Over The Weekend

Over The Weekend

  Rachel Lenna

  Copyright Rachel Lenna 2014

  All characters, places and stories in this eBook are a work of fiction. Any similarities to any persons living or deceased or actual places inside or outside this book is pure coincidence and not intentional.

  This eBook is interactive with most eBook compatible devices.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10 - Sunday Morning

  Book Three; In a Few Short Weeks Coming soon

  Chapter 1

  “This stop Moonlight Falls district, Moonlight Falls.”

  I can’t believe I am about to do this. I mutter under my breath as the cranky old bus comes to a wobbling stop. I’m actually going to do this. Everyone starts piling out and I wait until there is more space before I gather my things and join the line up to collect luggage. The bus is very full as it is the last interstate bus of the day to Moonlight Falls. I think it’s just after 7pm or something so there is a little daylight left and the cool air hasn’t quite hit yet.

  “Excuse me miss?” A voice behind me says and a cranky looking middle aged woman is pouting and looking past me. The line is moving faster than I am and she seems to be in a hurry.

  “Sorry.” I say trying to yank my carry-on bag in with me.

  “Yep.” She scoffs and literally toe taps impatiently, waiting for me to move. I frown, she can clearly see the condition I am in. I give her the biggest death stare possible and she at least has the decently to flinch, helping me hoist the bag up onto the seat.

  “Do you want a hand?” She says gruffly and I know it’s because she feels she has to, not because she wants to.

  I sigh, “No I’m good thanks.” I don’t want her touching me anyway. I waddle to my left, shuffling sideways so she can get past me. If it’s that important for her to rush who am I to argue?

  “There’s no turning back now Anna-Beth.” I growl under my breath, ignoring her completely. “I’m stuck for the night regardless of the outcome.” Tears randomly threaten to pour out. The woman shoves past me with a gentle huff, literally flinging her nose in the air. I roll my eyes back at her. I just hope that my taking this chance will work out in my favour and not fail me miserably. I watch her storm off.

  “Ma’am would you like to get in front of me?” A young voice says behind me and I turn to see a young woman with two children of her own standing there. Her eyes are kind and knowledgeable and she smiles at me like she’s been here before to. People behind her don’t seem to mind that she has stopped the flow anymore then she minded stopping for me.

  “Are you sure?” I ask, I need to get off my feet, and I have only been standing a few minutes. Sitting still for several hours really cramps the muscles.

  “Absolutely.”

  “Thank you!” I all but sigh with relief and waddle forward as fast as I can. “Anna-Beth Pearson.” I say to the driver, who is waiting patiently.

  “I remember.” He smiles warmly at me and moves my bag over to the side so I don’t have to carry it. “You have a good night and be safe miss.”

  “Thanks.” I smile gratefully. Yanking my bag along behind me.

  I waddle out of the way as quickly as I can but my bag is heavy and I am tired almost instantly.

  “Excuse me miss?” A voice behind me questions as I lug the huge suitcase trying to move.

  I turn to see a stout older lady with salt and pepper hair watching me with a keen interest. “Yes?” I question, seeing her judging glare. I know that look well. I have been getting it the whole trip up here. Judgement! “Can I help you with something?”

  “Your suitcase is on my jacket. I can’t pick it up so you need to move your things.” She points and gives me a look that dares me to challenge her. Her hunched over frail state is clearly all just pure physical appearance. The woman clearly still has her mind – bitchiness included.

  “Well ma’am” I say standing up straighter, ready to launch into a standoff if necessary. The woman must be able to tell there’s something a little… different about me surely? “Clearly you can see I can’t either.” I turn to face her pointedly with my hands on my hips so my huge belly pokes out from under the light jacket I am wearing. She gasps and points, talking to an older gentlemen who appears next to her in that moment.

  “Can you see that? That kid is having a kid!” She shakes her head in absolute disgust. “And I see no ring! The children of today just don’t know how to keep their legs closed! It’s so disgusting.”

  “Betsy dear I’m sure the young woman doesn’t need you pointing at and insulting her.” He smiles at me warmly and I feel an instant liking and possibly a little – okay a lot – sympathetic towards him. He has the eyes that speak of an old soul and a kind hearted spirit. He moves towards me to untangle the offending jacket from the offending wheel of my suitcase and manages without much fuss. “I’m sorry about my sister dear, she's a little old fashioned.” He whispers at me as he stands.

  “I’m not old fashioned!” The woman squawks – like literally squawks. She sounds like a cockatoo with a whistle up its nose – and rattles off something about society these days and how there is no respect left in the world, especially for the older people. The man just rolls his eyes at me. I hide back a giggle.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t see her jacket.” I say to him apologetically. “I can’t even see my own feet.” I add for good measure, gesturing towards my belly. “This thing has been getting me into trouble the whole trip here.”

  “How far along are you if I may ask?” He smiles warmly at me and seems genuinely interested. His sister on the other hand is still talking – to no one – about respect and back in her day this and that.

