Rewritten (Unwritten Book 2) (29 page)

Charlie sighs, grabbing his phone, slipping it into his back pocket trying to be playful to distract me. “I’m hurt.” He leans in, kissing my neck trying to push me down to the bed.

“Charlie, come on. I know they responded,” I push his chest back to a seated position. “Tell me.” I give him an I’m-not-playing look making Charlie sigh, looking down.

“Allison, I just don’t want you to worry. Please, let me deal with whatever this is. It’s my problem and I don’t want you brought into this any more.”

“Ok, now you’re worrying me. Tell me what they said.”

Charlie stands up. “I’m sorry. I won’t. Please, drop it.”

“Charlie! You said we wouldn’t have any more secrets. You need to tell me.”

“Allison, please. Just for this once. Let me deal with this. I don’t want to worry you or get you involved.”

“But I am involved. It’s too late to not get me involved. Charlie, our entire lives are going to change tomorrow. Tomorrow! This all started with you keeping secrets from me so excuse me if I don’t trust you,” I start to yell, extremely pissed off all a sudden.

“Allison, no. Don’t say that. You can trust me.” Charlie grabs for my hands holding them in front of him as we stand inches apart.

I look down. “Charlie, I’m trying to be strong. But I feel like I can crack at any minute. I’m still not sure I can even do this. I don’t need to think there is something else you’re keeping from me. Don’t push me away. Not now. Not if you want me to stay here. With you. With Lyric. I can’t start out our life this way.” By the end of my statement I’m barely whispering.

“Allison, baby. Look at me. Don’t talk like this. Please don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts. I need you here with me. Lyric needs you.” He pulls me in closer, so we’re touching as he leans down and places his forehead against mine. “You’re his mother.”

I take a sharp breath in, “But what if his actual mother does wake up? What then? I’m step-mom…? Charlie, I…” I try to push myself away from him as my eyes fill with tears.

“No Allison, don’t think like that. You say so yourself, ‘everything happens for a reason.’ We have to have faith. If she wakes up we will figure it out and everything will be ok.”

“How can you say that? You don’t know. Charlie, the woman threatened to kill me. Did you forget that little fact?” I yell as my tears turn to anger.

“Allie, no. I’m sorry. I didn’t forget. I know you have been through a lot,” he looks down ashamed. “All because of me. But Allison, please. Don’t do this now. I need you, more now than ever. My son, our son, will be born tomorrow. I have to believe everything will be ok. We will be ok.”

“If you honestly think that Charlie than why are you hiding your phone from me? Who texted you?”

“Allison, I don’t know. I’m being honest. I have no idea who sent this text and why. I really just don’t want to hurt you. If you really want to read it you can. I hope you would just listen to me and trust me. I’m not trying to hide something from you. I’m trying to protect you. I will tell you this. You don’t want to know what this says. And I don’t want you to know until I know who it came from and why.”

I look up, shocked. Tears start to fall down my face as Charlie pulls me in closer. “I love you. Please, I don’t want you to have all of these feelings, all of these doubts. Especially now, especially with what’s happening tomorrow. This should be the best day of our lives. Our baby will be here.” He looks down directly into my eyes, “You hear me.
Our
baby.”

I look up, not being able to fight the tears that flow down my face freely. “Then tell me. I can handle whatever you have to tell me.”

Charlie reaches to his back pocket and hands me the phone. “Please know. I’m giving you this because I love you. And I don’t want you to read it because I love you. Decision is yours.”

I look down to his phone. Holding it with both hands but I don’t swipe it on. I look up at him, looking into his eyes then back to the phone. Slowly I throw it down on the bed. “Ok Charlie. I won’t read it. But please don’t keep me in the dark. If they text back you let me know. If you don’t want me to know what it says I’ll trust you. But if you’re in trouble you let me know. No secrets. Ok?”

Charlie grabs me tightly, holding me close to him. “I promise. Thank you. I just don’t want to worry you over something I don’t even know is worth worrying about. Come on. Can we get back to what you started a few minutes ago? I do believe I owe you an orgasm now.” He smiles his sexy smile, wrapping his hands around my neck and pulling me in for a kiss.

