Sound of Heartache ( Sound of Book 2)

by Roy, Chelsea

  The blob of goop that was squirted on was oddly warm. “We have a little warmer for it,” the nurse said, smiling at Aimee’s expression. Aimee relaxed a little. That made more sense than just magically warm goo.

  Aimee watched intently as the doctor swirled the ultrasound wand in the goo. A rapid whooshing noise filled the room and Aimee’s breath caught. She knew what that sound was.

  “That’s the baby’s heartbeat!” She told Brent, excited despite the cold fear gripping her insides. She realized in that moment that there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for this baby. This heartbeat was part of her and Brent.

  “That’s…” Brent struggled for words, looking awed. “That’s so damn awesome.” He finally said. They watched as a little blob was outlined on the screen. Aimee could clearly see the pulsing heart in the little alien-like body. The doctor took some measurements and printed out a couple of stills of the baby for Aimee.

  “Well?” She asked him impatiently.

  “Do you want to know the sex?” The doctor asked blandly. He had probably done this song and dance hundreds of time.

  “You can tell already?” Surprise colored Aimee’s tone.

  “Yep. Baby isn’t shy.” The doctor waited patiently while Aimee glanced at Brent, who looked emotional. He gave a brief nod.

  “Let’s go for it.” She said, excited in spite of herself.

  “You’re having a little girl.” A thrill shot through Aimee. A girl! “I’d say you’re about halfway into your fifteenth week, so a due date somewhere around the 18th to the 20th of July.” The doctor patted her shoulder and headed out of the room.

  Any pleasure Aimee had from seeing images of the baby drained out of her. Those dates were too damn close to her birthday for comfort. This was the absolutely worst case scenario and one she hadn’t wanted to consider when she found out she was pregnant.

  Aimee stayed numb as Brent helped her get dressed. He took pamphlets from the kindly nurse as well as a prescription for iron and some prenatal vitamins that were supposed to be gentler on the stomach. He carefully led her out to his car and Aimee sank into it gratefully. She felt like she was on a never ending roller coaster today with the way her emotions were swinging up and down. Brent slid into his side of the car and turned toward her.

  “Why are you really freaking out about the due dates?” He asked her bluntly. Aimee felt tears well up and she brushed at her eyes angrily. She turned her body in the seat so she could face him.

  “My parents. If I’m seventeen when the baby comes I won’t have any control over what happens to her,” Aimee whispered grimly.

  “What the fuck are you saying?” He growled. “This is my baby too.”

  “I’m saying that if the baby is born before I’m eighteen I’ll never see her and neither will you. They’ll take her away.” Aimee’s voice cracked at the end and she struggled to not hyperventilate.

  Brent frowned at her. He opened and closed his mouth several times.

  “I thought laws had changed. I didn’t think they could do that anymore.” He finally said. Aimee knew he had no idea what they were up against. He hadn’t met her parents yet. She, however, knew the lengths her parents would go through to keep her focused on school and the plans they had for her. Their wealth allowed them a lot of leeway.

  “There are states where the adoption laws have a mental competency provision for minors in them. If the parents can prove it’s in the best interest, the child will be taken away.” Aimee’s voice wobbled. If her daughter didn’t stay in past the due date, Aimee knew for sure she would be taken away. Stolen, really, because Aimee was clearly competent enough to get into a difficult college program at seventeen so diminished mental capacity was a joke.

  “Your parents wouldn’t do that.” Brent’s voice lacked certainty. He caught her fingers in with his. “Would they?”

  “They absolutely would,” Aimee told him, shuddering at the images playing through her mind. She could envision herself locked in a facility, pregnant, waiting for her baby to be taken away. As Aimee’s words sank in, Aimee saw in Brent’s face what she lived with every moment since finding out about the baby. Sheer terror.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Spring break that year fell around Aimee’s 23rd week of pregnancy. She had developed a high little round ball that very politely rested just under her breasts. She’d been able to keep wearing most of her jeans with a belly band until just a couple weeks ago. Oddly enough, it had been Eric who brought home Aimee’s first maternity clothes. She and Brent had been snuggled on the couch when Eric walked in and tossed her a bag. She’d caught it out of reflex.

