Austin took a swig of his beer as he sat down on his front porch. He hadn't been able to shake his conversation with Isabella from before and her comment, "what if the Sheriff's the one causin' harm?" He didn't want to hurt her any more than his behaviour at the end of that summer undoubtedly already had. But he also didn't know what good it would do to try to explain things now. Some things were best left buried and forgotten. He took another swig, as if I could forget some of those nights.
As much as he didn't want to admit it, no one had come close to making him feel like she had. Not even Vivian, and he'd been seeing her on and off for a little while now. Currently, they were off. He'd once again had enough of her spoilt mannerisms. Because she was a Miller and the only granddaughter, she got whatever she wanted. And he knew that she wanted him, the youngest Sheriff in the county, as if he was some prize stallion. There were some days where he didn't mind that, where he'd missed her a little or he felt like she was the only option for him, given his relationship with that family. But those days hadn't happened since he'd seen Isabella again. They were so different, he knew he shouldn't compare them. And really, how could he? He'd only been twenty during his summer with Isabella, and neither of them was the same person they'd been then. Here and now, he had responsibilities and allegiances he couldn't turn his back on. But until he got to the point where he couldn't ignore them anymore, he was going to stay single, away from Vivian. And maybe get to know the new Isabella a bit better.
"Why are you going with her?" David asked his girlfriend, annoyed she would be leaving him alone this morning as well before having to go to the bar later.
"She's my sister and she needs support," Isabella said carefully, the stinging in her arms a reminder from yesterday that she needed to control her mouth and attitude better than she had been. "I can't leave her to go alone," she tried now, hoping his hand currently holding hers wouldn't start to tighten its grasp.
"Thanks again Izzy for comin' with me, I know it's a drag, but I really appreciate it," Tatum's grateful voice reached them before she did. "There's no way I could drive right now," she added. "David, I'm sorry, I know I'm stealin' her from you. I promise I'll try to make it up to you as soon as I'm feelin' better," the redhead apologised when she saw how he was holding onto Isabella's hand, as if he was trying to physically stop her from going.
"Of course, I get it. Don't worry about it," David assured her quickly, loosening his grip on his girlfriend's hand. "Hope it goes well," he said slowly, not sure what to wish someone on their way to a clinic to make up their mind about their pregnancy.
"Thanks, I think," she said, managing a small chuckle despite the flurry she felt in her stomach.
"Let's go," Isabella suggested now, giving her boyfriend a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out towards the door. Her sister followed her, hoping yesterday's incident as soon as she tried to get in the car wouldn't repeat itself. "I'll drive carefully, I promise," the brunette said when they were both in with their seat belts on.
"Thanks, I appreciate that," Tatum smiled as she tried not to think about where they were headed. She was happy that the clinic was slightly out of town, so the chances of anyone seeing her go in was minimal. But it meant that they had to spend longer in the car.
As she was worrying about what she was about to do, they got there in no time. The clinic staff were all really friendly and, throughout the entire hour she was there, none of them emphasised one choice or decision over the other. It was nice to know that they weren't judging her for her questions or reservations, but just giving her all the options open to her. However, other than removing any doubt that she was indeed pregnant, the clinic hadn't helped make her mind up yet. "Izzy... how am I supposed to know what the right decision is?" Tatum asked when they were back in the truck on their way home.
"You're askin' the wrong person," her sister said with a shake of her head.
"What would you do if you were pregnant?" the redhead asked now, hoping that talking it over from different perspectives might help her.
"Honestly... I don't know," Isabella said softly. At the moment, if she was pregnant while still in a relationship with David, she would have to try running again. She couldn't risk bringing a child into that relationship and condemning it to the same kind of life that the two of them had had, and she definitely couldn't bear the thought of having to have an abortion. "Like they said in there, you need to do what's right for you," she added now, trying not think about it too much.
"That's not helpful," her sister whined, making her laugh softly.