Chapter 3 CH 2

The next morning I wake up in an empty bed. For just a moment everything fells like it should, and then the events of yesterday come creeping back in. I throw my covers off, suddenly very hot and then I'm running to the bathroom to throw up again. Eric must have been been in the kitchen this whole time as he comes in with a fresh cup of coffee. I can barley look at him. He got home late again last night and I was able to pretend to be reading to avoid talking to him. In reality I was just staring at words thinking about how today would go.

"Do you think you caught what Connor had?" He asks me while leaning against the sink.

"Maybe" ...or maybe thinking about you makes me sick enough to vomit...

"Do you need anything? Do you want me to call Hope to come hang with you?" Is he serious?

"Why would I need you to call her? I have a phone" I said a little sharper than usual, he raised an eye brow and cocked his head.

"I can go in late if you don't feel well" he offered. Feeling guilty much?

"Actually it would really help me out if you could drop the boys off at school this morning, I may go lay back down" I said softer, much more my usual tone. That will get him out of here faster and give me more time to think about my appointment with Mrs Green.

"Sure babe" he leaned in to kiss me and I turned my head with the excuse of vomit mouth, honestly it almost made me wrench again, maybe I did get that bug Connor had....."I'll check on you later ok?" With that he left the bathroom and started corralling the boys toward their shoes and backpacks.

I returned to the bed and started thinking again about how I could talk to Racheal. To complicate things further, Hope is in the middle of a nasty divorce that her parents are helping her through. Unfortunately Hope struggled to get pregnant with her husband and it lead to a very bitter separation. Hope was devastated, I can't count how many late nights we shared with her crying. She doesn't want the divorce and is fighting him every step of the way. He has in turn decided to leave her with as little as possible already kicking her out of the home 'he bought'. He is a dermatologist and does extremely well. They have definitely been living in a different class than Eric and I for over a decade. Racheal was heartbroken for her. To watch her struggle with infertility and then lose her marriage would be difficult for any parent. Chris and her dad Bob have been nothing but supportive of her this whole time as well.

That reminds me Chris, I need to see if he can get the kids for me today from school. The years had been good to Chris, he just seemed to get better looking as time went on. He was already tall but the skinny teenager had filled out and he sported a light 5'clock shadow that made he look so irresistible sometimes. After college he and a friend of his started a construction company and Chris bought him out a few years back making him the sole owner now. He's the 'Big Boss' as I like to tease him.

I reached over and unplugged my phone, surprised to see Hope's name on a text.

Hope: Eric called and said you aren't feeling good, want me to come by?

I can't believe him! How long did he wait to get her on the phone? Was it until the kids were at school at least? I wonder now how many mornings this has been his routine. Kiss me, do some dad duties then call Hope. I think I may be sick again. I need to say something back so she doesn't just show up here. Which by the way is exactly what one of us would do in this sort of situation. She's been so caring with me this whole pregnancy too, I've always shared as much with her as I could since she can't experience it for herself yet.

Larkin: Im fine, feeling better now I'm actually heading out soon to run some errands.

After sending that off and breathing through the nausea I open my contacts to do thing I actually got my phone for. Finding Chris's name it only rings twice before he picks up. "Hark Hark if it isn't little Lark" he sings into the phone with his regular greeting for me. Chris has been my biggest defender since I was 12. I think witnessing how my dad was when everything happened set something off in him to always watch out for me, since my dad was struggling so much. While my dad and I are great now and I don't blame him for how he was when my mom and Finn passed, I also haven't forgotten it and I don't think Chris has either.

"Hey Chris how's your morning going?"

"Pretty good now, what can I do for you?" I can hear him smiling through the phone. I start to smile back but I'm hit with instant heart ache as my face muscles try to pull my cheeks. I stuttered trying to answer him, tripping over the mess that my life is turning into. Before I can form actual words he's already picked up on my current state, because next to Hope I don't think anyone knows me better. Honestly not even Eric.

"Larkin what's wrong? Is it Vivienne?" He asks all playfulness gone. Faced with saying this out loud for the first time I choke again as I try to speak.

"Are you at home? I'm coming over, Larkin just tell me if you're home".

"Im home" I manage to find my voice.

"Im leaving now" he's hung up before I can say anything else and I'm left staring at my phone. That's not how I intended that to go and I'm not sure what I'll say when I see him. I was planning on sounding super peppy on the phone and not seeing him until later when I got the boys from him. After I spoke to the attorney and had maybe shared it with Racheal first. How am I gonna handle this?

In twenty minuets Chris is on my doorstep, I open the door to a huge hug that breaks all the dames and emotional barriers I had spent the last twenty minutes building up. He walked me backwards into the house and stood in my front foyer letting me soak his shirt with my tears. His hand never stopped moving up and down my back, just like Mr Bob does for Racheal when she's upset. After a beat he asks what's going on and again I have no words. I'm not sure I can talk about it without throwing up yet. Instead I pull up the screen shots on my phone and pass it to him.

"I found those on Eric's phone yesterday" I whispered as he started reading. I watched his face run through the obvious emotions, initial shock, anger, disgust.....and wait was that a little bit of relief? No he definitely looks disgusted.

"What do you need?" Is all he asks when he finishes reading. Handing me my phone back.

"Could you pick up the boys from school for me today? I have an appointment with a divorce attorney and I don't know how long it will take."

"Of course i'll get them but I didn't just mean today, what do you need to get through this? What's the plan the rest of the day? Are you going to stay here with him and act like everything's fine?" He starts firing off questions I've been asking myself and have no answers for.

"I don't know!" I say throwing my face into my hands "I don't know what to do next, I was hoping after talking to the lawyer I would have some more answers." I'm starting to pace around him now, Vivienne is making me hungry but I don't think I can eat and I'm starting to feel light headed. I must have gone a little pale because Chris starts walking me into the kitchen and sits me down while pouring me some juice.

"What time is your appointment?" He asks me.

"11:45" I reply.

"Ok call me the moment you get out and we'll work out the next step together. I'll get Connor and Noah and get them something to eat before we go back to my house." Instantly I feel a little bit of weight lift, I have someone to help me and the boys. Some direction to follow.

"Larkin look at me, they are both assholes, especially my sister, I can't believe they did this. My mom is going to be so pissed."

"Please don't say anything to anyone yet, I don't know how to tell them or how soon I want to."

"I won't but it should be sooner than later Larkin, keeping this bottled up can't be good for you, or her." He says lightly touching the front of my belly. He takes my hand and pulls me further into the living room.

For the next 2 hours he sits with me on the couch trying in vain to feed me snacks from my fridge, the tv is on but both of us are to lost in thought to pay attention. When 11am rolls around I finally drag myself to my room to brush my teeth and get out of my pajamas. I double check I have the address copied down from the conformation email I received and Chris walks me out to the car in my garage.

"Remember call me as soon as you get in the car after and drink your water while you're there." He waves a water bottle in my face and puts it in the car along with my purse. I hug him and cry one last time for just a second when I feel his arms enclose around me, before getting in the car and pulling out into the street. Here we go.