Old Stone Chapter 20

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About the Story:

For a chapter list and to read about the characters, click HERE.

POV: Erin Rose

The call came just as the sun was making an appearance over the horizon. Charlie, my little sister, was having the baby.

I want to say “her” baby, but it looks to me like she wants nothing to do with it. I know that sounds judgmental, but she is just a teenager and never should have been messing around like she was. Mama had warned us all our lives not to turn out like she did.

I was the baby that time, and I thank the heavens that Mama didn’t just hand me to strangers. I’ve tried talking to Charlie about this and found out that’s why she can’t talk to Mama. If I’m being honest, I don’t think, if I were in that situation, that I could talk to Mama either. While she wasn’t warm, everyone knew she was prickly, and she was only driven by common sense.

So, in the wee hours of the morning, I rushed to the hospital to be by Charlie’s side. Her pains were awful, but she wasn’t emotional like I expected her to be. She told me she had a job and the sooner she got on with it, the better.

I can’t imagine what is going on in her head. Her mouth was a straight line, her expression one of resolve. I think I would have been a nervous wreck. But Charlie held it together.

Giving birth is a hard and bloody business. I’m pretty sure I don’t want children now.

Charlie gave birth to a little boy. Then she refused to name him or even hold him. She was like a pale piece of stone, without feeling, as she turned the TV on and watched a game show.

As they whisked the baby away, I took a quick look at him. He was beautiful, and I don’t think the lump in my throat will ever go away.

Goodbye, little boy, I thought as tears filled my eyes.

Later at work, I couldn’t concentrate one bit. All I could think about was the little baby and what kind of life he might have. I prayed it would be a good one.

My heart ached, making my chest hurt, and a hole hollowed me out. How could Charlie have just given the baby away like that? Without a tear or emotion in sight? He wasn’t my baby, yet I felt the loss heavily and wondered how we would ever go on after this.

“Miss Rose,” a staffer said, interrupting my grief. “The room is ready for today’s press conference. Do you require anything else?”

The press conference! I should have been concentrating on that as Donita was going to make an important speech later that day. Clearing my mind wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

After assuring the aide that everything looked good, I wiped down the desk at the head of the room one more time. Donita insisted everything be neat as a pin. She could smell dirt a mile away.

Wiping my palms on my skirt, smoothing the wrinkles out was a habit I had, a sort of self-soothing thing. Within minutes, I was all business, pushing thoughts of the baby as far aside as I could.

During the taxi ride home, I could no longer hold it in. I cried as silently as I could while the driver acted like he didn’t notice.

That sweet baby, all alone in the world. I wondered if my sister would ever regret the decision she’d made today. My heart should have been trying to console Charlie, but instead, it had hardened. I’d taken the baby’s side in this mess, and there was nothing Charlie could ever do to get back into my good graces.

“Ah, home finally,” Donita said as she entered and hung her coat up. “And you, my dear, disappeared immediately after the press conference. Where has your mind been today?”

I peeked a quick glance in the mirror before turning to speak with her. Perhaps she wouldn’t notice my eyes, which were still rimmed red.

“After I was told the speech had an impressive effect on the people, I left to get a bite to eat, then came home.”

The truth was, I had only picked at the plate of food, unable to swallow past that lump in my throat. I wanted to tell Donita what happened, but couldn’t because Donita would tell Mama everything, and I had promised to keep it a secret.

The only person who knew the truth besides us, was Donita’s Uncle Louis Cushing.

“Well,” Donita said, nodding slightly, “I’m glad you had sense enough to eat. It’s been a long day.”

You have no idea, I thought. But aloud, I said, “It really has been.”

Soon, Donita was off on other topics, like the new wallpaper.

“It’s hideous! I think I would rather have painted walls than this…” she waved her arm around, “…this!”

I wanted to brush her off. There were more important things to worry about than wallpaper and the remodeling of the brownstone.

“Have you seen the curtains in the dining room? Hideous!” Donita declared. “Have them changed at once, Erin.”

So now, I was an interior designer. I sighed more to myself than to Donita. I was pretty low on the totem pole, and my sole job was to keep Donita happy and on track.

I found the butler in the dining room. She was sitting at the table, gazing off into space.

Half-heartedly, I told her the wallpaper and curtains had to be switched out immediately.

“Yes, Miss Rose,” she said. “I’ll see what can happen tomorrow.”

With the upbringing I had, I was never used to handling servants. Instead, I was destined to become one. So, this exchange was awkward for me.

When we finally worked out some details, I went to my room to lie down. Should I put my feelings aside and call Charlie at the hospital? Raising my phone to dial, I put it back down again.

Charlie had gutted me today, and I didn’t know if I could ever forgive her.

Special thanks to Bee (Poses by Bee) for editing this story.

Thank you so much for reading, liking, lurking, and commenting! You are important!

Credits:
Pose Packs: Bee (Poses by Bee)
World: The Stoneshields by Quailhogs
Lots: White House Executive Mansion
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