Page 103 of Shattered Oaths

The sound of my footsteps approaching has her lifting her head and a wide smile breaking across her face. It only lasts a few seconds before she scans the expression on mine and her smile morphs into concern as she moves down the few wooden steps.

“What’s wrong?” She asks by way of greeting.

Shoulders slumping, I come to a stop in front of her. “I think I’m in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” Savannah asks, her eyebrows furrowing.

“Ten days late kind of trouble.”

Her green eyes widen, mouth falling slightly agape. “Seriously?”

“Please tell me you have a stash of pregnancy tests in there somewhere. I don’t think I can face any more judgemental looks from people in town.” I plead.

Savannah nods her head, moving forward to interlink her arm with mine. “Of course. Come on.”

I let her lead me up the steps and into the house. She moves straight for the bathroom and I follow her, anxiously chewing on my lip as my stomach does somersaults.

Savannah rummages around in the drawers beneath the bathroom sink for a moment before pulling out an unopened box of pregnancy tests and just the sight of it causes that nauseous feeling from this morning to return.

“I’ll wait outside. There’s a plastic cup in there for you to pee in,” she says, handing me the box.

I take it with shaky hands and thank her, my eyes following her as she leaves the room and closes the door behind her.

With a deep breath, I read the instructions and do my business, placing the cap back on the test when I’m done, setting it down on the counter and washing my hands.

I open the door, signalling for Savannah to come back in and she instantly reaches for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “You’re gonna be okay, you know that, right?”

I look at her, my chin trembling as tears form in my eyes at the utter terror I’m feeling right now. “I’m not sure I will. I don’t think I’m ready for this. Noah and I haven’t even made up yet. I still have to bury my mom. The list is endless.”

“Bella, you’re under an immense amount of stress. You’re exhausted and you’ve lost weight. There are a million reasons why you might be late, but if it so happens that this test is positive, then I know that if anyone can handle it, it’s you.”

Her words are spoken so reassuringly that I find myself calming ever so slightly.

She’s right.

Just because my period is late, it doesn’t mean that I’m pregnant. Besides, I’ve been having cramps so that’s something, right?

But if by chance, it is positive, then I don’t know what I’m supposed to do next. How do I tell Noah that we’re having a baby when things are so up in the air between us? How would he feel about it? Would he even want to have a baby with me?

He loves you,the little voice at the back of my mind reminds me.

Yeah, he loves me, but is that enough?

“Are you ready?” Savannah’s voice breaks through my thoughts and I blink down at the test on the counter.

No. I’m not ready in the slightest,I want to say. But whether I’m ready or not, I need to know.

So, with a heavy breath, I grip her hand tighter and nod my head.

CHAPTER 45

NOAH

The front door opens and the weight that had settled in my chest the moment Bella walked out of it a few hours ago finally lifts when she steps inside.

Today was the first time she’s left the house since Sunday and although I’m incredibly proud of her for finally venturing out, I couldn’t control the overwhelming fear of her not coming back that overcame me while she was gone.

I stand from my seat and move toward the door but stop in my tracks, all the relief I had felt in that split second leaving me when I take sight of her blotchy face and watery eyes.