Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(33)

“Elise.” Cole put his hand on her shoulder. His voice was kind, peace laced into every word. “Maybe the tests are right. And maybe you’re pregnant.” He didn’t wait for her to debate the possibility. “If that’s what this is, I’m not leaving.” His eyes pierced hers. “I’m your friend and I’m here. I told you that.”

There was only one way to know for sure.

Finally it was after school on the second Wednesday in February and again snowy weather had caused baseball to be canceled. This time Cole took her to the Bloomington Crisis Pregnancy Center. Until Cole told her about his mom and aunt volunteering here, Elise hadn’t known places like this existed, had never needed to know. He held her hand as they walked inside.

With his fingers wrapped around hers, again Elise felt safe. They didn’t usually hold hands but she would’ve fallen to the ground without his support, and he seemed to know. Her arms and legs shook as they made their way through the lobby.

On the front desk was an engraved plaque. Elise studied it.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SARAH BLAKE. LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY THE LENGTH OF YEARS, BUT BY LOVE. SARAH, WE LOVE YOU NOW AND ALWAYS. MOM AND DAD. After that there was a date. A single date.

She turned to Cole. “Who was Sarah?”

His eyes were instantly deep, and Elise suddenly knew. Much of Cole’s heart was still unexplored no matter how close she felt to him. “My little sister.”

“Cole.” The truth hit Elise hard. “What happened to her?”

He slid his hands into the pockets of his jeans. The situation was obviously hard on him. “She was born with . . . problems. She only lived a few hours.”

Elise couldn’t imagine. “I’m sorry.”

He nodded. “My mom and my aunt opened this place in honor of her life.”

At that moment a woman in a white coat walked up and smiled at Cole. “Hey, there.”

“Hi.” He hugged her. “I brought my friend Elise.”

“Yes. Your mom told me you might come in.” The woman smiled. “I’m Dr. Brooke Baxter West. I volunteer here a few days a month. When I’m not at my pediatric office.”

“I’m Elise.” What was she supposed to say? She wanted to run out the door and keep going. All the way back to Louisiana or maybe California or New York. Anywhere but here, where the truth about her situation was about to be evident to this woman, too.

Cole took Elise’s hand again. “She needs an ultrasound. If that’s possible. That’s what my mom said to ask for.”

“Absolutely. Right this way.” Dr. West led them down a hallway to the last room on the right.

The whole time all Elise could think about was Cole’s mother. Another weight that hung heavy on Elise’s shoulders. Cole’s mama had wanted to meet her ever since that day Cole invited her over for dinner. But each time Elise found a reason to stay away. What would Cole’s mom think about her? She wouldn’t want a bad girl for her son.

Cole was too good. Period.

They reached the door of a small room. It looked warm and clean. A poster with a picture of an unborn baby hung on the wall. Cole’s aunt was talking, something about this was where the ultrasound would take place and how the procedure wouldn’t hurt. Elise couldn’t take her eyes off the poster or the words underneath.

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. —Psalm 139:13

Elise shifted her eyes and looked around the room. It contained a few gray padded chairs and a white examination table and next to that a machine the size of an old-fashioned boxy computer. Cole’s aunt looked at her. “What do you think?”

What had she said? Elise blinked a few times. “Ma’am?”

“The ultrasound.” Dr. West looked a little confused. “Did you want the test now, Elise?” The woman smiled, patient. “I can perform the ultrasound, if you’re ready.”

Elise felt like she was going to be sick. What was she even doing here? At a crisis pregnancy center? She was supposed to be focusing on school. Getting the right grades so she could be accepted to NYU.

“Elise?” Cole touched her hand. “You okay?”

“Umm.” She looked at Cole. “Yes. I’m . . . I’m fine.” There was no way out of this disaster without doing the ultrasound. She had to know. Playing mind games with herself wasn’t helping anything.

Dr. West stepped back a few feet. “I can give you a little time if you want.”

“No.” Elise blurted out her answer. “I’m ready.”

Cole stared deep into her eyes. “You’re sure?”

Elise nodded. She walked into the room and looked back at Cole’s aunt. “What do I do?”

“I’ll have to pull your shirt up a bit. Are you . . . ?” Dr. West nodded toward Cole. “Do you want Cole in here?”

This was the last place Elise wanted Cole to see her. Already, he’d been the best friend she could’ve wanted at a time like this. But that didn’t mean she wanted him to watch the test. Especially if her shirt had to be up.

“Just me.” She lifted her gaze to Cole’s. “Okay?”

“Of course.” Cole started to leave. He wore his red and white baseball shirt and cap. In case the snowy weather had let up and he’d had to get to practice. The sight of him was another reminder that her trouble shouldn’t have been his. Grades and baseball. That’s all Cole should’ve been dealing with this semester.