Brenda Novak - Until You Loved Me

“You’re talking about an abortion.”

“Yes. I’ll go to the doctor with you.”

Ellie snatched her hand away. “That’s not for me. I spend my days trying to save lives. I could never... I mean, I don’t judge anyone for the choices they make, but... You’re right. I couldn’t end the pregnancy.”

“What about adoption?”

Ellie rubbed her forehead. “I can’t see myself going in that direction, either. Like you said, I’m almost thirty. And I do want children eventually. Maybe this is my chance. Maybe it’ll be my only chance. The timing isn’t ideal, and it’s been a shock, but...I’ll get used to the idea, won’t I?”

Amy peered at her more closely. “Will you?”

“Of course,” she responded, wiping her eyes. Perhaps she wouldn’t have any help caring for the baby, and no support from a financial perspective, but she also wouldn’t have to send her son or daughter off to spend weekends with someone else. She wouldn’t have to cope with the various romantic interests passing in and out of Don’s or Hudson’s lives, either, wouldn’t have to argue with anyone about how she wanted to raise the child. Her parents were busy people, still active, but they’d be supportive. It wasn’t as though she’d be entirely alone—once they got back.

“I feel like I got you into this,” Amy said, wrinkling her nose in chagrin.

“You didn’t get me into it, Aim. I’m an adult, responsible for my own behavior.”

“You wouldn’t even have gone to Envy if it wasn’t for me.”

“True, but you’re not the one who pulled Hudson into the cab. I did that.”

Amy reared back. “You did? You pulled him into the taxi with you?”

Ellie nodded. “Bottom line, I wanted to go to Hudson’s hotel, wanted to sleep with him, or I wouldn’t have done it.”

Amy’s chest lifted as she took a deep breath. “Okay. So this is entirely your problem.”

When Ellie gasped, Amy gave her a devilish grin. “Kidding. I’ll be here for you. We’ve always been there for each other, haven’t we?”

“Yes.” Ellie didn’t understand how or why. They were such opposites, and yet it was always the other people in their lives who came and went. Case in point—she hadn’t heard Amy mention Leslie in a month or more. “I can do this, can’t I, Aim?”

“You can do anything.” Amy squeezed her arm. “That’s part of the reason I’ve always admired you.”

For once, Amy seemed to be in earnest. Slightly reassured, Ellie managed a watery smile. “Thank you.”

“So are you going to call your parents?” she asked.

“No. I won’t tell them for another five months. That way, they’ll have enjoyed a big chunk of their trip before they’re forced to decide whether or not to cut it short.” She took Amy’s hand. “Somehow I’ll get through the next half year without them.”

“The way you work, you could end up staying in the lab that long,” Amy said, and they both laughed.

7

By mid-January Ellie was four months along and starting to show. She could easily cover the baby bump she saw in the mirror when she got out of the shower each morning with a big sweater over a pair of leggings. But instead of waiting until the last minute, she’d made the announcement at work a week ago that she was expecting, due on June 10.

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