She burst out laughing. “He’s good, I’ll give him that. Sure, I’ll go get them now.”
***
Lucy found my crutches and placed them next to the sofa before she left.
I was just about to start my new book about a young girl who discovers her true identity, when the buzzer to the door rang. Fuck! Of course, as soon as I’m alone and in the mood for a fictional happily ever after, I get a visitor. Just my luck.
I slowly got up and, with the assistance of the crutches, hobbled over to the door.
The buzzer sounded a few more times during my journey there. Okay, okay! Hold ya fuckin’ horses, you impatient pain in the arse.
I pressed the buzzer and in a frustrated tone, answered. “Yes?”
“Alexis, it’s me.” Rick’s voice spoke back to me.
Shit! He still doesn’t know about my accident. Shit, shit. I can’t deal with him right now.
I pushed the buzzer and spoke again. “Rick, now is really not a good time.”
Almost instantly, he responded. “Open the door. We need to talk.” His tone seemed slightly more irritated.
I pushed the button again. “Are you still having the kids next week for the holidays?” I asked, figuring that I better clarify this before the time was upon us.
“Yes, of course. Why? Open the door. Why aren’t you opening the door?” he asked again with annoyance and a tone of confusion.
“Good. That’s all we needed to talk about then. Now please, Rick, go. I can’t get into an argument with you right now.” Please just go. Please just go.
“Alexis. Stop being a fucking child and open the fucking door. You could be carrying my baby and we need to talk about it,” he shouted, angrily.
My heart started pounding, and I felt dizzy. I braced myself against the wall as tears started to flood my eyes and face.
I pushed the button again, clearly speaking through sobs. “Please, Rick, just leave me alone. I can’t do this.”
“Alexis, you can’t avoid me. This is too serious. You can’t honestly tell me that there is no chance that the baby you’re carrying is mine.” His tone had softened a little, but he was still persisting.
“Yes, I can,” I struggled to say through whimpers and gritted teeth.
“How can you possibly fucking know?” he shouted again.
At that point, I couldn’t take it anymore, I was beyond upset. He was not going to let this go, so I slammed my fist onto the button and screamed into the intercom. “Because I am no longer carrying a baby, you fuck! I fell. I lost it. I fucking lost my baby. Now fuck off, and leave me alone.”
There was silence for what felt like minutes as I propped myself against the wall crying and reliving my horrific memories, all the guilt and grief flowing back through me.
“Alexis.” His voice wasn’t much louder than a whisper. “Alexis, fuck. I’m so sorry. Please open the door. I need to know you are okay. Are you alone? Where is Bryce?”
I slumped against the intercom and pressed it with a heavy hand. “He is at an appointment. Just go, Rick, I’m fine.”
“Alexis. Open the door, now...please...I’m begging you.” His tone was now full of concern, and he was pleading, so I surrendered and opened the door.
He practically burst through, ready to hug me when he saw my foot was in a cast.
He put his hand over his mouth and the other through his hair. “Geezus! Shit! What happened?”
I wiped my face and glared at him then turned and made my way back to the sofa. “I told you. I fell.”
He put his hands around my shoulders, trying to help me walk. “Where? How? When?”
I shrugged them off. “Don’t. I can do it myself.” I reached the sofa and sat down.
He didn’t hesitate and sat right down beside me. “Alexis, I’m sorry. Talk to me. What happened?”
“I fell down the stairs. I knocked myself out. I broke my ankle and I lost my baby. That’s it,” I answered dryly.
He placed his hand on my back and gently rubbed. “When did this happen?”
“A couple of days after my party. I was in hospital for five days after that, I got out yesterday.”
“Do the kids know yet?” He seemed really concerned. I think he too knew that Nate and Charli would be devastated.
“No, they are still at Mum and Dad’s house. Bryce and I were going to pick them up tomorrow so that they were ready for their time with you on Monday.” My tear bank broke again and I sobbed harder this time. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell them, Rick. I don’t think I am ready to tell them, but they’ll know; they are both smart kids.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to him. “Don’t worry about that. You obviously need more time. I will drive to Shepparton tomorrow and pick them up. That way you can have this week to sort through everything that you need to sort through. I know I can’t do much for you, but I can do that. I can give you the extra time you need.”