  “About eight month’s sir.” I reply, unable to stop from smiling back. His smile is infectious – and calming.

  “That seems like a bit of a rough time for a young lady to be catching an interstate bus all by herself.” He says as we move out of the way for the final passenger to get his belongings.

  “I’m actually here to see the babies’ dad.” I shrug sheepishly. No point in lying. It only gives you a lot more problems than you started with. I learnt that the hard way.

  “Babies?” The man asks and his sister twaddles back over, interest overcoming her objections about me being pregnant and apparently a child. Her permed, fuzzy hair and bright blue eyes actually kind of remind me of Medusa. Hair sticking out everywhere and eyes that look like they could see right through your soul.

  “You have two in there?” She asks with a frown tapping my belly – something I can’t stand but instinct tells me this woman would do it more if she knew that. So I keep quiet and bite my tongue – “No wonder you look so huge!” – HARD!

  “Yes ma’am.” I reply, laying the respect on thick. Regardless of what this woman may think, I do have respect for the world. I made one mistake almost nine months ago and here I am today owning up to that mistake. She may not think it’s respectful but I’m eighteen. That means I am an adult by the law so I am one no matter how much she thinks otherwise. So ner! Just thinking about it makes me what to poke my tongue out at her. She should try being eighteen and pregnant. And alone. And without family or friends. And without a baby dada. And without money. And without a place to sleep. Holy crap! What have I gotten myself into?!

  “Twins!” Medusa transforms into a swan right before my eyes. Gone is the attitude and seemingly justified hatred towards me, instead she sticks her hand into the crook of my arm then herds me the bench I hadn’t noticed until n
ow. “Come, sit my dear, the trip must have been exhausting.”

  “I didn’t do anything but sit.” I laugh as she forces me to sit anyways. Medusa turned fairy godmother’s brother just shakes his head as a small boy, about the age of ten, comes out of the crowd with a young woman holding a clipboard. He leaps up and wraps the older man in a bear hug.

  “Pop!” He yells excitedly as he is twirled around.

  “Mr Bateman?” The woman asks.

  “Yes ma’am.” He says through the choke hold.

  “I just need to see your ID and for you to sign here please.” She points on the clip board as Mr Bateman fishes his wallet out of his pocket.

  “That’s my little Byron.” The older lady follows my gaze. “My brother, Bill and I have him every summer for the last two weeks.” She smiles at him adoringly and I feel a pang of jealousy. “Bill’s daughter and her husband go on a ‘honeymoon’ every year while he comes here.” I wish my family would look at me like that. I wish my family would love me like that.

  “He looks adorable.” I smile, rubbing my back. Sitting still in a bus for ten hours has not been at all good for me and I’m hurting. I get up off the seat. “I really should go now ma’am…”

  “Betsy dear, call me Betsy.”

  “Okay… Betsy.” I smile. “I must be going now.”

  Bill and little Byron walk over to us just as I grab my suitcase. “Is someone picking you up dear?” Bill asks, taking my suitcase out of my hands without a word. He looks at me like he dares me to argue.

  “No sir.”

  “Oh no Mumma Bear, please, call me Bill.” He looks surprised. “Sir is way too formal for me.”

  “Pops likes to think he’s still twenty don’t you?” Byron goads his grandpa.

  “Byron I may be old and grey looking on the outside but I will still whoop your hiney at canoeing any day.”

  “Not for long Pops.” Byron has a twinkle in his eye that I recognise as one of pure love. This little boy loves his grandpa and great aunt very much. I subconsciously rub my belly. If only my babies grandma and grandpa were so supportive. “I’m gonna get big soon then you won’t keep beating me!”

  Bill laughs and ruffles the boy’s hair. “I don’t doubt that for a minute.”

  My mum and dad, when they found out I was pregnant, went ballistic. Like catastrophically crazy. Ranting and raving things like I am meant to be in law school right now, getting my degree. What they really meant was I was meant to become the next junior dad.

  My brother and sister both followed so why couldn’t I? That’s all I heard for three months. Law was never my thing but I never argued with them until I became pregnant. I wanted to do music, become a music teacher and love life but they would never have understood that.

  It wasn’t something I wanted for me. To become what my dad is, – which according to my mum when she is angry with him – is a shell of what he used to be. That’s not living. That’s existing, something I am not going to do. I want to live my life. Every single day. Still when they found out they told me – after a week of not talking to me – that I was to get an abortion and everyone would forget this mess ever happened.

  I couldn’t and wouldn’t.

  So I didn’t.

  They were angry and tried everything they could to get me to have a termination, even so far as taking me to court. For three weeks they argued with me, right up until court day. They were adamant they were going to win, after all they were all lawyers and knew the law. When the judge ruled I am an eighteen year old competent woman they told me I was to leave and never come back.

  So I did.

