Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Chapter 27

27

(Five days later)

Claire was glowing. Her cheeks were tinted red and a delightful smile danced on her lips. She was sitting in her room with her mother and Penelope, looking at the small sonography image in her hand.

“He’s so tiny, mom? Like a small pea.” She beamed while showing the picture to her mom.

Andrea nodded and took the image from her, “He’s lovely!”

After a while Andrea left to bring something to eat for Claire who kept staring at the image.

She had been doubtful about the health of the baby because she found it difficult to not feel depressed in these days. Hunter’s thoughts were always accompanied with tears and a seething ache in her chest.

Claire couldn’t help but visit the doctor to check on the baby’s condition. Moreover, she wanted to know how it was growing in her womb.

So today, she consulted her mother’s gynaecologist who conducted her sonography. She was elated to see the baby on screen. He was about one month and two weeks old. He was growing well

Though the doctor suggested telling her the baby’s gender, Claire denied it. She didn’t want to ruin her excitement already. It was fun in itself while the family members fought over the gender of the baby. It was already happening in her house between Scott and her father.

I want him or her to look just like me. I don’t think I can handlea little face resembling his looking at me.” Claire’s voice trembled towards the end.

She couldn’t help but clutch her fingers tight into a fist. It crumpled the sonography image in her hold.

“Oh Claire, your mood swings will drive me crazy!” Penelope quickly pulled her in a hug and rubbed her back.

“I’m sorry but I can’t get my mind off him. How could he just leave me? It’s been a week, Penny. A week since I left and he didn’t even try to contact me.” Sobs erupted from Claire’s mouth

She stared with teary eyes out of the window while pressing her check on Penelope’s shoulder. That’s true that she promised herself and her mother that she will not think about Hunter. But the baby in her womb didn’t come magically. He was put there by that man.

Even if she wanted to forget him, the baby she was carrying made it difficult.

“You promised that you will be strong, Claire.” Tears formed in Penny’s eyes too.

Knowing that her friend was finally showing her true emotions made her chest quiver in pain. For the last five days. Claire had been smiling, and those smiles really bothered herl. Because she knew they were fake

Trust me, I am trying. But… My mind keeps going back to him am forced to wonder whether it would be different if he knew… She trailed off because she knew the answer already.

Hunter would have rather asked for an abortion. He would have chosen Zara over their baby too.

Because Zara was important. Not the baby Claire was carrying.

She was sobbing on Penelope’s shoulder, who let her cry her heart out. It was better to take it out and carry this pain within

her.

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Chapter 27

I miss him badly, Penelope Even if for formality had he called me, I would have been relieved. I would have been grateful.” Claire’s heart twisted in her chest as he said that.

“I’m not saying I need his support. But at least he could have asked about my health like any other human being would do to another. Not as his ex–wife, but at least as someone w–who spent two years with him he could…”

“Claire, Shhh! You’re stressing yourself again. Penny shoved her away from her shoulder and made her sit properly against the pillows.

She gave her a glass of water and a pill that she stared like it was poison.

“It’s safe, Claire. Your doctor prescribed this Antidepressant pill. It will not affect your pregnancy Penelope explained as she put it in Claire’s palm.

Blinking her eyes at the pill, Claire wondered, ‘What am I doing Shedding tears for that heartless man again? What for? It’s not going to yield anything good for me. It’s only making things vulnerable.

She shifted her hand away and tossed the pill on the floor as she determinedly sighed, T’m sorry I worried you. But I’m okay. I don’t need antidepressants.”

“But Claire,”

“I’m fine. Just do something to distract me.”

“How about Steve Harvey’s funny videos?”

That’ll light up my mood. Claire smiled.

Within an hour, she was back to being all smiling and vibrant again. Though the paleness on her cheeks remained, nobody commented on it.

Andrea was sitting next to her daughter, Penelope was not there as she had to run some errands. So she told everything t Andrea and left Claire in her care.

“I like his savage replies, mom. Steve Harvey is amazing, Claire hughed, watching the old episodes of Family Feud.

“Yeah,” Andrea faked a laugh.

She bit back her cries as she could see her daughter was suffering from within. But she couldn’t cry because Claire depended on her family for support in this frail time.

