Page 101 of Stone

John,

I’ve got news.

Sit down and hold onto your hat because…

I’m pregnant.

I don’t know how it happened. I thought we were careful. It’s been months, and I’ve only just realized I’m carrying our baby. I took Kelly to Mapletree so she could get a pregnancy test on the lowdown. It got me thinking I hadn’t had a period in months, and I just knew.

The crazy thing is Kelly isn’t pregnant. It was a false alarm. But after getting a test too, it turns out I am. Nobody knows. I haven’t told a soul. I wanted you to be the first to know so we can decide together who to tell and what to do. It’s your baby too. I know we’re apart, but this is something I want us to do and plan together.

It’s a shock, and I’m scared, but I’m also happy. A part of you lives in me, John, and it’s beautiful. I know we’re young, but we can bring our plans forward. You said you didn’t want us to get married until you came home for good, but we can do it when you’re next on leave, and the baby and I can stay with Mom while you go back and finish your enlistment. Maybe she could look after the baby when I go back to work. It’s only my job keeping us afloat at the moment, so it makes sense.

I feel her, John, down in my soul. I think we’re having a girl. I think we’re gonna get our baby Constance like we always planned.

I’m sorry to spring it on you like this, but I had no other choice.

Please hurry and reply. I need you to tell me our next steps. I need to know what to do.

I love you, John, and I’m so honored and proud to have your baby. You’re the best man I know, and it's a dream come true to be able to give our daughter some of your courage, goodness, and strength. I hope you’re well and keeping your wits about you.

Come home to me safe, John. Our baby needs its daddy.

Take care, baby.

Yours always,

Elise

XOXO

Folding the letter, I slid it back into its envelope and sealed it before standing and sliding the strap of my purse onto my shoulder. With trembling fingers, I bent over my desk and placed all the envelopes into a neat pile, then I exited the building and carefully walked down Main Street.

A windy chill fluttered down the street, blowing snowflakes in my face, but I didn’t much notice. My heart soared, and my insides settled warmly in my stomach, in the exact place my baby girl curled up safe and sound. Life was about to change again, but thankfully, this time, it wasn’t about death; it was about new life and new beginnings.

Except I’d find out very soon how wrong I was.

Like I said… the Reaper wasn’t done with me yet.

Fifteen minutes later, I turned to wave goodbye to Mr. Allen and walked back into the street. It was then I heard the rumble.

I knew immediately it was a heavy vehicle, simply because we didn’t hear or see many of them in town. The noise stood out, as it wasn’t something we were used to.

Looking left, my heart leaped into my throat because the truck was military. As it thundered up the road, pain slid through my chest. I raised a hand to rub my sternum because it was so acute it stopped my breath.

I sucked air into my lungs. “No,” I whispered wheezily. “No, no, no, no.”

My eyes stayed glued to the truck as it roared past me, heading out of town.

Toward John’s house.

My feet began to move of their own accord. Before I knew it, I was half running, half stumbling down Main Street toward Bessie. Blood rushed through my ears so forcefully that I missed the mayor calling my name. I couldn’t stop, I had to go.

I could hardly see through my tears, and my fingers tremored so severely I almost dropped Bessie’s keys, but I knew I had to get to the farmhouse. I had to get to Connie.

Swallowing down the bile rising in my throat, I scrambled into the driver’s seat, turned the ignition, and sped away from the sidewalk. I didn’t put my seat belt on. I didn’t even glance in my mirrors. If I had, I would’ve seen the small crowd of people gathered, watching me as I drove off in the truck, and noted the mayor running for his car.

The journey usually took about eight minutes; it took me five, and considering it had been snowing on and off, getting there inone piece was no mean feat. I know I should’ve slowed down, I was pregnant, and the last thing I needed was to crash the truck, but it was like my body was on autopilot. Muscle memory took over from my dazed brain that could only picture dark, evil scenarios of John miles away, broken, hurt, and needing me.

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