Perfectly Unpredictable by Linda O'Connor Read Free Book Online Page B

have thought that?
She hadn’t wanted to bother him with the fact that he had a child? What had she
been thinking? Her breath caught on a sob and tears silently streamed down her
face. What had she done? “Alex, I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
    Her fingers shook as she turned to her
computer and started looking up flights. She had to go. She had to say good-bye.
She tried to wipe away the tears that blurred her vision so she could read the
screen, but she just couldn’t do it. She laid her head in her arms and cried.

 
 
    “Kalia. What’s wrong?” Krista walked in with
an armload of groceries and found Kalia slumped at her desk, sobbing. She set
the groceries on the counter and rushed over to wrap her arm around Kalia’s
trembling shoulders. “What’s wrong? Is it the baby?” she asked gently, helping
Kalia up and guiding her to the sofa. She looked at Kalia’s pale face, tears
streaming down, and tightened her hold as Kalia shuddered.
    Kalia looked at her blankly and tried to
speak but buried her head in Krista’s shoulder, sobbing harder.
    “Hey, it’s okay. Shhh.” Krista’s gut
clenched. She rubbed Kalia’s back. “Are you in pain? In labor?”
    Kalia shook her head.
    Krista rested her hand on Kalia’s abdomen
and felt the baby kick. Reassured, she held Kalia quietly until her sobs slowed
and her breathing hitched.
    “Try deep, easy breaths, Kalia. Just in and
out,” she said soothingly. Krista looked over at the computer, wondering what had
set this off. She had been one of the first people Kalia had told about the
pregnancy. She had accompanied Kalia to the prenatal classes, had been there
for the ultrasound, and had tagged along to some of the physician visits.
    She spoke with Kalia every day and had
marveled at her calm and patient acceptance of all the changes that were
happening. Kalia had seemed so sure about her decision to keep the baby and
become a parent. She had been excited to move into the little house and was
immersed in the decorating and organizing – in the nesting. She
hadn’t seemed stressed or at least no more stressed than any new mom-to-be. She
took care of herself – ate well, slept, exercised, read. She seemed
so together.
    Kalia looked up. “I n-n-need to g-g-go to
Paris.” She hiccupped.
    “Okay,” Krista said slowly, handing Kalia a
tissue. “After the baby’s born, maybe the three of us could travel there
together.”
    Kalia looked up, alarmed. “No,” she said,
her voice rising. “I need to go this week. For Friday.”
    Hello, the due date was what? Less than a
week away? No airline, or doctor for that matter, would allow travel this late
in a pregnancy. She looked at Kalia’s tear-streaked face. Don’t upset the pregnant lady. “Why do you need to go this week?”
Krista asked as she rubbed Kalia’s back.
    “To say good-bye,” Kalia sobbed.
    “To say good-bye?” Krista echoed. What
about email, texting, a quick phone call?“I don’t understand. Why do you need to travel to Paris to say good-bye?”
    Kalia tried to speak but couldn’t. She
pointed to the computer.
    Krista walked over and sat down. She
toggled the mouse and read the obituary, then looked over at Kalia. “Who is
this?” she asked slowly.
    “Th–the father.” Kalia wiped her
eyes.
    Kalia had never mentioned the father, and
Krista hadn’t pressured her for answers. “And you found out that he passed away.
You just read this?”
    Kalia nodded again, with fresh tears
running down her cheeks.
    “Oh Kalia. I’m so sorry.” She closed the
laptop and returned to the sofa. She gathered Kalia in her arms and held her
close. “I’m so sorry,” she repeated, her heart aching.
    She imagined how she would feel if anything
happened to Kalia. She didn’t love her like a sister and wasn’t just a friend. She
loved Kalia . . . well, like a lover. She had loved her for a long time.
    They had known each other since high school
and had been best friends. They had hung out together