If she as her mother broke into tears, what would happen to her

She continued to pretend to be happy until Scott came to Claire’s room with huge boxes in his hands. He was accompanied by Shawn Murphy, his best best friend.

It gave her some time to walk away to a corner where she could shed her tears without getting caught.

“Woah! What do you have there, Scotty? Claire asked, crawling to the edge of her bed.

“You’re going to be blown, big sister!” Scott winked at her.

Shawn put the parcel down near her feet and rolled his eyes, “Your brother has gone crazy, Claire. The news of your pregnancy has got to his head. I regret being his best friend.”

He massaged his muscles to show how sore they’ve been from carrying the huge parcels.

“Don’t be a dick, Shawn! I told you I’ll treat you to your favorite restaurant tonight if you help me.” Scott narrowed his eyes on him.

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Chapter 27

“Yeah, but I didn’t know you’l make me carry these boxes here.” Shawn turned to Claire. “Claire, the company said that they will send it over by the evening as soon as a transport truck is free. But no, he had to make me carry it like a labourer!”

“I was too impatient to wait till evening! It’s the first ever gift from me for my niece or nephew whoever it is. You think I would have waited that long?” Scott said uncaringly as he began to undo the boxes.

Her eyes shone. She excitedly tapped her feet on the ground as she watched Scott and Shawn open the boxes.

“Is this for my baby? Her voice carmed pure excitement.

“For yo

you both. Shawn said as Scott was invested in pulling tape off the huge and finely packed box.

With each second, as each tape came out, Claire’s eyes widened. There were various shapes and sizes of wood pieces. It was some kind of furniture.

It took about two hours to fix the pieces together, and the final product left her mouth agape,

While Claire was awestruck, her mother clutched her mouth tightly to hold her sobs in. Her son and his best friend have brought a fancy baby crib and shelf for her,

Though it should make her happy that Claire was genuinely enchanted by it, it shook her insides and messed with her. motherly feelings. No daughter should go through this phase… Where she is pregnant but the baby of the father is not with her. What’s more… He’s divorcing her,

“You like it?” Scott scratched his head as his sister was in a shock and mute mode for a while.

She slowly turned to look at him as an infecting grin broke on her lips. She threw her arms around his waist, and hugged him tightly.

“This is the best gift I received in a while. Thank you, uncle.”

“You’re welcome. But know that this is not the only gift my niece or nephew is getting from me. There’s more on the way.”

It made her hug him tighter. Then she approached Shawn. She hugged him too and thanked him.

“I’m going to spoil your child rotten, Claire. Take it as a pre–warning” Shawn chuckled.

“Warning well taken. But since you both are going to raise my child for me, I don’t mind it.”

“Gladly! The guys said together.

out.

“One of you will drop him to school and another will pick him up. Claire said again, hoping that they’ll back out.

They agreed gladly again, making her look at them narrowly.

“We’ll take care of your baby easily. Scott said.

“Well, that’s in the future. Taking care of the baby in the starting phase involves changing his diapers and changing his clothes again and again. I hope you don’t mind doing that.” Andrea finally joined them

Her words caught the boys off guard and they offered sheepish grins.

That we think may require some assistance. I’ll hire help to change diapers on my behalf. Scott said.

“And I for changing clothes,” Shawn smiled hesitantly.

“You will hire people to change diapers and clothes? God! You both are ridiculous.” Andrea said unbelievably.

Claire was amazed by their answers. She was laughing uncontrollably. Her laughs sparked something inside her mother and

Chapter 27

brother. They both adored her while Shawn captured this moment in his phone.

She fell on bed and slapped the mattress. She couldn’t contain her laughs. It was too funny. What else would you expect from young men like them?

She was still laughing when her phone buzzed. She was too invested in laughing to look at her phone.

Scott got

her phone for her. The moment his eyes fell on the screen, his face became taught and eyes hard. His mouth twisted in a line as if he was possessed.

Claire noticed it and asked, “Who is it?”

Scott didn’t answer. He kept staring at the phone.

“Scott,” She got up to take the phone from him.

“It’s no one important. He was about to pull the phone away and cut the call when Claire seized his wrist.

As her eyes fell on the name of the caller, her body froze.

Hunter.

Tbc..

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