  “For the baby,” he told her succinctly, before moving into the kitchen and banging around in the cupboards.

  Aimee had dug into the bag and smiled widely as she withdrew a pair of soft black yoga pants that had a stretchy tummy panel and a tee with foil lettering and drums that said, “Bump It Up”. She got off the couch and went into the kitchen where she wrapped her arms around Eric. He had briefly stiffened up before returning her hug.

  “For the baby?” She’d teased him.

  “I think you’re squishing it in your jeans.” He’d said, and Aimee had laughed. The jeans were getting pretty uncomfortable and she knew the yoga pants would feel like heaven.

  “Well, she thanks you for saving her brain cells,” Aimee told him, and hugged him again before skipping off to change.

  Now, two weeks later, she and Brent were doing some major maternity clothes shopping because almost nothing fit. Luckily her parents were generous with her living allowance and Aimee wasn’t usually very spendy. She had a nice little nest egg saved.

  She had been able to delay going back to San Francisco for spring break by using the excuse of mid-terms. Luckily her parents were so devoted to her studies that they were easily pacified. Aimee had told them that she was going to try to look into internships for the summer, hoping to delay going home even longer. If she had to take an internship and work up until the day the baby was born, she would do it, just to be able to stay where she was. Knowing how her parents would react to her pregnancy, Aimee didn’t feel even the slightest bit bad that she was telling them half-truths. She had gotten so attached to the little life inside her that she didn’t know what she would do if her parents found out.

  “Oh, God!” She heard Brent exclaim. She wandered over to where he was standing. She giggled when she realized he was holding what appeared to be maternity thongs.

  “Not comfortable ever!” She told him, laughing. “Especially not now!” She plucked some panties off the rack that looked a little like the yoga pants had, just with no legs attached. There was a large panel at the front and a full coverage rear. “Now this is what I’m talking about!” She teased. The look of horror that crossed Brent’s face was priceless.

  “Are those…” he paused and then started over, “Are those granny panties?” He whispered loudly. Aimee chuckled.

  “Yep!” She pantomimed handing them over to him and then pulled them back at the last second when it appeared as though he might actually take them. “I’m seventeen!” She mock-whispered back. “Not a granny!”

  “Oh thank God,” he breathed wide-eyed, before chuckling. Clearly he had been playing along with her. They looked through the racks together before both coming on some maternity panties that looked like regular boyshorts. Brent eyeballed her before grabbing several size mediums in different colors. He appeared deep in thought before grabbing a couple more in size large.

  “What’re those for?” Aimee squeaked out, offended that he grabbed the next size up.

  “Just in case our little basketball decides to turn into a beach ball before she makes her appearance,” Brent told her. While Aimee appreciated his practicality, the feminine side of her rebelled.

  “Will a beach ball bother you?” She asked him, as they wandered over to what looked like maternity athletic wear.

  “Only if it makes you uncomfortable,” Brent told her. He sto
pped Aimee with a gentle tug on her arm. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Nothing could ever make you less so in my eyes. Not any change to your physical appearance. The fact that you’re round with my baby makes you even more beautiful to me.” Aimee’s eyes watered as he pulled her into a tight hug.

  When they finally shifted apart, a woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties was smiling at them. She was a little bigger in the belly than Aimee and was pushing a stroller containing a toddler.

  “First time parents?” She asked them sympathetically. They both nodded at her. Sharing in pregnancy experiences with other parents hadn’t happened for them. They were younger than most and trying to fly under the radar. Aimee definitely didn’t want to call attention to being underage, and if anyone asked, she planned to lie outright.

  “Any tips for us?” Brent finally asked, his arm curved protectively around Aimee’s bump. Aimee leaned back into her man, loving the solid feel of him behind her.

