Love Is Patient

by Isabella Bearden

  Mason walks to his truck with his head hung low. I can tell he likes Riley, but maybe Riley isn’t ready like I thought she was.

  Riley was already in the apartment when we got to the door. We walk in and she was on the couch eating ice cream.

  “You okay, Riley?” I eye her.

  She turns her head and tears are running down her face. She has been holding this in for so long now and I knew she was about ready to burst. I walk over to her and hug her.

  “It’s okay Riley, he went home, and I told him you would call when you were ready to talk.” I tell her.

  “Chloe, he doesn’t know, he doesn’t know about my dad or what I have done in the past. I haven’t even told him about what happened with Chase, unless he has already found out about that.” She says between sobs.

  I take the ice cream from her hands and look in her eyes.

  “Riley, if he knew about Chase do you think he would be here tonight? But you need to speak to him. That kiss meant something not just for you, but for him also. You didn’t talk to him just now. He doesn’t know what to do.” I hope telling her that doesn’t know what to do, will push her in the right direction.

  “I will call him, but right now I just want to go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day and I will talk to him.”

  She smiles at me. We both said good night and went to bed.

  I hear Riley get up the next morning throwing up; I walk to the bathroom and knock on the door.

  “Riley, honey are you okay?”

  I open the door to and she was against the tub, I got a wash cloth and ran cold water over it for her.

  “Here put this on your face.” I told her, as I hand her the wash cloth.

  She pats her face with the wash cloth and took deep breaths.

  “I’m fine; it’s probably just my nerves you know how I get when I’m stressed out.” She states as she gets up from the floor.

  “Okay, well I’m going to fix some coffee and breakfast, do you want any?”

  “I will take some water and maybe something light to eat. I don’t want to make myself sick.”

  “I think you are past that point.” I say with a smirk. “Come out when you’re ready.”

  I walk to the kitchen to start breakfast and let Riley gather herself.

  Chapter 14

  Riley

  When Chloe walked out, I knew I had to get up and get my day started. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I was looking in the mirror to get myself to calm down; as my stomach has settled a little. I walk out of the bathroom to the kitchen and as soon as I smelt the bacon I had to run back to the bathroom. Breakfast is out of the question for me this morning. I washed out my month as Chloe came back to knock on the door.

  “How many days are you late?”

  I had no idea what she was talking about. Then is hit me like a ton of bricks. Oh no, that night with Chase. I start counting in my head.

  “Riley, are you going to answer me?” She demands.

  “Hold on I’m thinking, umm at least 3.” I tell her in an uncertain voice.

  I look in the mirror and start crying there is no way this is happening to me, not now. I have way too much on my plate right now for this to be happening. Chloe starting to say something and I cut her off.

  “Wait a minute, we usually have ours at the same time, you would know!”

  “Actually, remember last month before we came down and started school, I went got on birth control.”

  “Could this really be happening to me right now? I mean maybe it’s just stress like we said before.”

  Chloe shrugs her shoulders, “Well the only way to find out is to take a test. Do you want Jay to run down to get one for you?”

  “NO! I don’t want him to know. I don’t want anyone to know anything until I do. Got it!?” I tell her in a stern voice.

  She throws her hands up in surrender. “Got it, you can use the car if you want to.”

  I run to the living room grabbing my purse and took off to the car. There is no way this is happening to me right now. I went the corner store and bought 4 different tests. I had tobe sure right? I paid the cashier and went back to Chloe’s. I ran past Chloe to the bathroom. I took all of them out and read each of the directions. I took each test, and slide down the bathroom door and waited. Chloe came and knocked on the door, I let her in.

  “You okay?” She asks me, looking at me sincere.

  “I can’t look, you look at them.” I tell her, scared out of my mind.

  “Are you sure? Maybe you should, I mean you will if I tell you the answer either way to make sure.”

  I grab her hand and give her my innocent eyes. “Please Chloe.” I beg her.

  Chloe looks behind her as I close my eyes to wait for the answer.

  “Riley, you’re pregnant.” She tells me sadly.

  “No I’m not there is no way!”

  “Do you remember if you used protection? Maybe it’s a mistake.”

  “No, I don’t remember, how can 4 different types of test say the same thing be a mistake Chloe! Please tell me how.” I broke down crying and slide down against the wall. What am I going to do now? How am I going to tell Chase!

  “Don’t freak out, I am going to call a clinic that is right down the street and we will get you checked out, so do not break down on me now.” Chloe helps stands me up and walk me to the living room. I was in a daze as I heard Chloe on the phone making me an appointment for today.

  “Get dressed; we have to be there in an hour.”

  We both got dressed to head down to the clinic and the only thing I could think about is Mason.

  ***

  Chloe and I walk to the clinic. I feel like all of this is a dream, there is no way I can be pregnant. Everything was just getting better for me and now this. I tried to think back to the night that I was with Chase. I know he is the father; I haven’t been with any one for over a year now. I can’t even remember if we used anything.

  We walked in to the clinic, I follow close behind Chloe while she checked me in, I didn’t want anyone to see me here. A woman spoke at the window and when I heard her voice I knew who it is.

