I place my hand on my stomach and draw a deep breath.
So I’m pregnant!
The news came as a shock, of course, to say the least. I was literally crying tears of disbelief. The possibility had never even crossed my mind. As I calmed down, I had to admit it was always there and now, I have to accept the fact that the possibility has become a reality.
I’m going to have a baby. Leo’s baby.
Will he be thrilled? Sad? Angry? I don’t know. I can’t even decipher my own emotions. I know I have to tell him. In fact, that was one of the first realizations that dawned on me.
Whether I decide to keep this baby or not, I have to tell Leo. Even though we didn’t mean to, we made this baby together, so we have to decide its future together. I’m not going to push him away this time.
My only question is: When do I tell him?
I wanted to run straight to him with the news, of course, but I was hungry, and then I felt tired, and then I just needed time to think. I still want him to know as soon as possible, but I can’t just call him and blurt it out, not when we parted with so many things left unsaid, not when we have misunderstandings left to sort out. I want to talk to him and sort things out between us first. I want to confirm his feelings and tell him mine. Otherwise, even if he decides to stay with me, I’ll never know if it’s because he really loves me or if he’s just staying with me because of the baby. I want him to stay for me, for us. I want us to work together to be a better us. Then, when everything is okay, I’ll tell him about the baby.
I look at the mirror and smile.
Yup, that sounds like a good plan.
I’m still smiling when I come out of the bathroom, but then my phone rings. For a moment, I wonder who it could be. Then my heart leaps at the thought that it might be Leo. Maybe he sensed that I want to talk to him.
With an even bigger smile, I run to the table where my phone is plugged into its charger. That smile fades when I see the screen and realize it’s Gladys calling.
Don’t get me wrong. I love her and I love talking to her, but she’s not who I want to talk to right now. I don’t know if I’m ready to tell her about the baby or if I want to.
When the phone stops ringing, I let out a breath of relief. It starts ringing again.
This time, my eyebrows furrow. What if she’s calling about something important? What if she needs something from me? I can’t just ignore her because I’m pregnant. She’s always been around to help me when I need help the most.
I tap the button to answer the call and hold the phone against my ear.
“Is everything alright, Gladys?” I ask immediately.
“No,” she answers.
So she is in a bind.
“Haven’t you heard? Please don’t tell me you don’t know it yet.”
“Know what?”
What’s going on? Why does she think I should have heard about it already? Heard from who?
“Leo is in jail.”
“What?” I sink into a chair.
And here I was thinking he hadn’t called me because he was simply angry or he was busy with work. But he’s in jail? Since when? What for?
“You really don’t know?” Gladys asks me.
“No,” I answer. “Tell me everything. Please.”
“They picked him up just tonight. They’re going to charge him first thing on Monday.”
My eyebrows arch. “That soon?”
“You know how much ADA Johnson loves the spotlight.”
Yes, I do.
“She especially loves humiliating rich, successful men in public,” Gladys adds.
Bitch.
“What are they charging him with?”
“First degree sexual assault, physical injuries, trespassing.”
What the hell?
I stand up. “Wait. What do you mean trespassing?”
“He supposedly entered someone’s abandoned lake house. They have a video of it.”
Lake house?
“And then they have the statement of this woman who says he raped her and beat her inside the house.”
Unbelievable.
“When did this supposedly happen?” I ask.
“Yesterday,” Gladys replies.
I grip my hair. They’ve got to be kidding me. These are lies. All lies. Well, yeah, the trespassing isn’t a lie, but the sexual assault? The physical injuries? I’m pretty sure the woman is being paid to make those accusations. I’m also sure that during the trial, the ADA will not just bring up but emphasize the facts that Leo’s from a rich family, therefore a spoiled brat, that he used to be a playboy and therefore has no respect for women, and that he has a short temper. They’ll probably have witnesses to prove that. Add that all up and the jury will pronounce Leo guilty in no time. An easy win for the prosecution.