The Ideal Man

TWENTY – NINE

Placated by Ellie’s apology, Ava and John went home.

“You need to get some rest, Ellie,” her mother said.

“I will,” she promised. “But I want to go upstairs and say good night to Annie first.”

She was surprised she got dizzy when she stood, but she was certain no one noticed. She didn’t take the stairs two at a time as she usually did and even held on to the banister to keep her balance.

Annie was sitting in the middle of the bed with the unopened pregnancy kit.

“Shut the door,” she whispered.

Ellie quickly did as she asked, then sat down across from her sister. “You haven’t taken the test yet?”

Annie shook her head. “Once I do…”

“Yes?”

“I can’t undo it. I’ll know.”

“You need to know.”

She nodded. “But what if I am? I don’t have a job, and I have student loans to repay. It’s a little overwhelming.”

“If you are pregnant, do you want the baby?”

No hesitation at all. “Of course I want the baby.”

“You aren’t alone, Annie. You know I’ll help you. You can move in with me. And there’s the father,” she said. “You should tell him.”

“I’m such a screwup.”

“No, you’re not.”

“You don’t understand. I don’t know where he is. I went a little bonkers, I guess. If I tell you something, will you promise not to be shocked?”

“What?”

“I’d never… you know…”

“What?” she asked again.

“Patterson scared me, and I didn’t want to have anything to do with any man. I wouldn’t let myself…”

“I see. I’m not shocked,” she said. “So the baby’s father was the first man you’ve slept with?”

Annie nodded. “Four months. That’s how long we were together. It was… raw animal magnetism at first, I guess. I can’t explain it.”

“I know what you mean. Trust me, I do.”

“It wasn’t just the sex, though,” she explained. “He was perfect. He was kind and considerate. We had so much in common. He loved the same things I did, and we could sit for hours and hours talking.”

“So what happened?” Ellie asked.

Tears streamed down Annie’s cheeks. “I don’t know. We’d spent a terrific weekend together at the beach. He left my apartment Monday morning, and I never heard from him again. No call… nothing.”

“What do you know about him?”

“He’s a Navy Seal,” she said. “I thought maybe he got a call from his commander and had to leave on a mission or something, but if that was the case, why didn’t he call, or leave a note, or at least text me? He made me feel like a whore,” she whispered. Tears clouded her eyes as she added, “I really did screw up.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“We used protection,” she said. “But I guess it isn’t always dependable.”

“Have you tried to get hold of him?”

“Yes. I tried calling him, but he didn’t answer. I even left messages for him, but he hasn’t responded. Nobody will tell me anything.” She wiped a tear away. “If he cared about me at all, he would have left some word.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I talked to Max, and he’s going to try to find him for me.”

“And when he does?”

Annie straightened her shoulders. “If I’m pregnant, I’ll tell him because he’s the father, and he deserves to know, but I’ll make it clear I want nothing from him.”

“You’re emotional now,” Ellie said. “Take the test tomorrow morning and find out.”

“I could take it now.”

“Yes, but your hormone levels will be higher in the morning,” she said. “Or do one test now and another tomorrow morning. Either way.”

Ellie tried to get more information about the man, but Annie didn’t want to talk about him.

“You’ll take the test first thing in the morning, then?”

“Yes, I absolutely will,” she promised.

The sisters spent the next hour catching up. They talked about work, the people they knew, even Ava’s wedding.

Ellie stood. “I need a shower and a bed,” she said with a yawn. “I’m beat. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You’re leaving Winston Falls?”

“Yes.”

Annie nodded. She watched Ellie open the door and then said, “It’s funny really.”

“What is?” she said, turning back.

“I was always the good girl.”

“You still are.”