  “Oh, absolutely! If you want to get any sleep at all, there’s this thing that looks like a little hammock that sits next to the bed. It keeps the baby upright and helps them sleep. I can’t remember the exact name of it, but I wouldn’t have made it without it. When you go to the baby store you won’t be able to miss it. It looks weird but it works!”

  “We’ll definitely keep our eyes out for that!” Aimee said, grimacing slightly. Luckily the baby was coming during the summer when they’d be on break from school. Hopefully they’d have about three weeks of trying to get into a rhythm before going back. Still, the thought of trying to take some of the more advanced classes that were scheduled for next year with a new baby was intimidating as hell.

  “Thanks for the advice.” Brent told the young mom, and he turned the full power of his smile on her. She blushed a little before wishing them good luck. Aimee whacked him in the middle of the back, but she was grinning.

  “Shame on you!” She chuckled.

  “What?” Brent asked, face completely innocent.

  “You know what your smile does to us poor unsuspecting females when you unleash it!” She laughed again and spontaneously hugged his lean waist.

  “Hopefully our daughter feels the same way,” he replied. Aimee had no doubt they would be mutually wrapped around each other’s fingers.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Brent drove impatiently through the streets of Pacific Beach trying to get back over to see Aimee. She had an appointment with the obstetrician that afternoon and Brent had missed it because of band practice. The band was having their first gig as a unit in several days and they were practicing non-stop. He felt conflicted and he hated it. Aimee had reassured him that his absence was fine since he had made every other appointment.

  “Dude, she’ll still be there when you get home,” Eric commented. Brent shot him a sideways glance. Eric’s lanky frame looked much too long to be crammed in Brent’s Civic.

  “I know. I just hate like hell that I missed this appointment.” He wondered what, if anything, Aimee found out new today. It seemed like there was always a little something at each appointment.

  “Is she coming this weekend?” Eric asked him. Brent curled his fingers around the steering wheel. Normally Eric was privy to most of their business, but had missed the fight that had gone down when Brent told Aimee she wasn’t allowed to go to their first show. It was rare for Aimee to disagree with him and even rarer for them to actually fight about anything. The night he’d told Aimee she was staying home for the concert, she’d flipped her lid.

  “No.” He snorted. “She is not happy about it, either.”

  “Why’s she missing it?”

  “Are you fucking kidding me? She’s nearly eight months pregnant. Do you remember the last time we went out? The fight? You think I want to deal with that shit while Aimee’s pregnant? Nuh-uh. No way.” Brent felt more strongly about Aimee being safe than he did about Aimee seeing his first performance as part of the new band. She could see them any time after the baby came. She didn’t need to go now, while she was vulnerable.

  “Have you named it yet?” Eric asked curiously. His fingers were tapping a beat on his jeans-clad thighs.

  “It’s a girl. You don’t have to keep calling her ‘it’,” Brent snapped. Eric’s hands stilled and Brent could feel eyes burning into his head.

  “What’s going on?” Eric finally asked him.

  Brent chewed on his lower lip. He and Aimee hadn’t told Eric their fears about Aimee’s parents and the possibility the baby would be taken away without their consent. They were already so freaked out about it that it didn’t seem fair to draw a third person into their drama.

  “Seriously,” Eric pressed, “what’s going on? You and Aimee haven’t named the baby. There’s hardly any baby gear at home. There are no baby clothes. It’s weird and it’s not like there’s a whole lotta time left before it comes.”

  Unfortunately, Eric was spot-on. For someone who didn’t seem to be all that observant, Eric sure saw a hell of a lot.

  “Aimee seems pretty certain her parents will force her to give up the baby if they find out about the pregnancy before Aimee’s birthday,” Brent finally admitted, the words rushing out of him.

  “That’s not even legal!” Eric protested. For once, the normally calm drummer was clearly agitated.

  “Apparently in some states there’s this thing about mentally incompetent teens and the parents being able to get rights over the baby. I don’t fully understand it, but Aimee has researched the hell out of it and says it’s not impossible to do.” As they sat stopped at what felt like the hundredth red light since leaving practice, Brent chanced a look at Eric. The man looked devastated.

