Chapter 16

Azalea's POV.

I remember when I first moved into the building. I was given all my keys and all the boxes piled up outside my apartment because the movers weren’t exactly the kindest people. This is what I get for using the cheapest service. I was just trying to save some money since I didn’t know what costs awaited me in the future.

I heard the dropping of keys and turned around to see an older woman groan. I walked over to help her out instantly, and she smiled at me.

“You must be my new neighbor, I’m Ada,” she introduced herself. “I’ll have my daughter and son-in-law help you out, they’re nice people,” she offered, and well, she was an older woman. It was difficult for those older people to accept no as an answer, and I was glad.

Meeting Ada and her cute little family, Clara, and Jon, has been the best thing that could’ve happened to me.

When I first moved to the city, I feared I’d never be happy again. I feared that I had lost everything I worked so hard for. Now I had friends I could depend on, I had a sweet old lady in my life who gave out the best advice, and I had an apartment that was slowly starting to feel like home with each little trinket I added.

Clara found out she was pregnant as well and introduced me to one of her other friends who was pregnant as well, much further along than the both of us. However, it was great being able to head out with each other and understanding each other.

With the money I had, I didn’t have to work for the following five years, but I didn’t plan on staying home for that long. I planned on working from home for the first two years if possible, and the rest of the money would be put aside for my child in case they inherited my father’s illness. I went through a lot of stress, and I’ll be damned if my child has the same diagnosis and I can’t help them too.

I knew then and there that I would be ok.

****

22 weeks pregnant.

I’m not sure how Clara and Ada talked me into this, but I was having a gender reveal party for my baby. At first, I planned to keep the gender a surprise, then I decided to still find out, and now I was eager and still had to wait until the party.

It wasn’t anything fancy, we met up at the park with some friends. Ada, who was a chef for many great places, had provided food, and my reveal was a nice cake that I had to cut into.

“Come on, Azzie,” Clara cheered for me.

I grabbed the knife and nervously cut a slice. I took a deep breath and pulled the slice apart to see pink inside, and everyone began to cheer whilst I was in shock. My hand instantly flew to the diamond necklace I wore, the very necklace I’d now get to pass on to my daughter.

“Oh my god!” I said excitedly, then was met with many congratulations, and everyone celebrated this day with me.

The very party that I didn’t want at first has now become one of the highlights of my pregnancy. Ada had taken me in and cared for me, she and her family had shown me love and support when I thought I had lost it all.

I will forever be grateful for them and that our paths had crossed like this.

—

Seven months later.

I heard my alarm go off and a loud groan escaped my lips. I couldn’t even reach my alarm right. I looked to my left and reached over with my fingertips until my phone fell into my hand. I immediately turned the alarm off and let out a sigh as I stared up at the ceiling.

I finally managed to get up and waddled to the mirror. I stared at my reflection and began to palm my stomach. I looked so big already, it was hard to believe I still had nine weeks to go.

“I barely woke up, baby girl,” I whispered as I gently rubbed circles around my stomach. “How have you managed to tire me out already?” I asked, and I felt some movement. She was very active and especially loved to jab me when I was eating. It’s almost as if she had a preference for what I should eat.

I walked to the living room and began to prepare some breakfast. I sat down in my charming little kitchen and began to devour my breakfast. I wasn’t hungry until I tasted the first hashbrown. I looked around my apartment, every time my eyes went to the windows, I expected to see the lush greens and cattle, but instead, I saw the lovely city. My apartment wasn’t anything fancy, but the layout of it allowed me to see some nice parts of the city.

Over the past seven months, I have done my best to make this apartment my home. The kitchen was a little bit small, with only a counter big enough for two people to sit. The living room was a decent size because I was able to put some bins there for baby toys. My bedroom was big enough for me to do all I pleased, it was so odd that this place was bigger than the house on the Belt. I never thought I’d have an apartment, much less in the city.

