Thomas' POV
Listening to her speak, her voice full of anguish. She thinks I don't love her, and I want to tell her but that just isn't done in my family and every time I try to say it my mouth gets dry and there's a burning in my chest. The pain in her face makes me want to die knowing I am the cause. Friends? She wants to be friends. I was driving up the courage to say it when she suddenly pulled her hand from under mine and looked at the tests, her eyes didn't change but her sharp inhale told me everything I needed to know. I took the test and saw the positive, the only thing I felt was joy but apparently, I wasn't showing it because when I looked at Charlie, she was studying my expression to try and tell what I felt.
I cupped her face wanting to tell her but couldn't find the words, instead I decided that if I couldn't say the words maybe my actions would be enough. I kissed her throwing as much passion behind the kiss as I could so she wouldn't doubt how I felt, I slowly pulled away letting her up for air: I don't want to be friends Charlie, you weren't wrong in your assumptions, I just never really learned how to express myself and I'm sorry for that. Please… don't give up on me. She was still breathless from the kiss, so she nodded.
"Come, I'll take you home"
As we started to walk out Tillie ran up grabbing my arm: Where are you going Thomas? I thought we could spend some time together, since we're to be married and all.
"Tillie, I'm taking Charlie home, when I get back, I think we need to talk"
Her mouth dropped and I didn't wait for her to respond I just took an equally shocked Charlie by the hand and out the door.
Henry was waiting for us as we walked out and down the steps to the car, I helped her in and stepped in myself. She scooted over to the other side of the car but after I shut the door I reached around her waist and pulled her over to me making her giggle. I could see Henry's eye's smile as he closed the partition giving us privacy.
I pulled her chin to me and kissed her lips softly causing her cheeks to turn pink. We made it to her home, stepped out and only made it to the first step as her mother came flying down sobbing: OH! My baby girl! Her entire body enveloped Charlie, and they started to fall backwards when I caught them both. As they stood back up her mother looked up at me surprised and without letting Charlie go, she just pulled me into the hug. I understood now where Charlie got all of her warmth and love, and it made me even happier knowing she would be the one to bring my child into the world.
We went into the house and sat on the couch as we told her mother Carol all the ins and outs of the island and what happened, well, almost everything. Her mother couldn't stop crying at the return of her daughter, she told us how many people told her to move on, but she held out hope and prayers for her daughter's return.
Carol started preparing dinner as I sat on the couch with Charlie, her legs over mine and her head resting on my chest. Charlie's countenance seemed to be changing over the course of the evening, and I wasn't quite sure why until Carol pulled dinner out of the oven and set it on the table. It was a tuna casserole, and the second Charlie saw it she ran to the bathroom to puke, I went with her to hold her hair and rub her back as Carol ran in looking at us both, her eyes widened, and a smile appeared as she guessed the cause. Charlie looked up at her and started laughing: Only you would be happy about your daughter getting pregnant before marriage. Carol just embraced her and said: It might be putting the cart before the horse but I'm okay with anything that gets me a grand baby. They both started laughing and I was a little taken back by the entire thing, I think when MY mother finds out her head might explode.
I ordered Italian food because that's what Charlie was craving and I had Henry pick it up and bring it to her house. I ate dinner with them but decided I should leave to go deal with Tillie: I need to go Charlie; I need to go deal with some things.
Charlie was disappointed but that just gave me hope and I gave her a new cell phone that I had Henry pick up and I told her good night and kissed her forehead. Carol walked over and gave me a giant hug goodnight.
I made it back to the house and walked into the living room to find Tillie and her parent, my parents and even my uncle sitting and waiting for me to arrive.
"Hi honey, I'm so glad your home" Tillie stood and came up to me, before I had a chance to say anything she pulled me into a kiss and invaded my mouth with her cold tongue, it was like kissing a corpse that was also used for an ashtray and watered down by cheap vodka, not only wrong but fucking disgusting. I was completely revolted by her and peeled her body away from me with a look of disgust on my face.
Nothing seems to faze her; she wrapped one arm around my shoulder and faced her parents with a devilish smile: I think we should get married sooner rather than later don't you honey? It's been so lonely without you, and I just think we shouldn't waste any more time because after everything that's happened time is so precious don't you think?
"I do think that Tillie, but after everything I've been through, I think I need some time to recover" This fucking bitch is using her parents against me, she knew I was going to break it off and she brought them here because she knew I wouldn't want to ruin our parent's relationship. In fact, I think I need to go lie down, I hope you will all excuse me?
I saw her smile go sour as she narrowed her eyes at me. But our parents murmured their good nights, and I left for my room to call Charlie. As I walked in, Tiff followed me in and yelled: ARE YOU SERIOUS?
"OW Tiff… do you need to yell all the time?"
"Why didn't you tell that bitch to kick rocks?"
"You know why Tiff, If I upset her parents not only does it ruins our parent's relationship but they also have the means to make life really fucking difficult for us"
"And what if you lose Charlie in the process? I see the way you look at her Thomas, You're in love with that girl and for good fucking reason she's awesome."
"Language" I scolded her, but I really wanted her to just leave my room which she did. I called Charlie and she answered on the first ring making me smile, she wasn't like other girls that would play games, if she wanted you, she made it known and she did.
"What did she say?"
I sighed because I knew I needed to be honest, but I also knew that it meant she would be pissed or worse, hurt: She ambushed me, I got back, and she had her parents over so that I wouldn't break up with her. I need to get her alone so that I can talk to her. Also, she walked up in front of everyone, and she kissed me, but Charlie, I pushed her off I promise, you can even ask Tiff.
I waited for her response but all I heard was a sigh, after a few minutes I had to break the silence: Please Charlie, talk to me?
"Thomas, I… I can't do this. I won't wait for you to choose me. I need you to not contact me for a few days, I need to be left alone." She hung up the phone before I could say anything, and I felt sharp pain in my chest. Tiff was right, I should have told the bitch to kick rocks