  “What’s the name?” The woman asks, behind the desk, she hands the paperwork to Chloe to fill out.

  “It’s for Riley Gillmor.” Chloe tells her. Chloe moves to the side to hand me the paperwork to fill out, the woman looks up and it was Melissa, the same girl from the diner that night.

  Melissa’s smirk grew on her face, “Well I see someone got their self’s into some trouble.”

  I want to jump over the counter and punch her in her round face, maybe give her a broken nose but instead I turn to go sit and feel out the paper work. Chloe sat beside me and I know she wants to know who that was.

  “Who is that.” Chloe asks.

  “That is the girl from the diner that night when I went out with Mason.” I tell her, as I fill out the paperwork.

  Chloe didn’t say anything; I knew she didn’t want to say anything else to make me mad; Melissa already did enough of that. I finish filling out the paper work and Chloe took it back up. Few minutes later they called me the back.

  I had to take another test for the doctor, then went to my assigned room and waited. It felt like hours before the doctor came in.

  “Hi Riley, I’m Dr. Slaughter.” He said as he shook my hand. “Now I just want to do an ultra sound to make sure how far along you are. “

  “I think I have a pretty good idea.” I tell her, as I knew it had to be at least 4 weeks since I been with Chase.

  “Well how about you lay back and we will make sure.” I lay back, and held Chloe’s hand as Dr. Slaughter but some cold jelly on my stomach to do the ultra sound.

  After the ultra sound it was conformed that I was close to 4 weeks.

  After the appointment, Chloe and I walked out of the clinic, I saw Mason leaning against his truck. I guess Melissa called him when she saw me. I knew I couldn’t ignore him forever. I walked across the street to talk to him.<
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  “Hi” I say, while looking at the ground.

  “HI’ Mason took me in his arms to give me a hug. I had to get it over with.

  “I’m guessing Melissa called you.” Mason nods his head. “Mason, I’m pregnant.”

  He tenses up with his arms around me; I could tell he wasn’t happy.

  “Whose is it?” He asks. He has all the right to ask that question, I just didn’t want to tell him before I talked to Chase but I knew he wouldn’t say anything.

  “Chase.” I whisper in to his chest.

  “Does he know?” Mason hasn’t removed his arms from me yet and I’m scared that when he does I’ll never have his arms around me again.

  “No, I haven’t talked to anyone but Chloe.” I buried my face to his chest even more and start crying. I knew I just got myself into huge trouble.

  “Are you going to keep it, Riley?” He asks the one question I haven’t even thought about. I look up at him with sad eyes.

  “I haven’t thought about that, I don’t know what to do right now.” He kisses the top of my head.

  “Go home, get some rest and think about it later.” He gives me one last hug and lets me go.

  Chloe and I walk back to her apartment after Mason and I talked. Now I just have to figure out how to talk to Chase.

  Chapter 15

  Chloe

  I tell Riley to lie down while I fix her something to eat, poor girl. I know she won’t eat that much but she needs something in her stomach. I hope what she is thinking is the right decision for her and the baby.

  As I was preparing her a sandwich and a glass of sweet tea, I noticed Riley was sobbing. I walk over to her and put my hand on her shoulder.

  “Riley, are you okay?” I ask very quietly.

  “Chloe what am I going to do? Chase isn’t going to want a baby; I don’t even want to be with Chase. This isn’t how my world is supposed to be going right now!” She managed to say between sobs.

  I sit down next to get and pull her in to a hug. “Riley what do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know. I know I need to talk to Chase. Chloe, I can’t keep this baby. I mean I want to but I can’t keep it at the dorms.”

  “Simple, now you have to move in and Jay can’t say anything about it. You need to be here.” I smile down at her.

  Riley looks up at me and smiles real weak. “Thank you, Chloe. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

  “It’s what best friends are for. Now let me go finish your sandwich so you can eat. You need something in your stomach for that baby to grow.”

  Riley was eating when her phone went off. She reached in her purse to get it; her face went pale when she saw who it was.

  “It’s Chase.” She says as she hands the phone to me to let me see what he sent.

  Chase: We need to talk.

  “Do you think he knows? Maybe you need to tell him now instead of hiding out.” I went to hand her the phone when it went off with another message from him.

  Chase: Riley, I already know. We need to talk about this.

  “Riley, he knows. He wants to talk. Do you want him to come here and I’ll give you some privacy?” I didn’t want Riley leaving the apartment with him just in case she needs me.

  She was silent for a few minutes then told me to tell him to come here.

  Twenty minutes after I texted him, there was knock at the door. I opened the door to let Chase in.

  “I’ll let you two have some privacy; I’ll be in the bedroom if you need me, Riley.”

  “No, please stay Chloe.” Chase says. I thought Riley would be the one to stop me, it actually surprised me.

  “Riley, what do you want to do?” He asks walking toward her.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that we didn’t use anything, Chase? Did you not think that this wouldn’t happen?” Riley was now yelling at Chase. I didn’t know who I should feel sorry for.

  Chase looks like he was about to start crying. “Riley, I did use protection. It must have broken.”