I looked over at the box that had been resting on my counter for two days already. I cleaned up my plate and finally grabbed the box and headed to the nursery. I smiled as I opened the door to the nursery. I smiled as I spotted the cute little crib that had small bows engraved on it, which I had outlined with a soft purple color.

There were already many books added to the bookshelves and several toys. The closet was left open with all the months' worth of diapers and wipes stuffed there and, of course, the cute clothing that hung from the rack, all color-coordinated by me.

Soft pink and purple wallpaper covered the walls perfectly, I remember being quite overwhelmed with the choices. I never once got to decorate a room, not even my room back home, unless you counted the pictures I had taped to the wall. This entire apartment got to be customized for me, and being a pregnant woman with very little to do, this project kept me sane all these months.

Now, the baby girl’s room had everything she needed. This box contained some lights in the shape of cute clouds, but I didn’t want to climb up anything to put it up, so for now, I think it’s best I leave it where it is.

Everything was perfect, all that was left to do was await the baby. I had enrolled myself in some online courses, and to make some extra cash, I had started a candle shop with Clara. She had a small office dedicated to that and was near, it wasn’t a big company, but it rendered enough success for us. There were enough profits, and it kept us occupied. Just like me, Clara had worked all her life, and now that she was pregnant, she was forced to take a long, deserving break, and it was difficult for her. I constantly feel as if I didn’t do enough if I didn’t work, then Clara proposed her idea to help her, and it had been great.

I had everything down. Finally.

I checked the time and gasped when I realized what time it was. I went through the rest of my morning routine hastily, then went down to the parking lot. I drove to the doctor’s office; the streets here were a lot different than in the countryside, but I had adapted to it already. That didn’t mean I was immune to road rage, though.

I arrived at the doctor’s office right on time and was taken inside. Everything was tested and checked, baby girl was doing swimmingly well, and I was too. I even passed the glucose test and was left with a disgusting taste in my mouth, but at least I could head home now.

When I got home, I decided to charge my old phone. When I left the Belt, I had switched phones completely. Now that the phone was charging again and started up, I saw many messages and such pileup. All the messages I’d be ignoring.

Lucas: Azalea, where the hell did you go? Lucas: Your house is empty. Did Damon do something? Azalea, you’re better than running away.

I rolled my eyes and swiped away his notifications.

Damon: Where have you gone? I heard the check was cashed in. Damon: Are you ignoring me? You aborted that baby, right? You expect to be treated differently when you act just like the rest of them.

With all these hormones in me, Damon was lucky I wasn’t on the Belt anymore, or he’d be walking with a crooked nose for the rest of his life. According to them, I had aborted my child, but it blew my mind that he thought he could just judge me when both he and his mother had pushed me into a corner.

Unbelievable.

“Azzie?” I heard my name being called. I put the phone aside and decided I’d get my old photos later. “I made some chicken dumpling soup for dinner, and Clara and Jon are bringing a peach pie. Care to join us?” Ada asked.

I would never ever turn down that woman’s soup. I instantly rose to my feet– as quickly as a pregnant woman could.

“I’ll be right there!” I promised and grabbed my keys to head out for a nice, deserving dinner.

****

Two months later…

“Here’s your baby girl,” the nurse said softly as she handed me the swaddled baby. My swaddled baby.

I gasped softly as I was handed Lynn Ada Cavanaugh. Lynn wasn't an easy one to birth, but all the pain and stress were worth it now that I got to hold her in my hand. I wish Ada was here to see her, but she was occupied with

Clara, who was somewhere down the hall, going through birth a little earlier than expected. We were both making some candles when her water broke and when her husband arrived to take her to the hospital, mine broke too.

“Your best friend is somewhere down the hall, about to make her appearance into the world too,” I said to Lynn, who moved around a little. “I promise you, you will have a far better life than mine. You will always be loved, happy, and taken care of,” I promised as I held onto her tiny hand. Her fingers wrapped around my pointer finger perfectly, and she had no intention of letting go.

“It’s you and me, Lynn, and let me tell you, we’ll do just fine.”