be me,” she tried to explain to Cole. “Some people just have these positive tests even when they’re not pregnant. Maybe I need a different brand or—”
“Elise.” Cole put his hand on her shoulder. His voice was kind, peace laced into every word. “Maybe the tests are right. And maybe you’re pregnant.” He didn’t wait for her to debate the possibility. “If that’s what this is, I’m not leaving.” His eyes pierced hers. “I’m your friend and I’m here. I told you that.”
There was only one way to know for sure.
Finally it was after school on the second Wednesday in February and again snowy weather had caused baseball to be canceled. This time Cole took her to the Bloomington Crisis Pregnancy Center. Until Cole told her about his mom and aunt volunteering here, Elise hadn’t known places like this existed, had never needed to know. He held her hand as they walked inside.
With his fingers wrapped around hers, again Elise felt safe. They didn’t usually hold hands but she would’ve fallen to the ground without his support, and he seemed to know. Her arms and legs shook as they made their way through the lobby.
On the front desk was an engraved plaque. Elise studied it.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF SARAH BLAKE. LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE LENGTH OF YEARS, BUT BY LOVE. SARAH, WE LOVE YOU NOW AND ALWAYS. MOM AND DAD.After that there was a date. A single date.
She turned to Cole. “Who was Sarah?”
His eyes were instantly deep, and Elise suddenly knew. Much of Cole’s heart was still unexplored no matter how close she felt to him. “My little sister.”
“Cole.” The truth hit Elise hard. “What happened to her?”
He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans. The situation was obviously hard on him. “She was born with... problems. She only lived a few hours.”
Elise couldn’t imagine. “I’m sorry.”
He nodded. “My mom and my aunt opened this place in honor of her life.”
At that moment a woman in a white coat walked up and smiled at Cole. “Hey, there.”
“Hi.” He hugged her. “I brought my friend Elise.”
“Yes. Your mom told me you might come in.” The woman smiled. “I’m Dr. Brooke Baxter West. I volunteer here a few days a month. When I’m not at my pediatric office.”
“I’m Elise.” What was she supposed to say? She wanted to run out the door and keep going. All the way back to Louisiana or maybe California or New York. Anywhere but here, where the truth about her situation was about to be evident to this woman, too.
Cole took Elise’s hand again. “She needs an ultrasound. If that’s possible. That’s what my mom said to ask for.”
“Absolutely. Right this way.” Dr. West led them down a hallway to the last room on the right.
The whole time all Elise could think about was Cole’s mother. Another weight that hung heavy on Elise’s shoulders. Cole’s mama had wanted to meet her ever since that day Cole invited her over for dinner. But each time Elise found a reason to stay away. What would Cole’s mom think about her? She wouldn’t want a bad girl for her son.
Cole was too good. Period.
They reached the door of a small room. It looked warm and clean. A poster with a picture of an unborn baby hung on the wall. Cole’s aunt was talking, something about this was where the ultrasound would take place and how the procedure wouldn’t hurt. Elise couldn’t take her eyes off the poster or the words underneath.
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. —Psalm 139:13
Elise shifted her eyes and looked around the room. It contained a few gray padded chairs and a white examination table and next to that a machine the size of an old-fashioned boxy computer. Cole’s aunt looked at her. “What do you think?”