  My best friend took me in for months – I lost count of how many – then but her parents announced that her mum had lung cancer and I knew they needed privacy so offered to leave so they could be a family. I haven’t heard much from Candace since but I know she's struggling. She knows I’m struggling to but neither of us can be there for the other because of our various reasons and/or conditions.

  I then spent two months moving from one friends couch to another, trying to figure out what to do. Nothing was working for me – and friends were getting over the pregnant whale constantly taking up their couch space – so I knew I had to do the thing I didn’t want to do.

  I had to go see the baby dada.

  Hugo Baker.

  I have one word for him. Yum.

  He and I had spent an entire week together last autumn and we talked and talked and talked. He was so handsome and a lot older than me – twenty four then to my about to turn eighteen – so he made me feel like a queen. He was a true gentleman, didn’t push me into anything I wasn’t comfortable with just said he enjoyed my company.

  On the last night I decided that I wanted to sleep with him. He had wooed me that well that I thought what better way to end our time together than with that one moment. He knew I was a virgin and hadn’t wanted to. He said I should save it for someone special.

  I told him I was an eighteen year old girl who was still a virgin. I had never felt a connection with anyone else like I had him and that I wanted him to be my first even if it was only a one time deal. I told him he was special to me because he was the first man to ever treat me so kindly just because he wanted to and not to get something out of it or because my parents were my parents so I wanted to with him.

  I still remember shaking the whole time, scared he was going to reject me. He didn’t of course, because here I am in Moonlight Falls. Jobless. Homeless. With about two hundred dollars to my name and twin babies due in about five weeks.

  “Don’t you agree little lady?” Bill was talking to me but I had completely zoned out of them.

  “Sorry, I went space cadeted.” I say apologetically.

  “I see that honey.” Bill puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. “Byron said that a lady in your condition should not be left out on her own and said that we should offer you a ride to wherever it is you are going.”

  “Oh!” I say, tears welling in my eyes. I quickly wipe them away. “Sorry, pregnancy hormones.”

  “It’s quiet alright dear.” Bill says and shares a look with me that makes me think he can sense more than I am letting on. “What's your name sweetheart?”

  “Oh my how rude of me. I’m sorry! My name is Anna-Beth, but everyone just calls me Anna.”

  “Anna-Beth – Anna – please let us take you to where you need to go?” Byron steps forward and grabs my hand. He looks at me through eyes wise beyond his years.

  “That’s okay, really.” I insist. “I will be fine.”

  “Nonsense.” Betsy blurts out. “No lady with twins on board is going to wander around this city alone while I know about it. Bill grab her suitcase, Byron grab her carry-on bag.” She orders the two men in her life and they instantly obey her. “Let’s go.”

  “No please it’s okay.” I say, trying to grab at the bag Byron slips off my shoulder. “You really don’t need to go to any trouble!”

  “No trouble dear, so where are you staying.”

  Nowhere. “Touchés.”

  “The night club upon Main Street?” Betsy stops so suddenly I almost run into her.

  “Yes ma’am”

  “Why would you want to go there?”

  “Betsy that’s none of our business!” Bill cuts in before I have a chance to reply. Betsy bristles at her brother’s tone but says nothing.

  “It’s okay.” I smile at them. “I don’t actually have anywhere to stay and that’s where baby dada works.” I figure they are being wonderful by offering me a ride the least I could do is be honest.

  “Oh my.” Betsy fans herself and I wonder what that’s about.

  “You have no place to stay?” Bill says, frowning.

  “No, I didn’t really think it through,” I look sheepishly at them. “But I have run out of couches and have no other feasible options and was hoping that I could wing it or something.”

  “You will stay with us.” Betsy announces as she holds her nose in the air and m
arches off to what I can only assume is the direction of their car.

  “I can’t do that!” I exclaim. “You don’t even know me!”

  “Anna one thing you will learn about Betsy really quickly is that what Betsy wants Betsy gets.” Bill nods in her direction as she wanders off without a backward glance. Clearly knowing we will all follow her.

  “Pops is right.” Byron agrees. “We call her Cyclone Betsy when she gets in one of these… rampages.”

  I laugh – which hurts. “I can’t impose on you like that?” I ask completely unsure and close to tears again.

  “Yes you can my dear.” Bill squeezes my shoulder. “Our house is big enough for one more person. Besides I’m sure it will only be a night or two until you sort something more permanent out.”

  He’s right. And they don’t seem like the mass murdering type. Maybe just one night? “Well if that’s the case and it’s no trouble?”

  “None at all my dear.” Bill says gently. “Our house really is huge and we have plenty of spare bedrooms.”

  “Well I better do as she says then hey?” I gesture towards Betsy as I smile down at Byron and he beams at me.

  “But Bill will you be able to drop me off at the club too?” I ask cautiously, knowing that these people have been so kind to me and I shouldn’t push it. But I need to tell Hugo. I have waited eight months for this moment. I can’t rely on these really kind people either for too long. That and I may lose my nerve

  “Of course.” He seems to sense my urgency. “I can always pick you up again after you have spoken to him.”