  “That’s why you haven’t bought anything,” Eric muttered. Brent nodded.

  “Yeah. I mean, we want to. We want to name the baby and be excited and take Lamaze like any normal couple expecting their first baby would. But we’re so afraid it’s like we’re paralyzed.”

  “Jesus. Fuck. Would they really do something like that?” Eric asked, referring to Aimee’s parents.

  Brent shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never met them but Aimee sure seems to think so and she’s the one who knows them. I have to listen to what her gut instinct is telling her. I’d be stupid not to.”

  Eric’s large hand was suddenly gripping Brent’s where it rested near his knee. He held on tight and wrapped his lean fingers around Brent’s.

  “Whatever you guys need from me, you’ve got it. I don’t know what I could do to help but if there’s anything, you tell me. Don’t wait.”

  Brent squeezed his best friend’s hand back tightly. Words were choked up in his throat. To have someone like Aimee by his side and a friend like Eric who would do anything for them was incredible and Brent knew how blessed he was.

  “Just, if everything goes to shit…” Brent exhaled shakily. Eric gripped his hand even tighter and Brent’s bones protested. Still, Brent did nothing but grip his hand back. “Don’t let me get too stupid, okay? Because she’ll come back. No matter what happens now, I know Aimee will come back. You’ll have to help me keep my shit together until that happens.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Brent’s arm was wrapped securely around Aimee’s waist and rested just at the side of the swell of her stomach. They had just finished finals and were headed back to Aimee’s apartment to gather some of her clothes. Brent wasn’t sure why she didn’t just move everything in with him, but she insisted she keep her own space. Her refusal to move in confused and worried him. She said it was because of her parents and what they’d do if they found out but sometimes he wasn’t so sure. He worried about Aimee’s readiness to have a life together. She was incredibly mature, however, the fact of her age remained.

  Trying to hide his ever-growing fear, Brent tugged Aimee in closer and pressed a kiss against her forehead. She smiled up at him and stopped on the sidewalk.

  “I just want you to know you’ve been an amazing boyfriend to me. A lot of
guys would’ve bailed when I found out. You not only didn’t bail but you’ve done everything possible to make me comfortable. Thank you.” Aimee leaned into him and pressed warm lips against his. Her belly bumped into his and he grinned against her lips. He gently nipped her bottom lip and buried his face into the curve of her neck.

  “I’ve never been happier, Aimee,” he told her gruffly. It was still hard for him to admit how much she meant to him because handing her so much power just seemed dangerous, but Brent was trying. He pulled back and pressed another brief kiss to her lips.

  “I can’t believe you still find me sexy,” Aimee told him, her hand fitting against Brent’s stubbled cheek. Finals week had taken its toll on him and he knew he looked like hell. “This morning, I had to put on those size large panties you bought me a couple of months ago.” She smiled up into his eyes but he could see the insecurity lurking there.

  Brent guessed it was probably natural for any woman who was in the final stages of pregnancy to be somewhat insecure. Aimee’s body was changing at a rapid rate. Her stomach was ripe and rounded, her breasts full and heavy, her hips just a little curvier than normal. And, to her despair, she had popped a couple of stretch marks just above her pelvis. It was all beautiful to him.

  “You’re sexy as fucking hell,” he told her, and pulled her up against a tree to kiss her. Aimee wrapped her arms around him as best she could, the bulge of their daughter preventing them from getting too close.

  “Still, I can’t believe what we did last night,” Aimee murmured against his lips. Brent’s cock immediately hardened. Unfortunately for him, Aimee’s belly made it so that he had nothing to grind himself against.

  “You were amazing,” he praised her softly. He wanted Aimee to know how beautiful he found her.

  He’d arrived home after practicing for several hours with the band. He’d been sweaty and stressed to the limits between studying for finals, practicing with the band, and preparing for the baby. He’d dropped Eric off at a bar a few blocks away to blow off some steam so he was alone when he walked through the door. The apartment had been dark and quiet, which was odd because he knew Aimee was home.