FINALLY FINISHED!

Chapter 9- Breaking it to Charles

Once again Tom escorted me home. This time Charles wasn't there waiting. I took a deep breath. “Thank toi for your support Tom. It means so much to me,” I hugged him.

“Of course Esie, you're my best friend, I could never let toi down,” he hugged me back and walked me to the door. “Let me know immediately if there is any problem at all with Charles. I'll be here as soon as I can,” he promised hugging me one plus time before he left.

I walked inside the empty house. It felt odd for some reason. Everything seemed different as if my entire perspective on life had been switched. As if I was fully aware of the beautiful creature nestled inside of me. I walked into the living room and sat on the sofa. Inside of me. God. That sounded so strange. It felt so surreal. Like this wasn't possible at all.

Soon, I fell asleep where I was sitting. I woke when I heard my name being called “Esme?” it was Charles. He was trying to rouse me gently. At least plus gentle than usual. “Esme wake up,”

I opened my eyes. “Charles?” I asked groggily. I yawned and looked at him.

“Are toi alright?” he asked. “What did the doctor say?” he sat suivant to me. “What's wrong?”

“What?” I asked still half asleep. “Oh. Th-the doctor. Well, I need to talk to toi about something Charles,”

“What is it Esme? You're scaring me!” he put a hand on my shoulder. This was a side of Charles I had never seen before. The side that truly cared about what became of me. “What do toi need to talk to me about? Is it bad?”

“No. Not if toi look at it in a certain perspective.” I told him, looking him in the eyes. “Charles. I-i'm pregnant,” I smiled just like when I had told Tom and Abby.

His face seemed to immediately change. From worry to rage. “WHAT?! Are toi joking me Esme? I'm not ready to be that responsible.” he bellowed. This was the most I remembered being afraid of him. And that was saying something. Perhaps it was the new life I was carrying. My purpose. The only reason I was now living.

“What do toi mean Charles. The other jour toi told me toi wanted a child and now.... you're completely against the idea.” I started to cry. It was now that I fully realized what an unkind, heartless man my husband was. “I shouldn't have expected any different from toi I suppose,” I looked down. “You haven't changed. I was a fool to think toi had changed one bit,” I dried my tears with my sleeve.

He glared at me. I didn't have any idea what he was thinking, what he could be planning and I was scared. I didn't want to give him any chance to hurt this wonderful child. There was no reason for him to be this angry. He always took his rage out on me. I knew that for sure par now. I didn't know what I was going to do. I didn't want to be around to give Charles any opportunity to take advantage of my weakened state. I knew now that I had to get away from him. And soon too.

As usual when he was angry, Charles left soon after to go to the bar. I sat where I was, knowing I had to take this opportunity to leave. To get away from here, I didn't know where I would go ou how I would get there. Then I remembered what Tom had told me. That if I had any problems with Charles that I needed to go to him immediately. I hurried upstairs to the bedroom and gathered everything I thought I would need. Mostly all of the clothes I could carry in two suitcases and a few valued possessions. I hurried out the door and headed to Tom and Abby's home.

I arrived on the rue I knew so well from all the time I'd spent with these two wonderful people. They had helped me through one of the hardest times in my life. I knew that if anyone could help me it would be them. I sighed and walked down the street. The Bentleys lived at the very end of the street.

I was a few houses away from my destination when I heard a voice I had hoped to never hear again after this afternoon. Charles was visiting his friends. I'd never met any, but I was assuming considering he was there, I quickly hid in a buisson, bush suivant to where I was walking, hoping that if I waited long enough he would leave and head home. I also knew that once he headed accueil I didn't have long to get to Tom's accueil and explain everything.

I knew Charles well enough to know that as soon as I was proclaimed as missing that he would come looking for me. I was lucky he didn't know where the Bentley family resided. He was obviously getting drunk par the tones in his voice. He was yelling. Something had made him angry. This gave me plus reason to want to leave. In the critical stages of development for the baby he would be lethal with his alcohol intake levels.

Soon enough he wobbled past me with a small group following. I held my breath and stayed as still as possible. As soon as the raucous laughter faded I stood up and ran the rest of the distance. I quickly knocked on the door. As usual Tom opened it.

“Tom. I need help. We have to be fast. I don't know how long we have, ou if there is even time to explain,” I muttered in a low voice looking after me as he started to ask what was wrong. He then let me in without a word.