HAPPY FOREVER AFTER

He pulled up in front of her apartment. He looked at the building and felt an edge of panic attack. Damn, when was the last time he had felt this way about a woman. He couldn’t remember.

He got out of the car, closed the door behind him, then remembered the flowers. A moment later, daffodils in hand, he walked up the stairs.

He knocked on the door and seconds later he heard movements inside. No one opened the door, and he rang the bell. A moment later, the door opened and he saw Karen. There was no smile on her face as she pulled open the door. He understood. He had hurt her best friend. She probably hated him too.

“Hi Daniel,” she said.

“Hi, Karen,” he said. He saw her eyes go to the bunch of flowers in his hand. He shifted his feet, awkward suddenly as an unwanted suitor.

“I have come to see Emma” he managed to say. “Is she in?” he asked.

“No she is not” Karen said, then she added. “But if she were here, she would not want to see you”.

Daniel looked at her, at a loss for words. Had Emma told her to say that? He wondered.

“And you know what?” Karen continued. “You would be doing her a great service if you just stay away from her”.

She put one hand on the door, ready to close it, but he put his foot in between.

“Where is she, Karen?” he asked.

“I told you, she isn’t here. And she doesn’t want to see you” Karen replied.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Daniel cursed silently, then he pushed the door open and stepped in, his big body made Karen take a step back.

“Go ahead and look around if you want,” she said. “I already told you she isn’t here”.

“I heard you,” Daniel said. “What I want to know right now is where she is. Tell me, Karen, Please. I was at her office today, and they said she hasn’t been to work for a while. I’m worried about her.”

“Well, you weren’t so worried when you hurt her. Too late to start caring, isn’t it?” Karen asked.

He shook his head. “Please, Karen”.

“She’s with her mom, okay? She’s with her mom” Karen said.

“Oh Alright, but is she okay? Barrett said she didn’t sound so good. Is she sick or something?”

Karen didn’t reply, and her silence freaked Daniel out even more.

“She’s sick, isn’t she?” he asked. “Tell me,” he said and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently. “Look, I know I hurt her, Karen. I know she’s mad at me, but I gotta see her and talk to her….. To apologize at least, and to know that she’s alright. She won’t pick my calls and she won’t reply to my texts. Now you know me, Karen. And you know that I care about your friend, no matter what happened, no matter what you think of me right now. I just… Please At least just tell me what’s wrong with her”.

“Relax,” Karen said. Then she added quietly. “She’s fine…. She is just….. Pregnant”

——————————

Daniel released her.

He stared at her like he couldn’t believe what she just said. The flowers in his hand, twisted already, fell on the floor.

“She’s pregnant?” he asked her. Maybe he had heard her wrong. But Karen nodded. He took a deep breath. It was definitely his. He knew that. She was pregnant with his child. And he had left. Could this situation get any worse?

He turned to leave. “Thanks… I have to go see her” he said. But Karen stopped him.

“Please don’t.” she said. “I have such a big mouth. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that, and maybe Emma’s going to kill me for telling you. But you can’t go see her now”.

“Forget it”. He said, heading for the door again.

“She’s gonna be back tomorrow anyway. Tomorrow or next. Just have a little patience. She left because she needed time to process the whole thing. Please… just let her have that” Karen said.

He stared at her for a while, then nodded. He left the building, walking slowly to his car. What the hell was he even going to say when he saw her?

———–

“You told him what?” Emma asked Karen. She couldn’t believe her ears.

“I’m sorry babe” Karen said. “You know I talk a lot sometimes. And I didn’t mean to, he just looked so… Worried about you.”

“I don’t care if he looked worried,” Emma said. “Honestly a part of me hopes he’s as worried as I have been these past days.” she hesitated then added. “I’m not mad at you for telling him…. just surprised. He was going to find out anyway. It kinda makes things easier for me. I have been trying to think of a way to tell him, and you have kinda handled it for me. So thanks… I guess. You talkative”.

Karen laughed. “Still I’m sorry”

“It’s fine. I will be back tomorrow” Emma said.

—————

Emma was in the kitchen when someone knocked at the door. It was definitely Karen. She thought. Her best friend had been nothing but helpful since she returned from her mom’s house three days ago. Always coming over to find out if she needed something.

“Come in” she yelled, hoping Karen would hear her. She didn’t want to leave the food on the stove.

“Hi, Emma”. A voice she knew too well.. Too intimately said.

Emma took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and turned around. Her eyes instantly focused on the father of her child, skating up from gray trousers, white shirt, navy and red striped silk tie, determined chin, no smile on his mouth, strong nose, riveting gaze which dropped from her face to her stomach. It was still flat, but she knew what that gaze meant.

She had returned from her mom’s place three days ago, and she still hadn’t been able to bring herself to call him. A part of her didn’t want to. He knew already.

He hauled his gaze up from her belly and his eyes were like icy steel, stabbing into hers. After a long nerve tearing silence, he asked, “How are you?”

“I’m fine,” Emma replied. Her voice was hoarse.

“Karen told me”. He said. His gaze dropped to her stomach again. “It’s mine, right?” he asked. No doubt in his voice. No doubt in his eyes. Just wanting the fact confirmed by her, forcing the admission with ruthless determination. “I know it is. I just want you to say it” he added.

“Yes,” Emma acknowledged. She swallowed the lump in her throat. What was he going to do now? She wondered.

His mouth twisted and he nodded. “When did you find out?” he asked.

“Two weeks ago” she replied.

“And you didn’t think it was something I should know about?” he asked bitterly. I know right now because Karen told me. Did you plan on keeping this from me? How long did you plan on keeping me in the dark about this? I understand that maybe you needed time, but you couldn’t pick up the phone or send a fucking text to let me know. You have been back for three days now, right? And you still don’t think I should know I’m going to be a father? ”

“I would have told you” Emma retorted. “I wanted to tell when I was ready”

“Oh really?” he mocked. “You have had a lot of time to be ready, don’t you think? Why did you keep it to yourself?”

“Because…” Her mind whirled around the reasons that had stopped her from making contact with him.

“Because…” he prompted with an air of relentless purpose.

“I didn’t think I needed you. Karen already told you. And I don’t need your…your financial support,” she blurted out.