  “You would have known if it had broken. So don’t feed me that line.” Riley was no longer upset she was furious!

  “Now, I may have to give up everything because of one mistake I made! No I’m not putting all the blame on you, but you could or should have pushed me off of you that night.”

  “Riley, we can work this out. We can be together and raise this baby.” Chase says in a sad voice.

  “No Chase, I don’t want to be with you. You will be in my heart since you are the father of my baby, but we don’t belong together. It’s a mistake waiting to happen. We can raise the baby but I do not want to be with you.” Riley was standing her ground. “I’m moving in here with Chloe and her husband. They can help me and you can also. But I don’t want to be in a relationship with you. I’m sorry.”

  Chase looks up at Riley and he had tears in his eyes. “Okay. I accept that. Let me know if you need anything or when you have to go to the doctor I would like to be there.” Riley nods her head at Chase, as he heads to the door.

  “Chase, how did you know anyways?” I had to ask since Riley wasn’t going to.

  He turns around “I saw Melissa when I got out of class and she came up to me to let me know that my friend was pregnant, I didn’t know who or what she was talking about then she said Riley’s name then I knew it was mine.”

  “How did you know exactly it was your baby Chase?” Riley asks, I can see she was curios.

  “I didn’t think you had been with that other guy with the way you ran away from him that night.” Chase has a little smirk on his face. “Call me if you need anything Riley.” With that he left.

  “Oh.My.God!” Riley yells as soon as Chase leaves. “She knew about Mason because she saw us on a date together that one day, but how did she know about Chase! She had to have some insight. How does he even know her?” Riley was beyond pissed and there was no calming her down now.

  “She has it out for you, Riley. I guess Mason is good in bed if she is trying to ruin your life.” I smile at her while she glares at me. I was trying to make a joke but that apparently didn’t work.

  “I don’t get it. Everything was fine, I was so worried about falling back into my habits but instead I’m pregnant.” Riley folds her arms across her stomach.

  “Come on Riley, We better tell Jay that you’re moving in and then go get your things.”

  “I just want to sleep right now.” Riley lays down the couch.

  “No, we need to go get your things to get you settled before anything else happens. Come on.” I pull on her arm to get her up.

  We head down to the shop then to her dorm.

  ***

  After explaining to Jay what is going on, he finally agreed to let Riley move in with us. We went to her dorm to get her things. Riley’s roommate walks in as we were getting the odds and ends of the rest of her things.

  “Where are you going?” Riley’s roommate asks, I could never remember her name.

  “I’m moving. I had some things come up so I’m moving in with Chloe. I’ll see you around campus.” Riley shut the door behind her.

  I know she didn’t really get along with her so her being rude to the girl wasn’t new to me.

  We got back to the apartment and start taking things up, as Mason pulls up. I’m glad I can stop him before he talks to Riley. She doesn’t need any stress it could hurt her and the baby right now.

  “Hey Mason. What’s up?” I’m trying to be nice.

  “Hey Chloe, I’m looking for Riley. I want to make sure she is okay.”

  “Mason, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to talk to her right now. Chase wants to be involved with the baby. So she has some things to think about right now.”

  Mason’s face fell. “So she is going to be a couple with him now?”

  I shook my head, “No, she told him no, she doesn’t want to be in a relationship with him.” I pause for a moment to get my thoughts together. “Mason, do you remember the conversation we had before?
About you having to be patient.” Mason nods his head. “Well right now you have to be patient. I don’t know how your feelings are for her, and I don’t want to know. But please just be patient with her. She has so much more on her plate that I don’t think she can handle any more.”

  Mason stood silently for a moment. “I understand, but Chloe I want to be with her.”

  “You can’t push her Mason, when she is ready she will talk to you, Now if you excuse me, I need to go check on Riley, I haven’t seen her since before you got here.”

  “Chloe, do you mind if I help you. I would like to see her.” I felt sorry for Mason, he wants to be with Riley, but does Riley want to be with him?

  I nod my head. “Grab a box and follow me.”

  Mason and I walk up to the apartment and sat Riley’s things down. But we didn’t see Riley. I walk down to the bedroom that she would be staying in but she wasn’t there.

  I walk by the bathroom door and heard her sobbing. I knocked on the door lightly.

  “Riley, Are you okay?” I didn’t want to scare her.

  “I’ll be out in a minute.” She says between sobs.

  “Do you want me to come in?” Riley open the bathroom door a little to let me in.

  I held on Riley while she cried.

  “Do you want to talk?” Riley nods her head, but she probably can’t get two words without crying again. I rub her back to try to sooth her. “It’s okay, take your time.”

  It felt like hours when Riley starts to calm down. “I don’t know if I can do this Chloe.”

  I’m a little confused. “Do what Ri?”

  “Go to college and raise a baby.”

  “You can do this, you’re not by yourself. I’m here and Jay will be here when you need help. Chase said he wants to help.”

  She laughs a little, “Yeah he says that now, wait till the baby gets here, he will run.”

  “Now you don’t know that. Let’s just take it day by day and see how it goes before you start doubting. Now come on, someone is here to see you.”