I’m too worked up to kiss him back. “I’m sorry. Give me a second.” I turn and walk into the kitchen for water.

Once Allison’s gone from the room I fall down on the bed. I’ve been trying to keep my anxiety for tomorrow at ease but now, after the text and the fight with Allison, I’m truly and emotionally terrified. So terrified that I do something I swear I never would after my parents died. I pray.

Please, God. I’ve never asked you for anything. And I know I’m not religious, or anything, but if you are there. If you are listening. Please. Please make tomorrow ok. Can you please…

I pause, not sure how to finish my thought. How can I ask God to not let her live?

Just please make everything ok. I love Allison. Please give her strength to stay with me.

I pause again.

No matter what happens.

I
look down to my hand that is gripped around Charlie’s. Neither one of us wanted to be in the delivery room so we’re sitting silently in the waiting room waiting for news.

My stomach turns and my chest is so tight I can barely breathe. Charlie leans his head back against the wall behind him, closing his eyes taking a deep breath in and out. I’m assuming he feels the same way I do but I can’t work up the never to ask.

“I wish my parents were here,” Charlie whispers.

I’m shocked to hear Charlie’s confession. He’s never spoken of them besides relaying the dreams he had that they were in. I grip his hands tighter. “They are, baby. I know they are. Just like in your dreams. They’re always with you. And they know their grandson is being born today. I really believe that.”

Charlie opens his eyes and looks at me with his head still leaning back and takes a deep breath, then whispers, “Thank you. Thank you for being here with me. I know this is a lot for you. I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here with me right now.”

My heart aches for him. I love this man and he’s been through so much. There is nowhere I would rather be than right by his side. A small tear runs down my face as I hear a familiar voice timidly say hello. I turn my head to see my mom and dad walk through the door.

We still aren’t speaking but seeing her, after all this time and in this very tense, scary moment, I’m nothing but grateful to see them both standing there, especially my mom.

“Charlie… Allison… I hope it’s ok that we are here,” my mom says while holding my dad’s hand and arm firmly for support.

“Mom!” I run up, wrapping my arms around her, giving her a huge hug as tears fall uncontrollably.

She instantly starts to cry, gripping me tightly. “Oh Allison. I’m so sorry. I miss you so much.”

I don’t want to think about anything. Right now I just really need my mom and having her there to support us means more to me than I ever thought possible.

Now I fully understand Charlie’s comment about wanting his parents there. I didn’t know how bad I needed my parents until the second they walked in.

I turn to Charlie then back to my parents, for the first time, fully understanding the pain he has been going through the last ten years.

I look my mom in the eyes then tilt my head to Charlie in an un-said motion that he needs a mom right now, too.

She loosens her grip on me and walks over to Charlie who stands as she approaches. “Charlie, I know I will never be like a mom to you but I’d like to try.” She looks to me for reassurance. “At least I will be a Grandma in your life. If you guys will let me.”

Charlie shakes his head
yes
as a tear falls down his face and he reaches over to give her a big hug. I know hearing he has the support of a family in his life now means more than anyone could ever know. I can’t help but let the tears flow down my cheeks.

She whispers, “I’m so sorry Charlie. This is all my fault.”

Charlie stops her and pulls back looking into her eyes. “This is nobody’s fault. This is my son.” He looks at me, holding out his hand to grip mine again. “Our son. I will never look at this as anything but a blessing.”

My dad walks up, placing his hand on Charlie’s back. “You make me proud to say you’re a part of our family.”

They smile at each other for a moment as a nurse walks in, “Excuse me. Which one of you is Charles Ashley?”

We all freeze, looking at the nurse before Charlie grabs my hand tightly, stepping forward saying, “I am.”

She smiles halfheartedly, “Can you please follow me? The doctor would like to speak to you.”

He looks at me, pulling on my hand with an
it’s time
look on his face.

I can’t move. I’m completely stuck. It’s like my feet have been glued to the ground and my legs forgot what walking even feels like.

I get lightheaded, my brain swimming with possibilities. These last nine months, not knowing what will happen, will she live, will she die? And the baby. Lyric. Everything is coming down to this moment. Right here. I think I’m going to be sick. If I can’t move even a centimeter forward, how can I move a lifetime forward?